Page 114 of Missing Pieces (Men of Manhattan 3)

"Tyler, sweetie, you have to forgive yourself. It was an accident."

"It's not about that."

"Everything has been about that ever since the accident. You were a happy, carefree boy. And you've been nothing but trouble since then."

"Trouble?"

"Yes, trouble. All I do is worry about you. You go around pretending everything is okay, when I can see that you're suffering. Your father was so proud of you. Your grandfather was so proud of you. They both loved you more than life itself. They wouldn't want you to be living like this."

"Living like what?"

"Like you don't deserve happiness!"

I wanted to say I wasn't doing that. But I was. I convinced myself I was in love with Penny for three years. Probably just to torture myself. And I sure as hell told myself enough times that I didn't deserve her. That I was meant to be alone.

"You need to do what makes you happy. Isn't that really the only thing that matters? We don't have enough time on this earth to spend sad and regretful. It's too much work, sweetie."

"I miss him."

"Then look in the mirror. You're a spitting image of your father when he was your age." She patted my cheek and stood up. "You can have brownies now."

"I'm really not hungry."

"Nonsense. You're too thin." She put the pan down in front of me. "These were your dad's favorite too."

Chapter 63

Hailey

Monday

Elena,

I forgive you. I forgive you for the things you said to me before you left when I was a kid. I forgive you for abandoning me. I forgive you for not responding to my hundreds of letters. I forgive you for asking my dad to make me stop writing. I forgive you for pretending I was a stranger after ignoring me for 15 years. I forgive you for not giving me the money to save my dad. I forgive you.

Life is too short to hold on to all this anger. My wonderful father taught me that. He was all I ever needed. He shaped me into the person I am and he was proud of me. That's enough for me. I sincerely hope you find whatever it is you're looking for in life. Because I've found what I've been looking for.

-Hailey

I folded the letter and put it in an envelope as the taxi sped through the city. I no longer hated her. And I'd never love her. I don't even remember a time when I did. Now she was nothing to me at all. Now I could let go.

The taxi pulled up in front of a tall building adjacent to Central Park. I couldn't help but think how amazing the view would be from inside. That was, if I was allowed to see it. I stepped out onto the city street after paying the cab driver. As soon as I did, the cabbie pulled away from the curb, leaving me alone in the middle of the city.

But there were people everywhere. I spun around in a circle. It was like I had stepped into a movie. The whole city felt alive. It was exhilarating. And intimidating. Someone bumped into me, almost knocking me over.

Luckily there was a big blue mailbox right outside the building. I dropped the letter I had written to Elena into it and sighed when I closed it. One thing down, one to go. My hands shook slightly as I opened up the door to the apartment building that I'd never in a million years be able to afford. As soon as I stepped inside, I realized how underdressed I was in my tank top and jean shorts. The man behind the front desk was in a suit. But none of that really matter. I just hoped this was the right place. And I prayed that they'd be willing to speak to me.

"Hi," I said. "I'm here to see Penny Hunter."

He looked down at a clipboard. "I'm sorry, the Hunters don't have any scheduled visitors today. Can I please get your name?"

"Oh, yes, I didn't call ahead. I'm a friend of a friend. My name is Hailey Shaw."

He opened up another binder. "You're not on their list of approved guests." He looked me up and down.

"I know. I'm a friend of Tyler Stevens. I'm sure he's been here before."

"Mr. Stevens is on the list. You, unfortunately, are not." He just stared

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