Don't mourn too much for me. I had a long life, and so much of it was good. I know it might not have seemed like it, but I loved two wonderful men, both for far too short a time. But those loves were sweeter for not having had much time. I fought a good fight, and though the battle may seem lost, the war is not yet over.
Be brave, Maeve. So much has been asked of you in your young life. Stay strong. Keep your friends close. And never lose who you are. Stand your ground and do what is right.
And know that my love will always be with you. It never dies.
Emma
Maeve smiled a small smile and folded the note. The ache in her heart was still there, but after reading Emma's note, she found peace there as well. She would let go of the guilt and honor Emma's sacrifice while wrapping herself in the love that Emma had given her.
Light footsteps climbed the hill behind her until strong arms wrapped around her waist. She leaned back into Gray's embrace, tilting her head up for a kiss. His lips brushed hers, and she sighed as a tingle ran down her spine at the contact. She wondered if that would ever go away. She hoped not.
"Did you read it?"
Maeve laid her hands over his, the note trapped between them, and nodded. "Do you want to read it?"
"Only if you want me to."
Maeve tucked the note into his hands. "She would have wanted me to share."
Gray kept Maeve tucked against him with one arm as he read the note. When he finished, he said, "What do you think?"
"I think she's right. I can't take responsibility for a choice that she made. We all have to make choices. I can only be responsible for my own. Sometimes our choices are hard, and there may not be a good one, but they define us and change us. We have to embrace that."
Gray squeezed her tight. "I knew you would get there."
She patted his hands, which were once again clasped in front of her. "This doesn't mean I want to pick up a gun again, though. I can't do that again."
She felt Gray nod where his chin was propped on her head. "It's your choice."
They stood in silence, watching the sun slip lower and lower. When the last rays spread out over the hillside and the day had turned into dusk, Maeve turned in Gray's arms. Gray leaned down and kissed her, and Maeve felt a piece of her heart begin to mend.
"I love you," Gray said when he lifted his head. "I should have told you before now. I kept waiting for the moment to be perfect."
"I know, but it's nice to hear it. And what moment could be more perfect than this one?" She looked him in the eyes. "I love you, too."
She rested her head against his chest and without looking up asked, "What do we do now?"
"Read the rest of your letter."
Maeve peered up at him in the gathering darkness. "The rest of it? I read it all."
"Look on the back."
In the increasingly dim light, Maeve took the letter from him and turned it over. In small script near the bottom of the page, Emma had added a postscript.
P.S. John put a tracker on Rufus.
Maeve gave Gray a puzzled look. "Why is that important?"
"We haven't found Rufus."
"I know. Emery and I have looked every day."
"Think, Maeve. Where would Rufus have gone?"
Maeve drew in a sharp breath. "He would have followed Thomas."
Gray smiled and nodded. "Let's go see John.”
Find out what happens next in The Lost Boy, available soon.
If you liked The Lost City, please consider leaving a review on Amazon or Goodreads.
Find out how Emma triggered the events of The Lost Years and The Lost City in the free story, The Time Capsule, by signing up to receive my newsletter at booksbyfairchild.wixsite.com/ldfairchild
About the Author
L.D. Fairchild lives in one of the only big cities in Kansas with her husband, two daughters and two dogs. When she's not dreaming up new ways for the world to end, she loves reading, creating things and spoiling her dogs.
Since she spends her days in imaginary worlds, she loves meeting people in the real one. Be sure to look her up on Instagram and Facebook or drop her a note at [email protected].
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The Lost City: The Palumbra Chronicles: Book Two Page 31