Bittersweet Hope
Page 17
“But…but…” I sputtered, not being able to come up with any words. Speechless was not usually a way somebody could describe me, but right now I couldn’t think of anything to say.
“No buts.” Anna called as she went into the living room and sat down to watch the news. “You’re staying.”
Caleb stood and kissed my cheek, a reminder of what was to be later that night, in front of the pond. We still met there nearly every night. We’d refused to let what happened ruin that special place for us. Whether we were talking, or just sitting, it didn’t matter. He hadn’t tried to move too fast after Zach…after everything that had happened. I knew he wouldn’t be able to wait forever, and I didn’t really want him to. But we would wait long enough. Learning to let go of things was something engrained in me from the time I was very small, and I was slowly letting go of what Zach had done to me. It wasn’t easy, and I wasn’t close to there yet. But I would get there, and I knew Caleb would be waiting for me when I did.
He walked into the living room to join his mother on the sofa. Sadie reached across the table and put her warm hand in mine, squeezing it. “Are you happy?”
I nodded, still not able to find the words to best describe the amazing feelings running rampant inside of me. Feelings that until not too long ago, I had only dreamed about amid the dark skies which used to cloud my life. I never thought this happiness could be found, I figured I would live in absolute misery forever, taking care of my mother and worrying about my sisters. But so many things had changed in such a short amount of time.
Happiness had finally found me. Love had come with it, tied in a bow and delivered right on top of my lap. My sisters were going to be okay. And so was I. I would always be okay, and have the comforting knowledge that whatever came my way, I would face it. And I wouldn’t even have to do it all alone.