Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 90337 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90337 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
I hum low in my throat at that but hold my tongue as we follow the usher’s directions to go to the right, toward the middle of the orchestra.
He has no idea how stories start, only how they end…
But I know how they start.
So maybe together…
I push the thought away, smiling as I accept a program from another usher and Hunter leads us to incredible seats, just a few rows back from the stage.
Staying in the now.
I am staying in the now.
The show is magical, even better than I’d imagined a Broadway musical would be. From the moment the overture starts, I’m transported. The sets are gorgeous, the actors are fantastic—both real and over-the-top at the same time—and the energy of the crowd is infectious.
I find myself laughing out loud more than once. And then, suddenly I’m tearing up during “Till There Was You.” Not just because of the beautiful performance, but because Hunter is holding my hand, and I can’t stop thinking about how much more beautiful the world seems now that I get to share it with him.
There is no longer any doubt about it.
I’m not falling in love with this man, I’ve already fallen.
At intermission, Hunter goes to fetch us drinks, while Margaret and I relax in our seats.
“I confess, I’m feeling a little smug about not drinking anything during the first act, so I don’t have to pee,” I confide. “That line for the ladies’ looks horrific.”
She nods. “It’s always awful. Seems they would have added more stalls by now.”
“Or taken over the men’s room,” I agree. “We should make the boys pee in the alley outside and claim their territory as our own.”
Her eyes crinkle at the edges. “That’s the spirit.” Her smile fades as she adds in a softer voice, “And in the spirit of doing bold things, I wanted to share something with you, Elaina. Just between us.”
“Of course,” I say, sobering. “What’s on your mind?”
“First, promise you won’t tell Hunter.” Once I’ve assured her, she continues, “I just received word from Mount Sinai that I’ve been selected as one of their trial patients for an experimental new surgery.” She speaks quickly, as if afraid of losing her nerve. “It’s risky, very risky for someone my age, who’s already so far down this road…but there’s a chance they’ll be able to help.” A smile trembles across her lips. “There’s also a chance that I won’t make it through the procedure.”
I exhale, but it does nothing to ease the tension fisting around my ribs.
Instantly, I doubt the wisdom of promising to keep this to myself…
“Wow.” I blink faster. “Okay. And when is this?”
“Two weeks,” she says, making my eyes fly wide. “I know, dear. It’s fast. And I’m so sorry to burden you with this, but I wanted someone to know…just in case. But I can’t tell Hunter.” She grips my forearm with surprising strength. “He’s finally made peace with all this after all those months of calling in every specialist in the world. I don’t want to disturb that peace, and I don’t want him to know about the risk until it’s over, one way or another.”
“Are you sure?” I ask. “He loves you so much. I think he’d want to know. To be able to be there for you.”
“I’m sure. In my heart, I know this is for the best,” she says with a steady smile. “We’ve already said all the things we need to say. We’re just in a sad, hopeless, holding pattern at this point, a waiting game that isn’t fun for anyone anymore.”
I sigh and nod.
Because I get it. Boy, do I get it.
“It was like that with my mom,” I confess, feeling terrible. But it’s the truth, and I feel I owe Margaret as much of that as I can give her. “I think we were both a little glad when we knew it was almost over.”
“I can imagine,” she says. “It’s so hard, on both sides. Knowing the waiting is almost over, one way or another, is actually a great comfort to me.”
“But you don’t think it would be for him,” I say, seeing where she’s coming from.
“Precisely,” she says. “But I know he’ll understand why I made this choice in time. And now that I know he has someone like you in his life, I see no reason to draw this out any longer.” She covers my hand with her thinner one. “I’m so grateful for you. And so glad Hunter’s finally met a woman who can see how much love he has to give beneath that protective shell.”
She glances behind us, ensuring we’re still safe from behind overheard before she adds, “That’s all it is. Just a shell. Inside, he’s as tender as they come. He was just hurt so badly as a boy. I didn’t understand how badly until we were out of that house. I thought I was shielding him from the worst of his father’s anger, taking it on myself so he’d be spared, but…” She shakes her head. “I was a fool who realized my mistakes too late, and I’ve never quite been able to forgive myself for it.”