the cinema, celebrated Valentine's day and birthdays and Christmases, moaned about their jobs, laughed at the absurdities of life, supported each other through rubbish moments, spent nights at his place and at hers.
'Jake?' Grabbing his wine she gulped back several large mouthfuls even though she preferred rosé.
'This isn't fair on you Li.' His pet name for her. 'I care about you too much-'
'I'll wait!' She said desperately, voice shaking. 'We're good together.'
'I know.' He studied her straight nose, the beauty spot on her dewy cheekbone. Lila and Shelley couldn’t be more different; in appearance, in mannerisms, in interests and professions. But at core they were similar. Loving and clever and kind and impossibly stubborn at times. They both made him laugh. 'But it isn't right, to expect you to keep waiting.'
'I won't wait forever, that's true.' She nodded, sucking in a deep breath, squaring her shoulders, large blue eyes determined. 'But I love you, so I can hang in a bit longer.'
His fingers curled into his pocket, rubbing over the letter, seeking reassurance from Shelley’s words. The feeling of guilt didn’t surface. She'd wanted him to be happy. She'd told him. It was what he thought he'd remembered, but he'd had to be sure.
'I can't be with you like this any more. You deserve better.' He told Lila, brushing a finger down her cheek. 'Like I said, it isn't right, to expect you to keep waiting. So I'm not going to ask you to.' Pulling the small square box from his pocket, he got down on one knee and flipped open the lid to reveal a small diamond ring, a smile spreading across his face. 'I'm ready. Are you?'
Her answer was in the loud squeal she gave, in the way she threw herself at him so they landed in a heap on the tiled floor with a joint oof! In the smoochy kisses she planted all over his face.
'I'll take that as a yes,' he laughed, pushing her hair out of her eyes before wrapping his arms around her and squeezing tight.
'Yes! Yes.' She giggled, eyes sparkling.
'Good. Are you happy?'
She pulled back, planted a solemn kiss on the corner of his mouth. 'Yes. Are you?'
He nodded solemnly, 'I am.'
And it was true. Thanks to his wife's love letter, he knew that it was all right to say hello to happiness again.
By Nikki Moore
It’s stunning, Melissa thought, as she wandered down the wooden flight of stairs that lead straight from the idyllic wooden cabin onto the beach. She arched her arms above her head in a leisurely stretch then let them fall to her sides. It was balmy already and all she needed to wear was a pair of cut off denim shorts over a scarlet bikini in the early morning warmth. Not something she could do back home in the UK.
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