Epilogue
“This is our last ride for a while,” Birdie said as Becky held the reins of her horse while she mounted.
“I heard you two were leaving for a bit,” Becky said, knowing that she’d also heard that they were a true couple as well. They were perfect for each other. She could see that right from the start. They reminded her of the way Rodney and she had felt so right.
The thought sent a pang through her which she tried to ignore. The reason she’d come to Raspberry Ridge was to start a new life without him. It had been too painful in Strawberry Sands, even though she had an adopted family who loved her and a job she looked forward to going to each and every day.
Sometimes a person just had to get away.
“We’ll be back,” Wes said, with a tender look at Birdie. So sweet and with such longing in it that Becky could hardly stand it. Why couldn’t that be her?
But no, she was not going to question God’s direction for her life, she reminded herself as Birdie and Wes rode away, their hands linked between them, their horses’ tails flowing softly in the lake breeze. And that’s what she loved - the lake and the horses and the freedom to work doing what she loved all day. Sure, money was tight and sure, sometimes she still thought about Rodney, but Raspberry Ridge was a great town, and she’d enjoyed getting to know everyone and finding where she fit into small town life.
After the two horses and riders disappeared down the beach, she walked to her mailbox, and grabbed the one letter that had been delivered earlier. A letter from home .
She smiled, tearing it open. One slip of paper fell out and she pulled out an unopened, postaged-marked letter.
Seeing the familiar handwriting of her adopted mom, she read the note first.
Dear Becky,
This note came for you yesterday and I considered not forwarding it on, but I decided that you were old enough to make your own choices. I’ll write more over the weekend when I have more time, but I wanted to send this immediately.
Love,
Mom
Becky appreciated her mother so much. Especially since she could tell immediately that the handwriting on the unopened letter was Rodney’s.
With trembling fingers, she opened it, took a breath and said a short prayer before reading.
Dearest BecPet,
She swallowed hard at his use of the nickname he’d given her so many years ago.
I can’t find you on social media and when I was home earlier this summer, your parents said you’d requested that they not tell me where you went.
I know I deserve this and so much more, but I promise I can explain everything. It wasn’t what you thought it was. But, more than that, I want what we’d always talked about - you and me. The women I’ve met at school and in my job aren’t anywhere near what you are. They can’t compare. You’re truly one of a kind. I knew that the first night you crawled into my bedroom, looking for food, and nothing more.
Those were the days, weren’t they?
I hate the idea that I’ve become what my dad is - I haven’t, and I really would like to be able to talk to you. It’s killing me that you might think I broke my word.
Please reply to the address on the envelope. At least allow me to explain. Even if there isn’t an opportunity for us to be together, we can still be friends, right?
Please respond.
Yours,
Rodney
Becky fingered the paper, trying to keep the tears in her eyes from falling down her cheeks .
Rodney had come to her high school graduation. They’d been on the front porch when everyone else had gone in for the night and she thought he was going to kiss her. He’d touched her cheek with his fingers, so gentle and sweet, and he’d whispered that he wanted to.
She’d told him that she’d been waiting for him forever. Maybe it was the wrong thing to say because he’d pulled away and hurried off without explanation. Every time she’d seen him after that he’d been distant, until she’d gone on a surprise visit to see him the past spring.
What a mistake.
She’d surprised him and some woman in a very loving embrace. She hadn’t meant for him to see her, but she supposed she’d made a noise that had drawn his attention, but she’d managed to get away, even though he called after her.
That was when she’d moved to Raspberry Ridge and deleted all her social media accounts.
The breeze caused the paper in her fingers to rattle and she looked back down, having forgotten she was even holding it.
Should she allow him to explain? And what if he did? Did it matter? He could see whomever he wanted to. There was no rule that said he had to wait for her. Plus, she was more than old enough now, if that had been his problem when she was only eighteen.
She wasn’t sure.
Tomorrow she’d be going to sit with Gram, and Gram always seemed to have a lot of wisdom. Maybe between her and her adopted mother, Becky could figure out whether to listen to her head, which told her that Rodney was a cheater just like his dad, or her heart, which told her that he was a good man and he hadn’t broken any spoken vows. He’d just broken her trust, because she’d always believed they were meant to be together.
So much so that she’d never even looked at anyone else. Maybe she should.
It wasn’t too late.
Taking a breath, still unsure what she was going to do, she turned and walked slowly back to the barn.
~~~
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