45. Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Five
A Love That Endures
RAFA
Rafa paced nervously at Cedarthorne Mansion.
Auden, Mayor Fayemoore, Vicky with her cat Chaplin, and Mr. Pic all waited with him for Sal to arrive with the grimoire.
The icy wind was erratic, and the electricity was flickering on and off.
It was getting worse by the day. I hope she gets here soon; he fretted impatiently.
Communicating with Sal was difficult. He had to stay at an inn in Eugene the day before just so he could talk to her and relay what had been happening.
He jumped each time she messaged and answered quickly each time she called.
When she told him she’d speak to Harmon about the grimoire, he felt a part of him break.
The universe was either testing him or giving him a sign, but still he held on.
A heart in love never gave up, not until the very end; at least not his.
Finally, they arrived an hour later than planned.
Rafa had steeled himself for the sight of Sal and Harmon arriving together.
Yet his heart wouldn’t stop breaking when he saw her walk through the front door of the manor as though in slow-motion with Harmon’s arm wrapped around her, and with Willow treading behind them.
He had never felt so replaceable in his entire life.
Just months ago, it was he who had his arms wrapped around Sal and who was part of their group of three.
His shoulders slumped and his spirit deflated.
Sal’s dark, round, and loving eyes looked at him. She crossed the threshold and hugged him tightly. “Rafa, I didn’t know this was happening. I wish I had come sooner,” she said, still holding onto him.
The smell of her shampoo and the familiar feel of her hug would have driven him senseless if it weren’t for the impending issue of the grimoire. “It’s okay. You’re here now.” He loosened his grip and stepped aside.
Harmon held out what looked like the grimoire wrapped in linen cloth to Rafa.
“May I?” asked Pic, who approached them and peered surreptitiously over the wrapped book.
Rafa nodded and placed the book slowly on the coffee table, allowing Auden and the others to study it.
“Extraordinary,” he heard Pic marvel.
“What do we do next?” Sal asked him while the others were distracted by the grimoire.
Rafa put his hands in his pockets. “Sir Pic says we should return it to where I found it and leave it there.”
Harmon, who had stood in the hallway and was no doubt observing them, walked by. “I’ll give you two a moment,” he said, joining the group.
Rafa moved to the other drawing room, and Sal followed him.
“Congratulations on the art fair,” he said, pacing through the drawing room with stacks of books lining the old bookshelves. “So what’s next for you?”
“I’m going to Budapest with Harmon,” she said. “He has business there for a short while, and he wants me to go with him.”
“I see…” he acknowledged, unable to process that she was leaving with him. “You did an amazing job on the art fair. You deserve to celebrate,” he said, trying to control the sadness from leaking out.
“Thank you. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“Autumn Town means so much to you…to us.” His voice cracked as he spoke. “Sorry, I…”
“It’s okay, Rafa.” Sal took his hand and placed a small pouch in it. “This is yours,” she whispered.
He closed his fist around the pouch and felt a ring inside.
It was no doubt the engagement ring he had given Sal years ago.
He balked a little; the tightness in his chest nearly threatened to rip him apart.
But his love for her was stronger than anything he had ever known, and when he thought he couldn’t take it any longer, he somehow managed to place the pouch back in her hand.
“No, this will always be yours,” he said, sandwiching the ring in her palm with both hands.
Sal just offered a kind, sad smile.
Rafa tried to imagine a world without her smiling at him every time he fumbled.
He could not, but he wanted to save her from his sadness.
If she chose Harmon, he would honor it—he would endure it.
That’s what it meant to love someone; you respected the choices they made, even if it wasn’t you they were choosing.
The important thing now was that they would put the grimoire back where it belonged. It would be their final act together.
He looked into her eyes, realizing it might be a long time before he spoke to her again.
“I wonder sometimes if—after all we’ve been through—if that had meaning.
If our time together was preparing me for something greater?
Because I can’t think of anything greater than my love for you,” he said and paused, trying to contain his emotions.
“But I think I’m at the point where I don’t have to be needed to feel worthy anymore.
” He nearly choked, yet he continued, “I know I was enough. But I’m sorry that it wasn’t enough for you.
” He unclenched his fists and placed a hand on his chest. “I love you. I don’t think I’ll ever stop loving you. ”
Sal inched closer and held both his hands. Her eyes reflected the sun as she looked at him. “I will never stop loving you either.”
“Rafa…” said a soft voice. It was Willow. “Sir Pic says we should put the grimoire back now while we still have electricity.”
Sal let go of his hand and took a deep breath. “Show me the secret passageway?”
Rafa half-smiled. “Sure.”