Chapter 1 - THE GIRL BEHIND THE ROSE WALL
“He said, ‘Before we clean that up, will you marry me?’”
Clara Fairchild laughed softly through her tears.
I looked at her.
“And what did you say?”
She wiped her cheek.
“I told him he had terrible timing.”
I smiled.
“Sounds reasonable.”
“He said he'd been waiting two years for the right moment, and apparently the right moment involved broken eggs.”
She laughed again.
Then her smile faded.
“I said yes.”
The music from the reception hall drifted through the garden.
A slow song.
The kind couples danced to while holding each other close.
Clara looked toward the sound.
“Daniel and I were supposed to get married here.”
I turned.
“At Willowmere?”
She nodded.
“Same garden. Same month. Different year.”
My chest tightened.
“Clara…”
She shook her head.
“Emma didn't know when she booked it.”
I waited.
“Or maybe she forgot.”
Her voice broke.
“I don't know which hurts worse.”
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then she looked at me.
“I'm happy for her.”
“I believe you.”
“I really am.”
“I know.”
She swallowed.
“But everyone keeps telling me it's time to move on.”
I looked toward the reception hall.
“Who?”
“My mother. My aunt. Emma.”
Her eyes filled again.
“They say Daniel would want me to be happy.”
I nodded slowly.
“Maybe he would.”
She looked down.
“But that doesn't mean you have to stop missing him.”
Clara covered her face.
And this time, she cried without apologizing.
I stayed beside her.
Not touching her.
Not trying to fix anything.
Just staying.
May you like
Because sometimes the kindest thing you can give someone isn't advice.
It's the freedom to fall apart without being asked to put themselves back together immediately.
