Chapter 14 - THE QUESTION NATHAN NEVER ASKED
A year passed.
Rebecca moved into assisted living near Nathan.
Her memory remained imperfect.
Some days she remembered everything.
Other days she called Nathan by Charles's name.
Nathan visited anyway.
Grace often went with him.
One afternoon, Rebecca looked at Grace.
“You're Daniel's daughter.”
Grace smiled.
“Yes.”
Rebecca took her hand.
“Your father found me.”
“I know.”
“He told me something before he left.”
Grace froze.
“What?”
Rebecca closed her eyes, searching through broken memories.
“He said his little girl was going to change the world.”
Grace's eyes filled.
Rebecca smiled.
“He was very proud of you.”
Grace kissed her cheek.
“Thank you.”
That evening, Nathan took Grace to Lake Michigan.
Lily ran ahead collecting stones.
It was the same place where Nathan had proposed six years earlier.
Grace noticed.
“You planned this.”
“Maybe.”
Nathan reached into his pocket.
Grace immediately pointed at him.
“Don't.”
Nathan laughed.
“Relax.”
He removed a small box.
Inside was a silver necklace.
Three circles intertwined.
Grace touched it.
“What does it mean?”
Nathan pointed.
“You.”
“Lily.”
“Me.”
Grace looked at him.
“No ring?”
“Not tonight.”
“Smart man.”
Nathan placed the necklace around her neck.
Then he said, “I do have a question.”
Grace narrowed her eyes.
“Nathan.”
“Not that question.”
She waited.
Nathan looked toward Lily.
Then back at Grace.
“Can I stop feeling guilty for loving this life?”
Grace's expression softened.
“What do you mean?”
“My father died.”
“Your father died.”
“We lost five years.”
“People went to prison.”
“My mother lost half her life.”
“And somehow…”
He looked at their daughter laughing beside the water.
“I'm happy.”
Grace took his hand.
“You think happiness betrays what happened?”
Nathan nodded.
Grace thought about Daniel's letter.
“No.”
She squeezed his hand.
“I think refusing happiness would.”
Nathan looked at her.
Grace continued.
“My father died trying to give us tomorrow.”
“So live in it.”
Nathan kissed her forehead.
Lily shouted from the shoreline.
“I FOUND A HEART!”
She ran toward them holding a heart-shaped stone.
Nathan knelt.
“That's a good one.”
Lily handed it to Grace.
“For your wedding.”
Grace nearly dropped it.
Nathan burst out laughing.
“Lily!”
“What?”
“You said you're getting married.”
Grace stared at Nathan.
“I said no such thing.”
Lily crossed her arms.
“Grandma Evelyn says you're taking too long.”
Grace closed her eyes.
“I'm going to have a conversation with Grandma.”
Lily ran away laughing.
Nathan watched her.
Then he looked at Grace.
“I am taking too long.”
Grace's heart skipped.
Nathan continued.
“But I don't want to ask because we survived something.”
“I don't want you to say yes because Lily wants it.”
“And I don't want our old love to make the decision for us.”
Grace stared at him.
Nathan smiled.
“If I ever ask again, it'll be because of who we are now.”
Grace stepped closer.
“Good.”
Then she kissed him.
“Because if you ask…”
Nathan waited.
Grace smiled.
“You might like my answer.”
Nathan stared at her.
Grace walked away.
“Wait.”
She laughed.
“Grace.”
May you like
Nathan followed.
For once, the cliff he was running toward didn't frighten him.
