CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

After making some phone calls and coordinating with Gran’s bank to set up online billing so Gran could easily pay her bills from Oregon, Hailey finished packing her suitcase. She sent off a few emails, including one to Mr. Michaels, and then gazed around her room. Sadness washed over her. It’s time to move on.

Hailey, her mom, Regina, and Gran took a cab to the airport. Their flights were all within an hour of each other.

After going through security, they all stopped to say goodbye.

“Thank you for being with me and for all of your help. Harry loved you so,” Gran said as she embraced Hailey, her familiar floral scent enveloping them.

Trying to hold back her tears, but failing, Hailey said, “I’m so glad I came.”

“But now it’s time to go back to your life,” Gran said while she caressed Hailey’s arm. “I want you to promise me something.”

“Anything.”

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. Go out and live your life now.” She peered at Hailey. “Don’t be afraid to take risks and give yourself wholeheartedly to the one you love. It’s always a risk, but true love is worth it. And that kind of deep, committed love doesn’t come around very often. Take a chance, dear. Live the life you want.”

Hailey knew exactly what Gran meant, but it didn’t matter. Her chance with Peter was over. “Thanks, Gran.”

“And, Shari, thank you for coming to the service. I know it was hard to leave your sweet grandbaby.” Gran gave Hailey’s mom a hug.

“I wish I could’ve made it here before Harry’s passing. I love the two of you very much.” She turned to Regina. “I hope things work out.”

“Thank you, Shari,” Regina said.

“I hope so too, Aunt Regina,” Hailey said. Although she still wasn’t her aunt’s biggest fan, she hoped Regina would get herself together, and that she and Gran could begin to build a more solid relationship.

Regina managed a slight smile, and then Gran looped her arm through her daughter’s.

“We’ll talk soon,” Gran said.

“Of course.” Hailey would miss Gran deeply, but it was good to see her happy with Regina at her side.

Hailey’s flight to Denver left before her mom’s, so she flew back by herself. Leaning her head back against the seat gave Hailey ample time to think about the last month or so. Her heart was tender and raw, both from losing Gramps and from saying goodbye to Peter. She had hoped there might be a future with him, but that was only wishful thinking. After all, they had separate lives almost two thousand miles apart. It had never been realistic to think anything permanent would come out of meeting him, even if her heart desperately wanted to believe differently. She would cherish her time in Daytona Beach and tuck it into a special place in her memory.

Hailey caught another flight to Colorado Springs, then took a taxi to her apartment. After unpacking, she flopped on her couch and surfed absently through channels. It seemed like she’d been gone forever and yet it also felt as if she’d never left.

Someone knocked at the door. Who can that be? I’m not expecting anyone. For a moment, she let herself fantasize that Peter had come to whisk her off to a life of dancing and swinging with lots of cuddling and kissing. She let out a long sigh at the treasured memories.

The knock sounded again, jolting her from her reverie. Hailey opened the door to Kevin standing there. I’d rather be stranded on a desert island with Jimmy Vaughn than see you right now.

“Hi, Hailey,” he said in a way that used to be charming.

“Kevin. What are you doing here?” Her shock was tempered with apathy.

He looked at her with the same deep blue eyes that used to make her heart skitter. “May I come in?”

Hailey didn’t see the point, but opened the door wider. “I guess.”

Kevin stepped inside. “You never called me back.”

“No, I didn’t.” There had been nothing left to say.

He approached her, reached out, and grabbed her hand, but she felt nothing. Not even a flicker of anything. “Look, Hailey, I’m sorry for what happened.”

“I’m sorry too, Kevin.” She dropped his hand. “I wanted to have a life with you. Marry you. Have babies.”

“And I messed it all up. I know.” A pained expression crossed his once attractive face.

“Messed it up? No, Kevin, you destroyed it.” She didn’t want him to misunderstand her at all. “We had a great thing going, but it was all a lie.”

“It wasn’t a lie.” He said emphatically. “I made a mistake. That’s all.”

Hailey pointed at him. “No, you chose to cheat. With more than one woman. I was the one who made a mistake to trust you in the first place.”

Kevin stepped closer to her, his dark hair falling over his forehead. “I was so wrong to do that, and I’ve realized that you’re the only one I love, not anyone else. Please, forgive me. I’ll do anything.”

Hailey held up her hands. “You’ve already done enough.”

“But I love you, and I want you back,” Kevin pleaded.

Hailey stared at the man who’d once held her heart. A man she thought she’d love forever. “Here’s the thing.” Hailey didn’t want to purposely hurt Kevin, but he needed to hear the truth. “I don’t love you anymore.”

“We can make it work this time, baby. I’ve changed. I know you are the only one for me,” he said. “And you still love me.”

“But I don’t.” Hailey paused for a moment. “I love someone else.” There she’d said it out loud. She loved Peter.

Kevin took a step back. “Who?”

“It doesn’t matter.” Sadly, that was true. It didn’t matter that she loved Peter.

Kevin studied her for almost a minute. She assumed he was waiting to see if she’d change her mind and want to take him back, but she stood firm. After spending time with Peter, she could never waste her time on someone like Kevin again.

Hailey opened her front door and motioned for Kevin to leave. She was done and there wasn’t any point to dragging this out.

“But—” he started.

“No buts. I’ve realized there’s so much more out there, Kevin. And I deserve it. I’m not going to settle for anything less.”

“Hailey—”

“I’m done, Kevin. Done with you and done with us.”

“You don’t mean that.” He walked out the door. Over his shoulder he said, “You’ll want me back.”

Hailey shut the door not only on Kevin, but on that chapter of her life. Seeing him made her realize she was finally and completely free of him. Her time in Florida had cured her of ever wanting to be with Kevin, or a man like him, again. She deserved better—much better. Life was too short to be with a man that cheated. Period.