No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

Chapter 48



I had stayed there for several days and hadn't seen Ethel's kids come by to visit her. I didn't pry into it. It seemed Ethel treated me and Ernest like her own children.

One evening, while getting ready to sleep, I got a call from Fanny, asking when I planned to return.

"I haven't decided yet," I told her. "I'm genuinely happy in this little neighborhood. It's been the happiest days since my parents passed away."

I even considered extending my vacation until I got tired of being there.

"Are you sure it's not because you can't bear to leave Ernest?" Fanny teased.

Thinking of the few but heart-fluttering encounters with Ernest, I admitted, "It's not about not being able to leave, but my heart feels alive when he's around."

our Ms. Hudson has quite the healing touch," Fanny

a few seconds of silence, Fanny continued, "Has that jerk Conrad not tried to contact you? Not even a

my lips.

you can't live without

deep down. Looking at the moonlight, I

woke up again, and the call had ended. Fanny had left me a message. [No one is irreplaceable.] Yes, I could live without Conrad. These past few days were proof enough. I was eating well and sleeping

with a new message, Who could be messaging

words, but I could feel the anger in them. Had Conrad only remembered me today

so I got out of bed, opened the door, and walked to the backyard, stopping under the oak tree. That was when I heard the

out with a backpack slung over his

seemed surprised to see me in the middle of the night and, without

going?"

without stopping, and

before