No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

Jacqueline muttered under her breath, "It's raining outside. Why not talk here?" only to receive a sharp glance from Herschel.

"Mom, didn't you say something about baking apple pies? I'll help you with that," Dustin said, jumping in to defuse the tension that had briefly flared between his mother and Herschel. I didn't say a word, just got up and followed Conrad outside.

He waited for me at the door, umbrella in hand.

Honestly, whatever private things he wanted to discuss could have been said in any room of the house. We didn't need to step out into the rain for a heart-to-heart.

But he had his reasons, I suppose, and I didn't ask.

"Aren't you cold? Do you want me to grab you a jacket?" Conrad asked, ever so considerate.

I had to admit, he seemed more attentive than before, more... boyfriend material, if you will. But it was too late.

"No need," I said, taking the umbrella from his hand and stepping into the rain.

Conrad didn't protest, simply joining me in the downpour. "Do you remember the last time we walked in the rain like this?" he asked.

a year ago, during a particularly fierce storm that had led to flash floods in the

walk home, but Conrad, always going overboard, wanted

a helicopter, but what about the rest of the staff? As the company's CEO, if you just up and leave by air, what

Instead, he walked home with everyone else,

lifting our pants legs at first to avoid getting wet,

his initial

fun than frustrating. Even when a car finally came to pick us up in a dry area, we felt like we hadn't played

I understood

no matter how sweet those memories were, they belonged to

hope, I simply said,

have to be

splashed through the puddles, saying, "I'm just trying to prevent unnecessary things

That's

I'm willing to let go of or hold on to," I replied, looking up at him. "What

is the biggest loss and failure of my life," Conrad said, walking beside

is it about