“I guess Yuki threw out your trash daily and she told her dad that she saw you cry many times while writing me a letter. She never asked you about it, but she knew I was somebody in your life who made you sad.”
I began to tear again. This time more out of relief that I could look back on those days and consider them a sad memory. With his arms around my body, he kissed my forehead apologetically, and empathized with my pain. In every way, they were his pain too.
“At this point, Mrs. Suzuki stepped in, put two and two together, and forced her husband to tell me where you would be today. This is how I got to this restaurant.”
“I’m glad you’re here,” I responded. Are you done or am I still in trouble?”
“I think I’m done…no, I take that back. I’m not done,” he continued.
You can really hold a grudge, Dr. Reid. Good thing I didn’t say this as Jake’s face turned solemn.
“Emily, I need to apologize one more time. I’ve said so many hurtful things to you. My actions were inexcusable. Please forgive me.” With his arms still around my body, I knew in my heart all had been forgiven already.
“Jake, I created this mess. You had no choice but to feel insecure because I wavered. My actions were hurtful as well. I forgive you knowing you’ve forgiven me as well. Let’s not dwell on this anymore.”
“I can’t let go of the image of you waiting for me at the Skywalk. You’ve always been so trusting of me to take care of you. All the months we were apart, the thought of you losing faith in me tormented me. It scares me you won’t ever completely trust me again.”
“Frightened? Yes. But, I don’t think I can stay separated from you anymore. Right now, and maybe even forever, my love for you outweighs any fear of getting hurt. I want to trust you again. Just please don’t break my heart.”
Our lips met once more eagerly. Happiness overcame my many months of anguish and sadness.
“I’ll make this up to you the rest of our lives together. Please don’t doubt my love for you anymore.”
I nodded my head in agreement.
Sitting at a table filled with beautifully decorated but uneaten food, we attempted feverishly to catch up on our five-month absence. There were still too many unanswered questions.
Jake began. “The more I think about it, how could you believe I didn’t love you anymore? Didn’t I tell you only every day how much I loved you? Do you think I go around asking just any girl to marry me?”
I answered back, “How could you go weeks without talking to me, especially when my texts begged you daily for an answer? Do you know how hard it is to send someone a message and to sit around and wait for a response? Plus, do you know how much you hurt me? I had to move to the other part of the world to try to mend my heart. You were the one confused about my feelings for you.”
“Could it be any harder than waiting for letters that came to everyone but me? That was really cruel. I pathetically had to read my siblings’ letters to find out how you were doing. Don’t even get me started on having to ask my girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend about what she had written him.”
“I sent you a letter. I even sent you a birthday card and a gift.” Jake showed me his sleeves. “Oh, you’re wearing the cufflinks. They look nice.”
“Thank you for your gift. You don’t know how much these meant to me.”
“Did you have a good birthday?” I’d hoped he did despite our separation.
“How could I have had a good birthday knowing you were alone on yours? Did you celebrate your birthday at all?” he asked, but looked away, not wanting to know the answer.
I shook my head no. “Sarah called me and sent me a gift but that was it.”
“Oh, Sweetheart, I’m sorry. Of all the days we were apart, those were the hardest days for me as well. Come here,” he pulled me closer to him. “I have your birthday present. I didn’t know when I’d be able to give this to you, but I had it made regardless.”
Jake brought out of his pocket a stunning piece of jewelry. On a simple white gold chain hung a large, flat heart shaped pendant. What made this pendant so unusual was the stone placed inside a frame of small diamonds.
“Jake, this is beautiful! What kind of stone is this?”
“It’s a sapphire cut into a flat piece and then shaped into a heart. My grandfather gave it to Gram on her birthday the first year they were together. Gram sent it to me on my birthday, obviously for me to give to you, and I added the diamonds around the sapphire on your birthday.”
“How is Gram doing?” I asked fondly.
“She’s healthy but sad to see me so sad. She called weekly to check up on me and to ask about your status. It broke her heart to know we had separated. She was very fond of you as well, and had thought of you as family already.”
“I missed her too. We’ll have to call her.”
Jake put the present around my neck. I admired not just the gift but the meaning behind it.
“Thank you. So am I done being in trouble for not sending you more letters?”