Sometimes Moments (40 page)

“Promise me something,” he said.

Peyton glanced up to see him staring at her. “For you, Callum Reid, I would freeze hell over.”

He smiled. “No matter what you hear or what is done, you live a good and happy life, Peyton Spencer.”

An involuntary whimper escaped. It was honest and beautiful. But she hated that he wanted her to have a happy life without him. She wasn’t sure it would be possible.

“There isn’t one after you’re gone. I love you,” she cried.

He brushed her tears away and pressed his lips to her forehead. The moment he pulled away, he whispered, “There will be. I am your sometimes, Peyton. Go find your forever.”

“No, I don’t—”

He shook his head, stopping her. “I’ve held your heart for far too long. Your forever moments are waiting for you. I will always love you and our sometimes.”

The tears that escaped him made it so much harder for her to let him go. She shook her head.

“Callum,” she struggled out. “I love you,” she said, knowing it was the last time. Their sometimes was their end. No matter how much it broke her heart, a future was no longer valid.

He took a step back onto the path and reached into his jeans pocket. Then he pulled out an envelope she recognised.

“Our epilogue,” she breathed out.

He wrapped her hands around the letter. “You promised me that you’d read this when I left. Please don’t break this. Do this one thing for me, Pey. Read our epilogue.”

She nodded and held it tight in her hand.

“No one loves you like I do,” he promised.

Peyton wasn’t sure why, but she smiled. “No one hurts me like you do.”

Callum’s lips made a fine line before he said, “Touché.”

There was silence until they both let out a light laugh.

“I’m going to miss you, Peyton.”

She closed the distance and tangled her arms around his neck. “You’re my favourite sometimes moments. Not the things we did, but you. All of you.”

His mouth found hers as they kissed one last time. It wasn’t desperate or controlling. It was purely to let their lips know that it was the end and to always remember each other. Each movement of his on hers had her heart aching. Goodbye was bittersweet. She got it in the end, but she didn’t want it. She wanted him.

Once he pulled his mouth away, he rested his forehead on hers. He didn’t close his eyes, and it was almost as if he were almost afraid to. His arms were around her, their bodies meeting.

“Goodbye, Peyton Spencer, my greatest love.”

Peyton blinked hard to remove the tears. She wanted one final look of him, one final look of the man who would always have her heart.

“Goodbye, Callum Reid. I will love you long after our goodbye and you leave town.”

A loving smile developed on his lips. She gave him one in return before they both fell silent, knowing they were prolonging their separation.

“Get the fuck off my property, Callum,” she finally teased, reminding him of the first time he was back at her house.

Callum let out a soft chuckle and took a deep breath. “I love you. Never forget that,” he said before he kissed her forehead.

He let his lips linger on her skin for a second longer before he pulled back, putting distance between them. Then he looked at the letter she held before he turned and walked towards his car. Peyton’s knees buckled, so she sat on the step, watching him leave.

Callum didn’t look over his shoulder as he got into the car. Tears ran down her face as the brake lights disappeared and the Volvo reversed out of the driveway. Holding her breath, she watched the dark-blue car drive away from their houses and towards the town’s exit. It was quick. Their goodbye ended as quickly as they had started. Peyton stayed on the step long after he left, letting the tears to vertically roll across her cheeks.

Her heart throbbed painfully in her chest as she willed the car to return. But it didn’t. After the wind picked up and grey clouds covered the sun, she wiped the tears away and felt the nothingness in her body. Then she looked at the envelope. Her name was written exactly like Callum’s tattoo, and that’s when she realised his tattoo was actually in his handwriting. The knowledge caused her to sob as she ripped the envelope open.

Pulling out the letter, she unfolded it, and read it.

If you ever forget, it’s all on the back of the picture.

- Callum.

Peyton looked up from the letter and stared at the house across the road.

“What picture is he—”

Quickly getting on her feet, she ran into the house and then into her bedroom. She looked around her room to find the framed picture of the lake leaning against the wall below the windowsill. After picking up the frame, she sat on her bed and placed Callum’s letter on top of the blanket.

She turned the frame over, slid the pins back, took off the backing, and set it next to Callum’s letter. Her breath dissolved in her lungs and her heart froze the moment she saw it.

October 2
nd
2009 – I love you, Peyton Olivia Spencer.

June 29
th
2014 – I will never stop loving you, Peyton Olivia Spencer.

T
wo days later, life was the exact same as before, just different in some ways. The emptiness in her grew larger, and so did the aches. She missed him. Missed the sight of his smile, the tattoo cherry blossoms that ran up his arm, and the way he loved her.

Life had moved on after Callum had left town. At night, she’d lie in bed and think of him, stare out at the cherry blossom tree, and hope that he thought of her, because she thought of him with every minute that ticked by.

Peyton sighed as she looked around her. The small, square box that was her office barely fit her and Jenny. She shook her head and concentrated on the paperwork in front of her. Yesterday, she’d heard from the insurance provider—her claim had gone through without a hitch. Now, she was waiting for the building permits to be approved by the council. Unsure of how the town council worked, she didn’t hold her breath. For now, the staff was on paid leave until she figured out the next move.

Checking the time on her phone, Peyton saw that it was just after six p.m. She figured she would stay in the portable building for as long as she could, too afraid to go home alone. But then her phone buzzed in her hand at the new message from Madilynne.

Madilynne
: You want to come to Graham’s for dinner?

Peyton
: Not really. I have a lot of paperwork.

Madilynne
: Piss-poor excuse, Peyton Spencer.

Peyton
: I think I’d rather give you two alone time.

Madilynne
: Better excuse. Are you in that shoebox?

Peyton
: Yeah, why?

Madilynne
: Go outside for a minute.

Peyton
: Why?

Madilynne
: Just do it!

Groaning out, Peyton set her phone down on the small table and walked to the door. She pulled on it twice, trying to get it unjammed. On the third try, she managed to get it open, surprised to see the person standing in front of her.

“Mayor,” she breathed.

Madilynne’s father gave her a smile just visible from the light above the door. Her best friend’s father was not the person she had been expecting to see.

“Hello, Peyton. How are you?” he asked.

“Ah, fine. And you, sir?” she asked nervously. Peyton had always liked the mayor, but his authority scared her.

He nodded. “That’s good. Listen, Peyton, I just wanted to express my apologies for the recent behaviour of this town towards you and the hotel. I do not know the details except for what Madilynne has told me. It saddens me to see such a lovely person like you be subjected to mistreatment, especially from our volunteer firefighters.”

Peyton flinched in surprise. An apology was something she hadn’t considered. “It’s okay, Mayor Woodside. I love this town. My parents loved this town. I wouldn’t be standing here today if I didn’t believe in the hotel.”

His smile grew larger. “As the mayor and not your best friend’s father, it fills me with joy to hear a business owner love this town. That is why I stopped by to give you this,” he said, handing her a letter.

Peyton unfolded it and started reading. Her breath fled the moment she read the words:
building permits granted.

“This is impossible. I just submitted these recently,” Peyton uttered breathlessly. When she looked up from the letter, she saw the glint in his eyes.

“I was able to put them ahead of the pack as the father of your friend. But as the major of Daylesford, I was able to lobby and support your plans. The scale and design are beautiful. I have always believed in your parents, but you, Peyton... You are the image of sheer belief and determination. You are my inspiration to make this town better. I believe in you and your plans for The Spencer.”

As a friend of his daughter, Peyton threw her arms around him and graciously thanked him. Tears of relief ran down her face when she pulled away from Mayor Woodside.

“Thank you. Thank you so much.” She wiped her cheeks. “I can start building my hotel next week.”

Mayor Woodside adjusted his suit jacket and said, “You may not believe what I’m about to say, but I am proud of you, Peyton. The things you have done in the last four years? It’s incredible, and I know your parents would be proud of you, too.”

“I appreciate that so much, sir.”

“You go on home now, Peyton. Tomorrow is a brand-new day,” he said before he turned and walked to his car.

Peyton looked back at the letter and kissed it before she whispered, “Thank you,” to the cold night.

She quickly grabbed her keys, her phone, and her bag. She couldn’t wipe the smile off her face as she locked the door behind her—the first smile she wore since Callum. After unlocking her phone as she walked down the path, Peyton quickly messaged Madilynne.

Peyton
: Thank you for what you did with your dad and the town council.

Madilynne
: I did it because I believe in you and your dreams, Peyton. My father does, too. Make us proud.

Peyton
: I will do my best. This is for us.

Madilynne
: No. This is for you. Do this for you. Goodnight, Peyton.

Peyton placed her phone in her bag and nodded to herself.

This is for me.