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Back Common Ground Save as PDF
Chapters (107)
  1. Glossary
  2. One
  3. Josh
  4. Two
  5. Delaney
  6. Three
  7. Delaney
  8. Four
  9. Delaney
  10. Five
  11. Josh
  12. Six
  13. Delaney
  14. Seven
  15. Josh
  16. Eight
  17. Delaney
  18. Nine
  19. Josh
  20. Ten
  21. Delaney
  22. Eleven
  23. Josh
  24. Twelve
  25. Delaney
  26. Thirteen
  27. Delaney
  28. Fourteen
  29. Delaney
  30. Fifteen
  31. Josh
  32. Sixteen
  33. Josh
  34. Seventeen
  35. Delaney
  36. Eighteen
  37. Delaney
  38. Nineteen
  39. Josh
  40. Twenty
  41. Delaney
  42. Twenty-One
  43. Delaney
  44. Twenty-Two
  45. Delaney
  46. Twenty-Three
  47. Delaney
  48. Twenty-Four
  49. Josh
  50. Twenty-Five
  51. Josh
  52. Twenty-Six
  53. Delaney
  54. Twenty-Seven
  55. Delaney
  56. Twenty-Eight
  57. Josh
  58. Twenty-Nine
  59. Delaney
  60. Thirty
  61. Delaney
  62. Thirty-One
  63. Delaney
  64. Thirty-Two
  65. Delaney
  66. Thirty-Three
  67. Josh
  68. Thirty-Four
  69. Delaney
  70. Thirty-Five
  71. Josh
  72. Thirty-Six
  73. Delaney
  74. Thirty-Seven
  75. Josh
  76. Thirty-Eight
  77. Delaney
  78. Thirty-Nine
  79. Josh
  80. Forty
  81. Delaney
  82. Forty-One
  83. Delaney
  84. Forty-Two
  85. Delaney
  86. Forty-Three
  87. Josh
  88. Forty-Four
  89. Delaney
  90. Forty-Five
  91. Delaney
  92. Forty-Six
  93. Delaney
  94. Forty-Seven
  95. Delaney
  96. Forty-Eight
  97. Josh
  98. Forty-Nine
  99. Delaney
  100. Fifty
  101. Delaney
  102. Fifty-One
  103. Delaney
  104. Epilogue
  105. Delaney
  106. Also by Wendy Smith
  107. About the Author

I wish things were different. I tried to call you, but your phone isn’t in service. Then I saw the casting news and realised things are on the rise for you. Maybe it doesn’t mean much, but I’m so proud of you, and one day our son or daughter will be just as proud.

I’ll tell them all about you when they’re older, and let them make up their mind if they want to find you.

I’ve dialled back my studies and am doing a shorter course to become a cook rather than the chef studies I had planned. My focus is going to be on this baby and making sure they have the best life I can give them, whether you’re a part of that or not.

I also wanted to let you know how much you hurt me. I didn’t want to fall in love, but I couldn’t help it because you are perfect. I’m not sure I’ll ever not love you because even though my heart is broken, I still want us.

And I just realised that I said this letter wasn’t about me, but I’ve made it about me. That wasn’t intentional. You know how much I talk.

Anyway, I don’t want to make this letter too long. I’m happy that you’re going to get to live your dream, and I hope your film does crazy well. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to watch you on screen, but I’m sure you’ll soon be the star you were always meant to be.

All my love,

Delaney

I stare at it for a moment. This is her through and through. She’s in pain, but talking through it. It’s her answer to dealing with everything.

She tried to tell me, and I can understand her frustration in not being able to reach me.

The reality was that despite how crazy we were about each other, we’d barely scratched the surface.

Delaney was left without many options, and she could have sold her story to the press a long time ago. But she didn’t.

This letter fills a big gap, and I’m so grateful that she gave it to me.

She always loved me. As I always loved her.

I place the letter on the coffee table and stand. She’ll be halfway home by now, but I can’t wait any longer.

I’m going to claim my family.

Twenty-Three

Delaney

Delaney

Pania looks up as I walk in the front door.

“I didn’t think you’d be back tonight.”

“I told you I would be.”

Flopping on the couch beside her, I lean my head on her shoulder.

“How did it go?”

“Tonight was perfect. You should see the kitchen in that house. Brand new, top-of-the-line appliances, marble benches—”