He looked at her, that intense gaze that told her he was reading past whatever would be obvious to the rest of the world. She begged him to say something to her—something that mattered.

Instead, he slid his own set of house keys into his pocket and looked away. “I should go.”

He started out the door, and she involuntarily reached for his arm. He tightened at her touch, and she wondered if he felt it too—the heat that passed between them. He brought his eyes to hers, and she could feel his utter despair—it mixed with her own and pooled at their feet.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “For my father.”

His eyes dipped to her lips, then back up. He slid his arm from her touch, and her fingers stung at the absence of his skin. “Me too.”

“Our birthday is soon,” she said without thinking. “Have you written out your wish?”

“Louisa—don’t.” He studied her. “It’s hard enough as it is.”

While she wished his words had served as a bucket of water to extinguish her desire for him, quite the opposite had happened, and she couldn’t make sense of it. Would she ever stop loving him now that she’d tasted him? Would she ever be able to recover from a heart this broken?

“I have to go,” he said. “I’ll be in touch about the house.”

And then he was gone.

Dear Louisa,

We both knew this day would come—the day I left you in favor of the pearly gates. I know you’re probably thinking it’ll be a miracle if they let me into heaven, but I’ve got a plan to bribe the big guy with my famous peach crumble.

Think it’ll work?

I’m kidding, of course. You know I don’t talk about it often, but I’m ready to meet my Maker. He and I have had some pretty great conversations over the years—many about you, if I’m honest. He loves when you talk to him, Lou. Do it more often, okay?

I always thought knowing my time on earth was coming to a close would be more of a curse than a blessing, but as I near the end, I have to say, I’m glad the doctor told me when he did. It gave me more time to really appreciate what I had this side of heaven. It gave me time to reflect on the things and people I love.

You are always at the top of that list.

I know I don’t show it, and I’m a little hard to deal with at times, but I hope you never doubted my love for you. I didn’t get to have my own kids, but if I had, I would have loved to have one as wonderful and kind and good-hearted as you.