She loved the feeling of Gretchen’s warmth and affection, but she couldn’t stop thinking about the envelopes. “I’ll try my best.”

Before she could get out the door, Gretchen called to her. “Is everything okay?”

She held up her phone. “Carly went into labor. I’m waiting on updates from Wyatt.” The concern in Gretchen’s eyes did not fade, but she smiled genuinely. After their earlier shared fears, she knew Gretchen needed a little more reassurance. Jax leaned in and kissed Gretchen. When she pulled back, Gretchen’s eyes were bright once again. “I’ll see you later.”

Jax wrangled Caleb into her truck and drove him to preschool. She answered a million questions about their future trip to the aquarium, and she wished Gretchen hadn’t told him about their plans just yet.

“Will the penguins be happy to see me?”

“I bet they will be.”

“What about the gator?”

“I don’t think he’s happy to see anyone,” Jax said seriously as she pulled up into the designated drop-off lane. “Be good for your aunt, and maybe we’ll get you a stuffed gator.”

“I want a stuffed shark.”

Jax got out of the truck and opened the back door. “We’ll get you the biggest shark.” She had never seen his eyes get so big. She walked him up to the school entrance and watched as he ran inside eagerly. The kid didn’t get his love for school from her. She said a quick good-bye and left.

She had little traffic on the drive to the office, so she pulled into the parking lot with ten minutes to spare. She cast a glance at her messenger bag and decided that moment was as good as any to read the contents of the envelopes. She opened the small one first, instantly recognizing it as a letter.

Jax,

I’m sorry our story had to end this way. It’s hard to imagine that after so many years together we chose to go our separate ways. I honestly don’t even know what to say. I wanted to write you one last letter to let you know I wish you nothing but happiness, and I hope you find that with Meredith. You’re probably surprised right now, but even though I may not have seen the end coming for us, I did see the way she looks at you.

Jax looked out her windshield. She tried to process what she had just read, but her head was spinning. She continued reading.