“Bye, Adam. Thanks for coming to watch my race today—even if you were more embarrassing than Mom.”
“Yeah,” he offered a sad chuckle. “I don’t know where that came from.”
I did. It came from love.
“It’s okay.” Finn’s cheeks grew pink. He clearly adored the attention.
Adam’s eyes floated to mine, but I redirected my gaze to my son. “Finn, can you get the last few boxes from your room while I see Adam to his car?”
“Sure thing, Mom,” he said, as eager to get back to LA as I was. “Bye, Adam!” He threw up a wave before bouncing back into the house.
Adam drew a shaky breath as he stood. “Can you thank your dad for the beer for me?”
“I will.”
With a gentle nod, he pivoted on the gravel and continued up the driveway, and my heart plummeted with each step.
“Oh.” He came to a complete stop and patted down his pockets until he found what he was looking for. “Grampa wanted me to give you this. He had Max scribe us all letters in his final days.” He held out an envelope as I drew closer. “Hopefully, yours offers some compensation for what my family has put you through.”
I stared down at the envelope in his hand, but the dark glittering stones around his wrist stole my attention. “You’re still wearing it,” I said, unconsciously taking the envelope.
“Yeah.” He tugged down his sleeve, blocking it from view. “I don’t think it’s working though.”
“Oh.” I lowered my gaze. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” He continued to his car. “There isn’t a crystal in existence that can protect my heart from you.”
39
Dear Cassidy,
When Josie told me about death doulas, I have to say, I thought she was joking. But as my time grew closer, and my anxiety got the better of me, I couldn’t see any harm in it. The moment we met, I knew there was something special about you. You’ve helped me in ways a doctor never could. You gave me more time than I’d ever imagined possible after my diagnosis, and I’ve treasured every second of it. You have been a wonderful companion, a gifted healer and a savior for my family, and from the deepest part of my heart, I thank you.
I know you will refuse any bonus I offer, but I also know you want the best life for your son. I had my lawyer set up a trust for Finn, with enough money to attend any college of his choice. This amount will cover tuition, housing, materials and more than enough for return trips home for the both of you. Anything leftover, I’ll leave to your discretion.
I only ask one thing in return. Give my grandson a chance. Just one. He needs you. You soften his edges and calm his soul. And I think you may need him, too.
All my love, Liam.
“Why are you crying, Mom?” Finn asked, stepping out the front door with another box. He immediately placed it on the patio and rushed over to the chair swing, like the beautiful, empathetic boy he was.
I wiped away my tears as I tucked Finn under my arm. “You know that nice man I worked for in that big house in the Hamptons?”
“Adam’s grandfather?”
I nodded. “He left me a letter.”
“What does it say?”
“Just that he thinks you’re a special boy who deserves the world.”
He scrunched up his nose. “Really?”
“Yep,” I sobbed, unable to bottle my relief. “And I wholeheartedly agree.”
After a restless night, the infuriating beep of a reversing truck had me storming through the house and out the front door in my pajamas. “What’s going on?!” I asked my dad as he stood on the patio, watching the truck back down the driveway.
“Your friend arranged for a moving truck.” He sipped his morning coffee. “And a tow.”