Page 94 of Only You

“Jenni and I are going to take a walk down to the beach and explore,” Shaun said.

“Okay. Enjoy the views,” I said. “Another beer?” I asked Asher.

“I’ll go get it. You two can talk while I make a phone call.” He stood up and went inside the house.

I looked across the table at Everly.

“Let’s go down to the beach.” She stood up and grabbed her wine glass.

“So, this thing you have is real?” I asked.

“It is. The second we landed in South Carolina, I saw her. She came to me and begged for my help.”

“Help?” I furrowed my brows. “Help with what?”

“You, Alex. She wants me to tell you that what happened was not your fault, and you must let go.”

“It was my fault, Everly. If I hadn’t?—”

“Shh.” She placed her hand on my shoulder as we stood in the sand. “It was not your fault, and there was nothing you could have done. Even if you tried to save her, you wouldn’t have been able to.”

“You don’t know that!” I spoke through gritted teeth.

“Alex, I do know that. I saw it. You’ve put your entire life on hold, refusing to let love inside your heart because you think you don’t deserve happiness.”

“I don’t deserve happiness. Athena doesn’t get her happiness in life because of me. Why should I get mine?”

“Because it’s what she wants, and she can’t move on until you forgive yourself.”

“What are you talking about, Everly?”

“Athena has been bound here since the accident, and it’s your tremendous amount of guilt that’s holding her here.”

“After the accident, I swore I could feel her. Sometimes, I’d hear her laughter or feel a breeze in the house when the windows were shut. I thought I was going crazy.”

“You aren’t crazy. Did all of that stop when you left Harbor Falls?”

“Yeah. It did.” I glanced at her.

“And what about when you returned?” she asked.

“The memories were more vivid than before. I could still hear her laughter, and I’ve dreamt about her. Is she still here?”

“She is.” Everly smiled. “She wants me to tell you that she disapproves of how you live your life. Who’s Hannah?”

“A woman I’m renting the guesthouse to. We were involved for a little bit, but things were starting to spin out of control, and I had to end it.”

“Athena told me to tell you that you’re a coward.”

CHAPTER 32

Alex

I chuckled, shaking my head. “She used to call me that all the time, especially when I wouldn’t do something she asked me to because I knew we’d both get in trouble.

“She loves seeing you as a father but doesn’t like the loneliness you keep punishing yourself with. She said she needs you to start living life again and to do it for her.”

“I am living life.” I sighed. “I have a great kid, an exceptional business, this town, this house, no financial worries.”