She looks up at the sky, wiping at her cheek.
“I can’t wait to hold you.”
Ten feet.
Five feet.
“I wish you were here now,” Violet says, sniffling a little. “God, I would do anything to have you here with me.”
I can’t wait to have her in my arms.
“Anything?” I ask, as I come to a stop.
“Anything.”
I smile. “Then turn around.”
She does and her jaw drops. “Everett!”
I open my arms and she doesn’t hesitate. Violet closes the remaining distance between us and practically launches herself against me.
“Hi, baby,” I say against her ear as I hold her tight.
“You’re here?”
“I am.”
“How?”
I chuckle. “I took a plane.”
Violet shakes her head, pulling back a little. “I know that, but how are you here? When did you get here? Who is with your mom?”
I love that her initial response is worry for everyone else but her. “My mother is fine. She’s spending a few days with Hazel, Donna, and Marge. I got here very late last night and Ana found me a hotel room, since I wanted to surprise you.”
She touches my cheeks. “You’re here.”
“You needed me.”
“I did, but ... I told you not to come.”
“I will always come for you if you need me. I will always show up,” I vow.
Violet has learned to live with disappointment and people not being there, but that ended the day she walked into that coffee shop. She will never have to walk alone. I’ll always be beside her.
Someone clears their throat, and I turn to see Ana. “As much as this has truly been the most romantic and touching thing I’ve seen, we should get off the street.”
Violet laughs and then pulls out of my embrace. “She’s right. Dylan is going to release a statement, and it’s better if we don’t have any photos prior.”
“Okay.”
“Come on, in the car,” Ana says and ushers us toward a large SUV with tinted windows.
We get in, and as soon as she’s next to me, I take her face in my hands and kiss her. She does the same. It’s been six days, but it’s felt like six years.
I missed her so much, worried nonstop, and when my mother asked why Violet was gone and I explained, I knew I had to be here. So I asked for help for the first time in my life. Violet was worth risking my fears for.
The kiss gentles and Violet leans back, looking at me again as though she can’t believe it.
