Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 93463 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93463 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
“Yes.”
“I paid a pretty price for that picture,” he says with a smile. “Never the cost of betrayal. No, they just wanted money. Who knew an old photo could cost so much? It was worth every penny less, wasn’t it?”
My throat tightens. “Thank you,” I whisper. But the words feel too small.
How do you thank someone for giving you a piece of yourself you never knew was missing?
“Why did you… why did you hide all these? Did you hide them?”
He shifts, hands in his pockets. Looks almost… bashful and boyish.
“I wanted to wait until the time was right,” he says softly. “Until the war ended. Until we were at peace. Until you already knew that I loved you—before I gave you even more proof.”
“Oh, you exasperating man,” I say, laughing through tears. “I love you so much.”
He takes me in his arms and kisses me. Hand to cheek. Lip to lip. Heart to heart.
“I love you, Zoya McCarthy,” he says.
“I love you, Seamus.”
His arms wrap around me. And in the silence, I stand with him. Comforted, hopeful. Loved.
THE END