“He is.”
“He just wasn’t the guy for me.”
“You mean because of the marriage of convenience thing?”
“I mean because of everything. The two of you together in those photos, Hope? Especially during the ceremony? It’s like…you glowed. It sounds clichéd, but it’s true. If I didn’t know better, I would swear those pictures were of a real couple on their wedding day—a couple who loved each other very much.”
Hope fell silent a moment, digesting what her sister was telling her. “So, you’re not mad that I…?” She rubbed her hand over her face. “Okay. Yeah, it’s true. I did fall for him, but I swear I didn’t mean to.”
“I don’t think it was one-sided.”
Hope’s heart hammered against her rib cage. “Even if it wasn’t, it’s too late now.”
“Have you tried contacting him?”
“Oh no, I couldn’t. If he won’t talk to you, I’m extra sure he wouldn’t talk to me. You might have committed sins of omission from afar, but I stood right there in front of him and told a bald-faced lie. Several of them, actually. And not just to him. To everybody in his family, too.” She waited a moment before asking, “Have you talked to Mom?”
“Yeah, she’s pretty devastated about everything. She kind of knew things would go south, but she was really hoping they wouldn’t. She’s worried about you, too, Hope. She said you’re not taking her calls.”
“I’m about to head out somewhere, but I’ll give her a call when I get home.”
There was a lull, and then Jackie spoke. “Mom says she saw it, too. That thing between you and Brent—whatever was happening. She didn’t want either of us getting hurt, but now we both have. She feels especially bad about the Albrights. She’s going to send them a potted plant as an apology.”
“That’s nice of her. I hope they don’t throw it out.”
“Yeah.”
“What about Meredith? How’s she taking all of this?”
“Meredith’s still not totally over things but says she’ll get there eventually.”
“Uh-oh.”
“She really didn’t like deceiving Brent and his family, and she especially didn’t like being put in the middle, but she does understand what a difficult situation it was. Especially since it snowballed so quickly, like many bad schemes do. In spite of everything and how it ended, she still says she really likes you and hopes you’ll find happiness with the right person someday.”
“That’s sweet. I really like Meredith, too. I hope you two can make it up.”
“We already have. We’re going to the movies on Tuesday.”
Hope couldn’t help but wish that everyone was so forgiving, thinking of Brent. But, in her very lonely and practical heart, she knew she’d never get that lucky.
“Anyway,” Jackie said, wrapping up their conversation. “I just wanted to call and check on you and, well, say… I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Hope. Sorry that I dragged you into this.”
Hope wanted to say she was sorry, too, and she was, for hurting so many people. What she wasn’t sorry about, though, was getting to know and care for Brent. No matter what her future held, she’d had the good fortune to experience that little bubble of happiness with him during that glorious week in Maine.
“Thanks for saying that. And thanks for calling. I’m sorry about the big mess we made of things, too. And especially sorry I started it by letting them believe I was you. I thought I was helping at the time, with Grandmother Margaret and all. But now I can see that the best way to help is by being our true selves.”
“No more pretending,” Jackie said. “Those days are history.”
“Over and done with.”
“Love you, Hope.”
“Love you, too.”
…
It took Hope another three weeks to work up the nerve to write her letter. It took her six days after that to get the courage to send it. There was so much she needed to say, and she wanted to take pains to say it carefully. Hope didn’t know if anything would come of her missive, but she suspected nothing would. In any case, she didn’t anticipate receiving a response.
Her summer break was drawing to a close, and she hadn’t heard one word from Brent. Not that she blamed him for his silence. If she were in his shoes, she would have probably reacted the same way. Hope guessed, at this point, he had to have told his family the truth about what had happened, and they were all likely thinking her a terrible person.
At least she’d repaired things with Jackie. She’d reestablished contact with her mom as well.
Something positive had come from Ava’s time in Blue Hill, though. Miraculously, Gavin hadn’t ditched Ava. Even upon learning the news. According to him, the sins of the children shouldn’t be visited on their mothers or something like that. Gavin also wasn’t concerned with gossip or inserting himself in other peoples’ affairs. What mattered to him was the spectacular attraction he felt with Ava.
They’d been a long-distance item for a couple of months now and were planning a trip to Peru soon, which was somewhere Ava had always wanted to go. Both Hope and Jackie were glad their vibrant mom had found some later-in-life happiness and that a tiny glimmer of good had come out of that calamitous wedding week.
Hope kissed the back of the envelope for good luck, then slid it through the slot in the mailbox outside the post office. As she drove away, her heart felt lighter. She could never completely make amends for her mistakes, but at least she’d be able to walk away from those days in Blue Hill with a clearer conscience, knowing she’d done the right thing.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Brent sat at his desk in his brownstone, going through his financial data in his accounting software program. His independent consulting business had really taken off, and he’d be hanging out his shingle soon: opening an official office. He’d perused several potential rentals and had found a nice space in the Wharf District that suited him perfectly. It was close to shops and restaurants, so it would be a fun place to work. The rent was a little high, but the visibility couldn’t be beat. Besides that, business had been good enough that Brent could afford it.
His family had taken the news about Hope and Jackie pretty hard. No one could believe it, and everyone was extra stunned because they’d loved Hope as “Jackie” so much. She was funny and sweet…smart and caring… How could any of them have guessed?
Brent sure hadn’t. Although, upon reflecting later, he understood there’d been subtle signs. Hope’s extra-light suitcase was the first big tip-off. Then there was her wardrobe, that flattering haircut, and her extra-warm smile… The reminiscing wasn’t helping at all, so Brent decided to snap out of it. Best to focus on work, like he’d done these past several weeks.