Page 96 of Memories of the Lost
He opened his laptop.
From: [email protected]
Subject: Meeting?
Do you have some time this week for a deep talk? We should discuss how to move forward. Text me some times that work for you.
He sent the email, and then crossed his arms and tested his feelings about Krish.
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Meeting
If you haven’t left England, let’s have a meal in London next week. I’m not sure what I’m doing with the business, but I can’t see a world without you in my life.
He paused, hands on the keys. That felt wrong. Although it was painful, he needed to walk away from Krish, at least for now. He hadn’t been a proper friend for a long time. He could love his old friend but also set boundaries. Maybe they could create a new relationship in the future, but that time was not now. Because Krish had overseen much of the creation of the business, it would take some time to sort it all out.
Aside from the business, Liam would miss him, his oldest friend. He didn’t know how it would feel to be completely out of touch.
But after so much time and so much work, so many hours working through his own character, Liam trusted himself at last. He trustedhimself. That centered place said he needed to walk away from Krish for now.
He moved the message for Krish to the trash.
Tillie texted him.I might need some time alone. Do you mind going back to Clare’s without me for now?
He worried about her being alone with such a big load of information, thought about her panic attacks and the migraines and—
She was a grown woman. She’d been managing her life just fine. She didn’t need rescue. She needed to sort herself out, work through everything.
He, however, needed to be around people, and his people were in that house on the hill. A little part of him wondered if they, too, needed space and time, but his need for human company was rather too large to ignore. He stalled a little by calling his mother as he walked up the hill. She answered on the first ring. “Lucky for you I’ve been up with a sick goat,” she said.
He couldn’t believe he’d forgotten to check the time. “Hi, Mum. Just needed to hear your voice.”
“Oh, that’s not good. What’s going on, son? Aren’t you in England with Clare?”
He realized she would know this story. It hadn’t just happened to him, to Tillie and Clare and Sage. “I am. And there’s a lot to tell. Do you have a minute?”
“Always. Let me make a cup of tea.”
So he spilled out the story, about meeting Tillie and all the coincidences, and then the fact that she was Clare’s lost daughter everyone had thought was dead.
“Well, no one would believe you if you told this story anywhere.”
“Right?”
“And the woman, Tillie. Is she important to you?”
“It’s new,” he said, like an adult. “But yes, I think she is.”
“Another soulmate,” she said with a droll tone.
He didn’t take offense. “Well, it does seem fated.”
She laughed. “In this case, you’re right. Get off the phone. I need to call Clare.”
