by Evie Harper
Jake’s parents are loving and caring. They took me in and made me a part of their family instantly. Their hugs feel like the hugs my parents used to give me.
"Lil, breakfast is served," Jake yells from the kitchen.
I pull myself out of bed, pull on some panties, a bra, denim shorts and a white tank top.
I make my way to the kitchen spotting a massive amount of French toast on a plate at the kitchen bar. I sit on a stool and almost get the delicious hotness to my mouth; but Jake beats the toast and kisses me sweetly.
He pulls back and smiles a cheeky grin at me. I laugh and shake my head at him.
"The guys just got here for work. I’m gonna go out and help. You wanna come with?"
I shake my head and say around my mouthful of food, "I'm going to go and visit the willow tree first."
Jake's eyes flash with pain before he whispers to me, "Okay, beautiful, take your time."
He kisses me on the forehead and puts another plate in front of me. This one is full of fruit.
I look over to my fiancé who is looking at me with a huge grin on his face. I laugh, and then start eating my huge breakfast he is obviously hoping is for two.
***
I look down at Sasha's gravestone, an angel with a sword, the meaning is justice. I bend down and wipe away the leaves and clean away the dirt that has blown on from the wind.
"I miss you, Sash, but I know you're always here." I place my hand over my heart.
Sasha's grave sits underneath our favourite childhood place, our willow tree. We would play here every afternoon, and on the weekends, we’d climb the tree, role playing, inviting our friends to play. The tree was where we told each other all our secrets and all our dreams for when we grew up. Memories float through my mind of Sasha's laughter, her hair flowing in the wind as she runs to the tree...
Sasha squeals with laughter and starts running over to me as I sit on a branch in our willow tree. "Lily, did you see Matthew O'Conner at lunch today? Did you see him sit with me and ask me to hold hands?" I look over at my excited little sister and grin at her. "I did and I saw you take his hand and hold it too. What was it like? Did it feel gross and sweaty?"
Sasha stares up at me in the tree and looks me right in the eyes and says with a faraway expression on her face, "No," she breathes out, "it was wonderful. His hand was soft and cool." She starts climbing the tree to sit on a branch near me. "I'm going to marry him one day,” she announces.
I giggle. "You can't know who you're going to marry in grade four, Sash."
"Yes, I can, Lil. He's the one. I just know it. Holding his hand was like magic. I saw our whole future, a huge white wedding, a big house with purple and pink curtains and a big white fence to keep our dog and cat in." Sasha wrinkles her nose and says, "I'm not sure how many kids yet." I giggle again at thinking about pink and purple curtains.
In the distance, I hear our mum call us in for dinner. We both start climbing down the tree in a hurry. I get to the bottom and say to Sash, "First one to the house gets to pick the TV show we watch during dinner." As soon as I see Sasha's feet touch the ground, I dash off, running as fast as I can. I smile brightly at hearing my little sister running behind me, laughing.
I'm taken out of my thoughts by a cool breeze caressing my neck. I look down to the angel gravestone and a smile graces my lips. I touch the inscription gently with my fingertips...
BELOVED DAUGHTER AND SISTER
UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN, SWEET SISTER, I WILL BE WAITING FOR YOU AT THE WILLOW TREE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Evie Harper is an Aussie author who lives in Queensland, Australia. She is a bookaholic, who is never found without her kindle, if by chance she doesn’t have it, she has severe separation anxiety.
When Evie isn’t writing or reading, most of the time you can find her playing board games or watching her favourite TV series with her husband and two children.
You Loved Me At My Darkest will be followed by
You Loved Me At My Weakest, releasing November 2014, and
You Loved Me At My Ugliest releasing February 2015.
STALK EVIE HERE:
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
To my husband. To the man that drives me crazy and loves me like crazy. Thank you for putting up with my late nights, not eating with the family, making school lunches every day, washing clothes. Basically just doing everything for the last few months while I stared at my computer screen. But mostly thank you for getting pissed at me for not being around and missing me. Nothing says you love me more than wanting me with you to watch our favourite shows together. For my next book I will be getting a laptop so I can sit next to you and write while you watch our shows lol! I love you baby!
To Mel & Amber, you both know I'm so not the mushy type until I've had a few drinks lol! But I'm teary already. Saying thank you here just doesn't feel like enough, but I will try. From the moment I said I wanted to write a book you both encouraged me and read every horrible chapter I sent to you. I'M SORRY! Your words of encouragement and always finding time to read chapters for me made my heart grow to an impossible size. Your comments of loving even my very first horribly written scenes makes me smile. You've put up with my endless talk about books and now my writing. You have always been there for me and I know through any ups and downs past and future you'll be there with me when we are old and grey, trying to escape the old home to go find a bar to party in! I hope to always be there for you both and give you back what you've given me, lifelong friendships worth fighting for.
To my C.O.W's. Ash, River, Alissa & Bel - This is going to be tough and my eyes are already glassy lol! Okay, I wake up every day and one of the first things on my mind is to log on and chat to you girls. It's built into me now like it's always been there. EVERY DAY I smile, I laugh, I almost wet my pants because of you girls. It's like a girl’s weekend every day! You have all supported me and encouraged me on this journey and I THANK YOU all so much for that. I love you all very much and I can't wait for the many years of friendship to come.
And THANK YOU to River for answering my many questions and understanding my very confused questions and anwers lol! Thanks for seeing me through the maze that is self publishing and giving me someone to be able to always turn to, to ask questions. I appreciate your help A HELL OF A LOT! Mwah!
To Bel. Even though our friendship has only just began, you went out of your way to help me. You hold the record for reading my book the most and finding the most mistakes lol! Your honest opinions, ideas and encouragement pushed me to be a better writer. Thank you so much for always fitting me into your busy life and going the extra mile when I needed someone.
To my Betas, Gill, Ash, Alissa, Bel, Sue & Amanda. Thank you for reading my story and finding my mistakes, plot holes and just for putting your lives on hold to help me. Each of you gave me an enormous amount of help and guidance and I thank you all for that.
