CHAPTER 13
I don't know how
I don't know why
But, girl, it seems
You've touched my life
-'N Sync, "Falling"
"Ah! This place is incredible!"
Rafe stood in wonder in the middle of the main bedroom's walk-in closet, surrounded by clothes and various accessories.
His common sense told him that one side - the sparser one - was definitely his and one definitely belonged to a female. Shirts and pants, mainly featuring earth tones, hung on his side - the left - while colorful, frilly items hung to the right.
Silently crossing the closet's carpeted floor, Rafe reached for one of the feminine blouses, a ruffled, white top. Holding it to his nose, he inhaled deeply, taking in the soft scent of soap and citrus. It seemed vaguely familiar, but he couldn't quite place it...
Alison said they lived there together. Livvie said they lived there together. Who was telling the truth?
Rafe knew Livvie had lied to him at least once. What else was she hiding?
Exhaling deeply, Rafe strode back to the center of the spacious closet.
'There must be something in here I remember, or something that will help me remember,' he thought, surveying the room carefully.
Suddenly, something caught his eye.
Stepping forward, Rafe stood on the tips of his toes, reaching for something on the top closet's top shelf.
What did he find? A brown leather journal with 'RK' embossed on it in shiny, silver script.
"My initials," he murmured, tracing the letters with his fingertips.
Turning the clasp carefully, Rafe opened the journal and peeked inside. Meanwhile, his feet moved on their own it seemed, leading him to a seat on the bedroom's king-sized mattress.
The first page featured handwriting that Rafe didn't recognize. He read it aloud carefully.
"'Rafe,
"'I was so sad when you told me that you threw out your other journal. I know how much it meant to you. You were such a wonderful writer, always able to articulate your feelings.
"'You know that if you ever need anything, I'm here for you, but, if I'm not around for some reason, please use this.
"'All my love forever,
Alison.'"
"Alison..."
Her name escaped Rafe's lips as nothing more than a whisper; yet, it resonated in his ears louder than anything he'd ever heard before.
She was the one. He knew it. He could feel it in every part of his being.
Now he just had to remember...
I don't know how
I don't know why
But, girl, it seems
You've touched my life
-'N Sync, "Falling"
"Ah! This place is incredible!"
Rafe stood in wonder in the middle of the main bedroom's walk-in closet, surrounded by clothes and various accessories.
His common sense told him that one side - the sparser one - was definitely his and one definitely belonged to a female. Shirts and pants, mainly featuring earth tones, hung on his side - the left - while colorful, frilly items hung to the right.
Silently crossing the closet's carpeted floor, Rafe reached for one of the feminine blouses, a ruffled, white top. Holding it to his nose, he inhaled deeply, taking in the soft scent of soap and citrus. It seemed vaguely familiar, but he couldn't quite place it...
Alison said they lived there together. Livvie said they lived there together. Who was telling the truth?
Rafe knew Livvie had lied to him at least once. What else was she hiding?
Exhaling deeply, Rafe strode back to the center of the spacious closet.
'There must be something in here I remember, or something that will help me remember,' he thought, surveying the room carefully.
Suddenly, something caught his eye.
Stepping forward, Rafe stood on the tips of his toes, reaching for something on the top closet's top shelf.
What did he find? A brown leather journal with 'RK' embossed on it in shiny, silver script.
"My initials," he murmured, tracing the letters with his fingertips.
Turning the clasp carefully, Rafe opened the journal and peeked inside. Meanwhile, his feet moved on their own it seemed, leading him to a seat on the bedroom's king-sized mattress.
The first page featured handwriting that Rafe didn't recognize. He read it aloud carefully.
"'Rafe,
"'I was so sad when you told me that you threw out your other journal. I know how much it meant to you. You were such a wonderful writer, always able to articulate your feelings.
"'You know that if you ever need anything, I'm here for you, but, if I'm not around for some reason, please use this.
"'All my love forever,
Alison.'"
"Alison..."
Her name escaped Rafe's lips as nothing more than a whisper; yet, it resonated in his ears louder than anything he'd ever heard before.
She was the one. He knew it. He could feel it in every part of his being.
Now he just had to remember...