Message in a Bottle - Nicholas Sparks [92]
On Sunday morning—the day he was leaving—they had brunch with Deanna and Brian. Garrett saw immediately what Theresa loved about Deanna. She was both charming and amusing, and Garrett found himself laughing throughout his meal. Deanna asked him about diving and sailing, while Brian speculated that if he owned his own business, he’d never get anything done because golf would simply take over his life.
Theresa was pleased that they seemed to get along so well. Excusing themselves after they’d eaten, Deanna and Theresa headed together into the bathroom to chat.
“So, what do you think?” Theresa asked expectantly.
“He’s great,” Deanna admitted. “He’s even better looking than he was in the pictures you brought back.”
“I know. My heart skips a beat whenever I look at him.”
Deanna primped her hair, doing her best to add a little body to it. “Did your week turn out as well as you hoped?”
“Even better.”
Deanna beamed. “I could tell by the way he was looking at you that he really cares about you, too. The way you two act together reminds me of Brian and me. You seem like a good match.”
“Do you really think so?”
“I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it.”
Deanna took some lipstick out of her purse and began to apply it. “So, how did he like Boston?” she asked offhandedly.
Theresa took out her own lipstick as well. “It’s not what he’s used to, but he seemed to have enjoyed himself. We went to a lot of fun places.”
“Did he say anything in particular?”
“No… why?” She looked at Deanna curiously.
“Because,” Deanna answered evenly, “I was just wondering if he’d said anything that might make you think he’d move here if you asked him to.”
Her comment made Theresa think about something she’d been avoiding.
“We haven’t talked about it yet,” she said finally.
“Were you planning to?”
The distance between us is a problem, but there’s still something else, isn’t there? she heard a voice inside her whisper.
Not wanting to think about it, she shook her head. “I don’t think it’s the right time—at least not yet.” She paused, gathering her thoughts. “I mean—I know we have to talk about it sometime, but I don’t think we’ve known each other long enough to start making decisions about the future. We’re still getting to know each other.”
Deanna eyed her with motherly suspicion. “But you’ve known him long enough to fall in love with him, haven’t you?”
“Yes,” Theresa conceded.
“Then you know that this decision is coming, whether you want to face it or not.”
It took a moment for her to answer. “I know.”
Deanna put her hand on Theresa’s shoulder. “What if it comes down to losing him or leaving Boston?”
Theresa pondered the question and its implications. “I’m not sure,” she said quietly, and looked at Deanna uncertainly.
“Can I give you some advice?” Deanna asked.
Theresa nodded. Deanna led her out of the bathroom by the arm, leaning toward Theresa’s ear so that no one could overhear them.
“Whatever you decide to do, remember that you have to be able to go forward in life without looking back. If you’re sure that Garrett can give you the kind of love you need and that you’ll be happy, then you have to do whatever it takes to keep him. True love is rare, and it’s the only thing that gives life real meaning.”
“But doesn’t the same thing apply to him? Shouldn’t he be willing to sacrifice as well?”
“Of course.”
“Then where does that leave me?”
“It leaves you with the same problem you had before, Theresa—one that you’re definitely going to have to think about.”
Over the next two months, their long-distance relationship began to evolve in a way that neither Theresa nor Garrett expected though both should have foreseen.
Working around each other’s schedules, they were able to get together three more times, each time for a weekend. Once, Theresa flew down to Wilmington so they could be alone, and they spent their time holed up in Garrett’s house, except for an evening they