lights, including the canopy that covered the fountain.
Uncle Hugh and Aunt Penny looked happy and relaxed as they mingled with the crowd. Even more people had shown up for the party, many of which had known my father when he was a boy. I loved hearing their stories about him and the other James siblings. It had been a long time since I had been able to hear people talk about him without wanting to cry. Instead, I ended up laughing so hard that my stomach hurt.
At the end of the night, I made my way to the makeshift bar just in time to have Charles empty the last of the wine into my glass. “You have impeccable timing.”
“This has been a lovely evening,” I said, feeling nostalgic. Now that I had gotten the chance to spend some time with them, I was sad that this would be my last interaction with them for the foreseeable future.
“You wouldn’t feel that way if you were around us more often,” Charles said with a laugh. “But it has been wonderful to meet you, Taylor. You remind me so much of William.”
“I do?”
Most people saw me and decided that because I looked like my mother, I must also take after her in the personality department.
“You have his dry wit. His warm smile. He would be proud of the way you have grown up.”
“Thank you. That really means a lot.” I blinked several times to keep tears from my eyes. “I miss him every day.”
Charles smiled knowingly. “Me too.”
It was a small moment, but it meant everything to me. For so long I had felt guilty for moving on, and Charles had just given me permission to do that very thing. Knowing that my father would be proud of me meant that I could finally let go of the past and start planning for the future.
That future was still uncertain except for one thing- Dexter would be part of it. He was my gravity, keeping me solidly in place when everything around me was spinning. I had no intention of ever letting him go.
DECEMBER
November flew by faster than I imagined was possible. Between my classes, spending time with Cessy and her friends, nights and weekends with Dexter, and squeezing in time to enjoy London, I barely had a moment to breathe.
Just when London was beginning to feel like home, I had to prepare to leave. As November turned into December, the city began to prepare for the holiday season. But it was hard to get excited about Christmas knowing that I would be spending it in Chicago without Dexter and Cessy.
Even worse, December meant that I had to start studying for finals. I would’ve much preferred to spend my time hibernating in Dexter’s condo high above the city, enjoying breakfast in bed, not to mention other things in bed. But, alas, I needed to pass my classes.
Dexter had to spend part of the week in Paris for a business meeting. I was bummed, but he gave me a key before he left insisting that I make myself at home in his condo. It was much easier to get studying done there than it was at home with Cessy chatting the day away, so I gladly accepted.
It didn’t hurt that his place was amazing. Floor to ceiling windows that gave me a 360 degree view of the city. His place took up the entire top floor and I never got bored snooping around. Dexter said he didn’t mind, insisting he had nothing to hide. Other than his nerdy collection of video games, that seemed to be true.
One night, after a full day of studying, I poked around in his bedroom looking for a warm pair of socks for my ice cold feet. His dresser had ten different drawers, each one holding neatly folded clothes. I was beginning to suspect that he suffered from obsessive compulsive disorder. But it was better than picking up dirty underwear from the bathroom floor.
The first two drawers held boxers and undershirts. The third drawer didn’t have any clothes in it. Instead, a series of watches, tie pins, and cufflinks were laid out neatly. A few items were still in boxes.
I had been kicking around the idea of getting him a pair of engraved cufflinks for
Uncle Hugh and Aunt Penny looked happy and relaxed as they mingled with the crowd. Even more people had shown up for the party, many of which had known my father when he was a boy. I loved hearing their stories about him and the other James siblings. It had been a long time since I had been able to hear people talk about him without wanting to cry. Instead, I ended up laughing so hard that my stomach hurt.
At the end of the night, I made my way to the makeshift bar just in time to have Charles empty the last of the wine into my glass. “You have impeccable timing.”
“This has been a lovely evening,” I said, feeling nostalgic. Now that I had gotten the chance to spend some time with them, I was sad that this would be my last interaction with them for the foreseeable future.
“You wouldn’t feel that way if you were around us more often,” Charles said with a laugh. “But it has been wonderful to meet you, Taylor. You remind me so much of William.”
“I do?”
Most people saw me and decided that because I looked like my mother, I must also take after her in the personality department.
“You have his dry wit. His warm smile. He would be proud of the way you have grown up.”
“Thank you. That really means a lot.” I blinked several times to keep tears from my eyes. “I miss him every day.”
Charles smiled knowingly. “Me too.”
It was a small moment, but it meant everything to me. For so long I had felt guilty for moving on, and Charles had just given me permission to do that very thing. Knowing that my father would be proud of me meant that I could finally let go of the past and start planning for the future.
That future was still uncertain except for one thing- Dexter would be part of it. He was my gravity, keeping me solidly in place when everything around me was spinning. I had no intention of ever letting him go.
DECEMBER
November flew by faster than I imagined was possible. Between my classes, spending time with Cessy and her friends, nights and weekends with Dexter, and squeezing in time to enjoy London, I barely had a moment to breathe.
Just when London was beginning to feel like home, I had to prepare to leave. As November turned into December, the city began to prepare for the holiday season. But it was hard to get excited about Christmas knowing that I would be spending it in Chicago without Dexter and Cessy.
Even worse, December meant that I had to start studying for finals. I would’ve much preferred to spend my time hibernating in Dexter’s condo high above the city, enjoying breakfast in bed, not to mention other things in bed. But, alas, I needed to pass my classes.
Dexter had to spend part of the week in Paris for a business meeting. I was bummed, but he gave me a key before he left insisting that I make myself at home in his condo. It was much easier to get studying done there than it was at home with Cessy chatting the day away, so I gladly accepted.
It didn’t hurt that his place was amazing. Floor to ceiling windows that gave me a 360 degree view of the city. His place took up the entire top floor and I never got bored snooping around. Dexter said he didn’t mind, insisting he had nothing to hide. Other than his nerdy collection of video games, that seemed to be true.
One night, after a full day of studying, I poked around in his bedroom looking for a warm pair of socks for my ice cold feet. His dresser had ten different drawers, each one holding neatly folded clothes. I was beginning to suspect that he suffered from obsessive compulsive disorder. But it was better than picking up dirty underwear from the bathroom floor.
The first two drawers held boxers and undershirts. The third drawer didn’t have any clothes in it. Instead, a series of watches, tie pins, and cufflinks were laid out neatly. A few items were still in boxes.
I had been kicking around the idea of getting him a pair of engraved cufflinks for
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