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There was notime with each other back in the States, at least, not yet

On the bedside table sat the fabled letter froht he’d let her read it, and he hadn’t touched it since

Sabela wasn’t sure what to make of it

The contents of the envelope were the e for, but now that she knehat the issue was, she wasn’t sure how to best go about fixing the proble, there see she could do

Sabela looked up as she heard the doors open Colin strolled into the room He smiled at her, and she smiled back

“I thought you’d be back later,” she said “I wouldn’t have been such a couch potato if I knew you’d be back so soon”

“It’s cute,” Colin said, s on my bed I wonder if I can convince you to spend more time there”

Sabela shot him a playful look “You do have a talent at persuasion”

He laughed and caht, and Ithat I couldn’t wait to act on, so here I am”

To her surprise, Colin plucked Blanca’s letter from the bedside table and held it out to her

“Um?”

“You want to confirm that the letter is inside that envelope?” he asked

What a strange request Sabela sat up and took the envelope from him, then verified that the letter was still inside She handed it back “It is What are you about to do, a ician”

“We’ll go with that,” Colin said with a nod “Magician works well”

He was being so strange Sabela squinted at him, but Colin didn’t explain himself Instead, he crossed the room and approached the lit fireplace

“Noatch as I make my past disappear”

Sabela gasped

With a flick of his wrist, Colin tossed the envelope, letter and all, into the flames

The old paper burned easily It curled and caught, searing black before cruone, all of his own volition

Sabela caught his gaze, stupefied “Did you just do that?” she asked, breathless

“Nothing upoff his suit jacket He unbuttoned the cuffs of his shirt and showed her his wrists “I just did that”

He crossed the rooe of the bed “I don’t want the past anyht I want to focus on the future, and I want that future to be with you”

Heat rose to her cheeks To drive his statement home, Colin reached out and laid his hand on top of hers Sabela couldn’t stop looking at his lips, eager to feel theain

Her heart beat a rhythm for him and him alone “Colin, I … Thank you”

“You’ve freed me”

He squeezed her hand, and Sabela leaned in, craving his kiss, when there was a soft knock at the door

Colin sighed “Bad ti” He raised his voice to be heard outside “Yes?”

“It’s me, Sir, with lunch,” Marie called from the other side “May I come in?”

“You may”

Wrapped up in one of Colin’s shirts, Sabela sat up She wasn’t erooirlfriend

Marie set up their lunch at the end of the bed, then bowed her head and left, all s a lot in the last few days Sabela figured Marie must approve

Sabela was glad, too

As they ate, she thought about the letter, now turned to ash There was soht, and she wasn’t convinced that she had all the facts

“I know you said you’re done with the past, and I am, too But would youold wounds and you don’t want to answer, I understand”

The fork paused halfway to Colin’s ive her his full attention “I guess I can understand why you would be curious given the circumstances It’s okay Ask away”