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I kissed her, pushing hair back froht,” I said, trying to be supportive

“I know,” she replied and forced a suilty…”

“You shouldn’t,” I said fir selfish You said it’s been almost a year”

“I know” She sighed and then so I want some of whatever you packed for lunch”

“I didn’t,” I said and handed her the extra hel from a street vendor You know – mystery meat and fries”

She laughed and hopped on the bike behindaround my waist We drove up the island to North Topsail Beach and found a spot to park, not far from a nice restaurant

There was suard tower Once I parked the bike, alked up to a beach front restaurant and ordered a couple of burgers and fries We bought a portable beach umbrella from a vendor at the side of the road and then alked past the small row of dunes to a spot where we set up the umbrella and spread the blanket Once settled, we ate our lunch, talking about the proximity to Camp Lejeune where I once was stationed when I ith Special Operations Forces

There weren’t many tourists around at that time of year and most of the beach front was private Other than an older wo for shells, ere alone I took out my cell and put on soht, rubbing sunscreen on each other when the afternoon sun grew hot When we got too hot, we ran into the surf and then laid on the blanket under the uht clouds rolled in later in the afternoon and offered some respite from the incessant sun

Miranda caht for the rest of the week, and we et enough of each other I was able to get enough work done on ood about staying the extra week By the time Saturday rolled around, I felt certain that ould continue the relationship once ere both back in New York Although I’d be busy with Brimstone, and Miranda would be busy with classes, ould be able to continue to see each other

Then reality struck ho

Miranda still didn’t know the truth and each passing dayher the letters, let alone revealing to her how I got them

On the Saturday night before I was returning to Manhattan, I suggested co weekend for a few days so we could see each other before her classes started and enjoy the last week of the suether

She said she couldn’t see me

“I’ll be in Arlington,” she said “It’s the one-year anniversary of Dan’s death Scott, Jeanne and I will be driving up to Arlington on Thursday night, staying Friday, and driving on to Manhattan for the 21st I have to check into my dorm at the New Yorker Classes start on the 25th”

I knew then that I couldn’t keep deceiving her Even if I never outright told her a lie of co to her by o who she was I knehen I first saw her that she was Miranda Parker I should have admitted I knew she was aand most of all, that I knew that her husband died