Sometimes Moments (Sometimes Moments, #1)(81)

“Goodbye, Peyton Spencer, my greatest love.”

Peyton blinked hard to remove the tears. She wanted one final look of him, one final look of the man who would always have her heart.

“Goodbye, Callum Reid. I will love you long after our goodbye and you leave town.”

A loving smile developed on his lips. She gave him one in return before they both fell silent, knowing they were prolonging their separation.

“Get the f*ck off my property, Callum,” she finally teased, reminding him of the first time he was back at her house.

Callum let out a soft chuckle and took a deep breath. “I love you. Never forget that,” he said before he kissed her forehead.

He let his lips linger on her skin for a second longer before he pulled back, putting distance between them. Then he looked at the letter she held before he turned and walked towards his car. Peyton’s knees buckled, so she sat on the step, watching him leave.

Callum didn’t look over his shoulder as he got into the car. Tears ran down her face as the brake lights disappeared and the Volvo reversed out of the driveway. Holding her breath, she watched the dark-blue car drive away from their houses and towards the town’s exit. It was quick. Their goodbye ended as quickly as they had started. Peyton stayed on the step long after he left, letting the tears to vertically roll across her cheeks.

Her heart throbbed painfully in her chest as she willed the car to return. But it didn’t. After the wind picked up and grey clouds covered the sun, she wiped the tears away and felt the nothingness in her body. Then she looked at the envelope. Her name was written exactly like Callum’s tattoo, and that’s when she realised his tattoo was actually in his handwriting. The knowledge caused her to sob as she ripped the envelope open.

Pulling out the letter, she unfolded it, and read it.

If you ever forget, it’s all on the back of the picture.

- Callum.

Peyton looked up from the letter and stared at the house across the road.

“What picture is he—”

Quickly getting on her feet, she ran into the house and then into her bedroom. She looked around her room to find the framed picture of the lake leaning against the wall below the windowsill. After picking up the frame, she sat on her bed and placed Callum’s letter on top of the blanket.

She turned the frame over, slid the pins back, took off the backing, and set it next to Callum’s letter. Her breath dissolved in her lungs and her heart froze the moment she saw it.

October 2nd 2009 – I love you, Peyton Olivia Spencer.

June 29th 2014 – I will never stop loving you, Peyton Olivia Spencer.





Two days later, life was the exact same as before, just different in some ways. The emptiness in her grew larger, and so did the aches. She missed him. Missed the sight of his smile, the tattoo cherry blossoms that ran up his arm, and the way he loved her.

Life had moved on after Callum had left town. At night, she’d lie in bed and think of him, stare out at the cherry blossom tree, and hope that he thought of her, because she thought of him with every minute that ticked by.

Peyton sighed as she looked around her. The small, square box that was her office barely fit her and Jenny. She shook her head and concentrated on the paperwork in front of her. Yesterday, she’d heard from the insurance provider—her claim had gone through without a hitch. Now, she was waiting for the building permits to be approved by the council. Unsure of how the town council worked, she didn’t hold her breath. For now, the staff was on paid leave until she figured out the next move.

Checking the time on her phone, Peyton saw that it was just after six p.m. She figured she would stay in the portable building for as long as she could, too afraid to go home alone. But then her phone buzzed in her hand at the new message from Madilynne.



Madilynne: You want to come to Graham’s for dinner?

Peyton: Not really. I have a lot of paperwork.

Madilynne: Piss-poor excuse, Peyton Spencer.

Peyton: I think I’d rather give you two alone time.

Madilynne: Better excuse. Are you in that shoebox?

Peyton: Yeah, why?

Madilynne: Go outside for a minute.

Peyton: Why?

Madilynne: Just do it!



Groaning out, Peyton set her phone down on the small table and walked to the door. She pulled on it twice, trying to get it unjammed. On the third try, she managed to get it open, surprised to see the person standing in front of her.

“Mayor,” she breathed.

Madilynne’s father gave her a smile just visible from the light above the door. Her best friend’s father was not the person she had been expecting to see.

“Hello, Peyton. How are you?” he asked.

“Ah, fine. And you, sir?” she asked nervously. Peyton had always liked the mayor, but his authority scared her.

He nodded. “That’s good. Listen, Peyton, I just wanted to express my apologies for the recent behaviour of this town towards you and the hotel. I do not know the details except for what Madilynne has told me. It saddens me to see such a lovely person like you be subjected to mistreatment, especially from our volunteer firefighters.”

Peyton flinched in surprise. An apology was something she hadn’t considered. “It’s okay, Mayor Woodside. I love this town. My parents loved this town. I wouldn’t be standing here today if I didn’t believe in the hotel.”