“This place is beautiful,” I said, seeing the moonlight reflect in the water’s center.

“I shouldn’t have come.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“It’s not your fault. Never was.”

I took her hand, unable to hold back. “From the moment I saw you, when I walked into the house Dad said would be mine too, I thought you were the most beautiful person I’d ever seen.”

“Everyone’s beautiful at eighteen,” she said, wiping her tears with a smile.

“Then I got to know ...