Epilogue - Summer
Two years has past since I sent the letter to Harry. Almost three years since Harry and I broke up and Grandmama died. Well, I gave the letter to my father to give to him. Maybe he has moved on from me because I am no longer sure. I used to keep tabs on Harry when I had free time, but that wasn't anytime recently. I also made my father promise to give Harry the letter when he had a longer break so he could come find me or whatever his intentions are. "Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense," (Ralph Waldo Emerson). I haven't moved on, I have been focused in a different directions.
When I gave my father the letter and he walked away from me to catch his flight, I made it clear to myself that I would work on my dreams. The dreams of becoming an artist since I was a little girl. I graduated from Uni and started to go to college at Chelsea College of Arts which is one of the most prestigious art and design schools in the world. I couldn't believe it myself when I got accepted into such an illustrious school. This is my freshman and I was closer than ever to achieving my dreams.
Tonight, on this day, 1 December 2016, I will be achieving the dream. My art has won a few contests the past two years. A curator went to my art competition in June and asked me if I could paint something for the auction for Children with Cancer UK. I accepted the request without any thought because I always wanted to do something for charity. I wanted to do something different and get my name out there without my father's help.
The past couple of weeks, I have been thinking of what to paint. When I couldn't think of anything, I called Marie. "Hey, can you come over? I'm lacking ideas." I said. "Yea, I'll be there in a few." She said. I hung up my mobile and waited for her. Marie has been going to London College of Fashion. She applied to the school in August of her senior year and didn't expect to get into the school. When she came in December two years ago, she fell in love with the place. She was ecstatic when she found out that she got accepted. The fall of 2014, she moved in with me in my flat. She's now a junior at LCF and doing really well. She has been doing a huge project for one of her professors and she was one of the ten to be selected. It was a rough start for her at first, but she got the hang of things around here. Bobby and Marie broke up three years ago. Marie has been seeing someone and she's been happy as ever. After my contract was up, I was done with Uni and moved closer Chelsea, but Marie renewed her contract there.
Now, I live near Chelsea which is closer to my parents which is great. I moved in a place near there with the same landlord. The landlord owns many flats around universities in London for students with tight incomes. My parents pay for the rent while I pay for electric and every other accommodation in the flat. "Hey," I heard someone call. I walk into the living room finding Marie with the flat key I gave her to come in anytime she wanted and her supplies for her big project. "Can't think of anything?" She asked and I concurred. She started to search around the room until she founded the box of old photos. She pulled all the photos out and asked me about each one and I shook my head for each one.
She had only ten photos in her hand left and 30 minutes has gone by. I have 5 hours until the auction begins. My best pieces are always done at the last second. "How about this?" She said, handing me a photo that brought back so many memories so quickly. I remember the whole day of the very scene that I hold in my hand. "It's perfect." I said, hanging the picture near the canvas and began to paint. "I'm staying here so I can design your outfit tonight and to keep you on track," She said, as she continued to work.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"It's lovely seeing you here again, Miss Claysworth." The curator, Phoebe said. I smiled and replied, "I agree. I'm so glad that you asked me to be here." I walked around the large room, observing other pieces that were done by other artists that are distinguished around London. "Your piece is so lovely." Phoebe mentioned, observing my piece. It was the picture from the vacation I took with Harry which our first date. We were on the hill and I took a picture of the view of the lake, cabin and the surrounding woods. "Thank you so much, Phoebe." She gave me a hug and said, "I have business to take care of, will you excuse me?" I nodded and she left me.
Someone tapped my shoulder. I turned around to find my family and friends here with me to support me for the one of the biggest moments. This isn't even the pinnacle of my career, this is only the beginning of it. "Hey," I said with a massive smile. I hug each person then begin to develop side conversations with each person.
Tim Taylor was the first person I talked to. He's happy and has begin to make a business for developing of robots. He mentioned to me about his girlfriend and how lovely she really is. He's thinking of proposing to her soon and asked me how to do it. He definitely knows that this is true love and they have been going out for three years. I wasn't sure was all I could manage to say about the proposal. Marie came over to Tim and hugged him by the torso and he kissed her temple. "This is Marie." Tim introduced me to my best friend. "We've met. She's my best friend." Marie and I said to Tim simultaneously. He flushed and said to Marie, "This was your best friend that you were talking about. I have known her for almost three years." I laughed and smiled at his comment. I think to myself, Tim Taylor, one of my best guy friends is going to propose to my best friend. My two friends are possibly going to get married. I didn't see that coming.
I walked to my Aunt Emily and her family. Darcy was seven now and she is wiser beyond her years. "Summer!" She calls and she runs to me. I pick her up and spin her around. "Do you still have it?" She asked. I nodded and showed her a picture of the stuffed dog next to the portrait. I took with my Polaroid and the picture showed today's date. I put her down and walk to Aunt Emily. "I'm so proud of you. Grandmama would be proud too." She mentioned as she hugged me. "Congratulations! How long has it been?" I said. "It has been 8 and1/2 months. Who knows, Alexander maybe will be out by my birthday." She mentions, naming the baby after my grandfather who died before I was born. Her birthday is on January 1st, New Years Day. I nodded and walked away because I had to let the tears come out.
I walked to my parents. They ended up getting remarried after the divorce and it took a year to realize that they were meant to be. "Everyone always wants to know how you can tell when it's true love, and the answer is this: when the pain doesn't fade and the scars don't heal, and it's too damned late," (Jonathan Tropper, The Book of Joe). I always knew that they were different. I was my mother's maid of honor and my aunts were bridesmaids. My mum moved here after they got remarried and got back from the honeymoon in Florence. My dad still works with One Direction, Little Mix and some other bands, but he is not traveling as much to be here. My mother is pregnant with twins after the miscarriage at 43. She's now 46 and is 8 and 1/2 months along like Aunt Emily. "Hey, we are so proud of you. Everyone is including your grandparents" My mum said. "What is this going for?" My father asked. "I didn't tell you. This auction was for Children with Cancer UK." I replied. He nodded.
"Hey Summer." Marie said and I turned around. "There's a few people who want to see you." She replied and dragged me to the familiar strangers. "You made it! How did you know about the auction! I didn't know you were coming!" I said to Perrie, Zayn, Niall, Louis, Liam and Lexi. "Why not! It was all over the telly and the paper, but I didn't know you did a piece!" Perrie exclaims. I hug them all. "I thought you two broke up?" directing to Lexi and Niall while everyone else dispersed. "Well, we made up within a week of the breakup and we haven't talked in a while, but it has been two years since we've been together." Niall said, pulling Lexi closer. I smile a small smile. "Will you excuse me? I need some air." I said, slipping on my coat and then walking into the winter air.
"What are you doing out here?" He said. I turn to find my father standing against the wall alone. "I feel like something's missing because everything else is going for me." I said with glassy eyes as I stare at the Big Ben in the distance. I knew what was missing and I may not ever receive it ever again. I sigh and hug myself in the cold, London air. He walks over to me, towering over my height. "I didn't tell you this, but I gave him the letter. I gave it to him a few weeks before the guys went on the break. It was a little more than a month ago since they finished." He said. I nodded. He continued, "He didn't say anything. He didn't even open it in front of me either. He slipped into a small room and opened it alone. He didn't come out for a while either." I nodded once again, I was speechless and I had no words to respond to what he was saying to me.
"Why are you out here?" I asked him. "I don't know. I needed time to think about everything. Things have changed." He responded. I concurred because everything has changed since I moved here. "Yea, what are you thinking about if you don't mind asking?" He cleared his throat and said in his British accent that he has had for years and I don't ever notice, "Everything and Nothing. The twists and turns that we all made with my mum dying two years ago and your mum and I getting back together and having another child after the previous miscarriages." Previous miscarriages? I only known of one and that was three years ago. "What other miscarriages?" I asked out of curiosity. "We tried to have a child two years before you were born and it was successful until the 7th month. The child died during the month and your mother went into depression and shock which maybe the reason why she didn't want you to go to college in Florida because she didn't want to let you go at seventeen. The guest bedroom at the home in Florida was supposed to be your older brother's. Your mum is doing better and she is so proud of you. You are now 20 years old and you are making the world yours." He trailed. The revelation occurred to me and it all makes sense why mum didn't want me to go. She wanted to hold onto me because she couldn't onto the first. I had sympathy for my mum because her experience with the family having two miscarriages before having 3 children.
Phoebe walked outside. "I'm sorry if I am interrupting a father-daughter moment. Hey, can I talk to you inside Summer? I want to show you something." She said, holding her pen and clipboard that she carried all night. "Sure, I will see you later, father." I said and he nodded. I walked with Phoebe inside and started to ramble.
"What did you need?" I asked the frantic woman next to me. "Your piece was already sold." She comments. Did she say sold? It has only been two hours. "Are you sure it was mine? The auction has been going on for two hours." I questioned her. She slipped on her glasses and look at her clipboard. "You did the view of the cabin, right?" She question and I replied with a yes. She scanned her list and replied, "Yours was sold a few minutes ago to a young gentleman. His name was Tyler Sharys and he put the highest bid over all of the paintings here. It was sold for £3,000,000." I was beyond shocked my painting was sold for that much. I need to ask the boys if they had anything to do with this. "Oh, he left this for you." She said, handing me the note. I don't bother to open it until I find out who bought my painting.
"Niall, do you know who bought the painting?" I asked him. "All I know was his name was Tyler Sharys. Why?" He replied. "He bought the painting for £3,000,000." I stated with shock written all over my face. "No, I don't. The lads here had nothing to do with it either." He stated before I muttered a thanks and walked away.
I opened the letter and read it. It was typed letter with no name to anyone to find who wrote it. The only way to find out who actually wrote the letter is obey what the letter says.
Meet me at Open Air Theater in Regents Park. It's near here. Arrive ASAP. Head to the stage. No worries, you'll find out who I am.
I slip on coat and run into the cold once again. "Where are you going?" My father asks. "I need to find out who Tyler Sharys is. He bought my painting and left a note to go to Regents park." I comment, hopping into my car without hearing what my father has to say. My father's face shows a smile as soon as I said Tyler Sharys. Something's up and I have the intention of finding out.
I drive to Inner Circle and park near the exit of Open Air Theater. The Open Air Theater is only open in summer to fall, not the winter. I walk throughout the back entrance to the theater. I find another note as I make it to the stage. Using my mobile light, I read the note.
Turn the lights on and turn around.
Using my mobile light, I found the switch. I turn the lights on and turn around. The lights directed to the field and saw Tyler Sharys in the middle of the field. It was Harry Styles. Harry Styles was standing in the middle of a heart that is made of rose petals. I run to Harry as fast as my legs can take me. He engulfed me into a hug and spun me around.
"I'm so sorry." We both said. I laugh and some hair falls in front of my face as I look down. He tucks the hair behind my ear. We stay like that for a few minutes, staring into his eyes and he stares into mine. He starts to talk about the past. I interrupt and said, "Just shut up and kiss me." He grinned and kissed me for real this time. His mint scent that I have missed for a long time overwhelms in a good way.
We stop the kiss when snow starts to fall on us. We both laugh. "You're still the girl I met when I spilled coffee on you." He muses and I laugh. "You're still the annoying nineteen year old I met that day." I joked and a cheeky smile appears on his face. "We have drifted so much." He trails and I stop him before he continues. "Harry, we made a mistake of every leaving each other." He concurs by nodding and continues to read my thoughts, "Summer, I love you and I never stopped loving you."
He lets go of me and gets down on one knee. "Will you do me the honor of being my girlfriend once again?" He pops the question with nervousness in his voice. "Again? I don't know. Who will I be dating this time: Harry Styles or Tyler Sharys?" I said sarcastically. He seems confused and then he laughs. I kiss him again. "Does that answer your question?" I ask. He smiles and replies, "It does. This time I will shout your name from the rooftop and tell the entire world that you're mine and I love you."
"I love you." I reply, saying three words that mean everything for the first time ever. "Loving someone and having them love you back is the most precious thing in the world," (Nicholas Sparks, The Rescue). It probably means the world to him that I said those words for the very time because it means the world to me that he said them to me. My heart flutters faster and faster as I am in his arms like I always wanted.He hugs me and we stay like that for a while. With the snow falling a little bit at time, our love for each reconnects. We watch each snowflake fall. He sings into my ear of all the songs that he sang to me when we were together as we rocked back and forth in the middle of the heart. We walk out of the park hand and hand back to the auction.
Yes, we were still the seventeen year old girl and the nineteen year guy that met over a coffee incident. I am twenty years old now and he is twenty-two, but we haven't changed at all. I never did regret the day we met even if he annoyed the hell out of me. Through everything, Harry was still here, standing by my side like he never left. I smile at him and I look into his eyes. He doesn't look lost like the last time I saw him the night I kissed him after four months. I finally found the missing piece. The missing piece was love. The missing piece was Harry. Now, I have everything I could ever want in my life. "The course of true love never did run smooth," (William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream). Yes, our lives are complicated, but isn't everyone's just as complicated as ours? It took awhile to figure everything out. It might have been that we were young and dumb to know love, but we knew that we were in love as we were apart. Yes, it took almost three years to figure things out and get back, but I don't regret waiting because I finally have everything I could ever want. I have him and my dreams coming true so I am happy with everything. Through all the twists and turns, we were still here and together like we were never apart.
The End.
________________
The first book is done. I want to thank you all for this to be possible! I hope you read more of my books in the future. Summer was able to overcome her obstacles and I am super happy for her. I could go on and on about Summer, but I need to move on. More books are coming! This week, possibly tomorrow, I will write scenes for this book. There are a few that are supposed to be in here, but I made the cut so I will repost them on there. Otherwise, happy reading to anything else you may read! I love you all and thank you for everything. I am going to mark this book as complete. I will write again soon.
xxxx
-TSM