Chapter Twenty Four: The Essentials of Remembering

“You had the sweetest smile, one that I’ll never forget, even as I grow older. I started keeping a journal the day I met you. From the moment we played together, with your true and humble nature, you made a lasting impression on me. Thank you for everything you did to help me through my difficulties, especially as an outsider. I’ve written down every detail of our days together in our favorite spot, so you’ll always have a reminder of me. Please don’t cry when you hear that I’m leaving. I promise I’ll come back to find you. And when I do, I’ll remind you of all the memories we made. My new family will take care of me, and I’ll write to you as soon as I arrive. Goodbye, Cara. I’ll see you again when we’re old.”

The words had always haunted Will. Vince’s letter, which he had held onto for years, was a stark reminder of the promise Vince had made to Cara—a promise that had never been fulfilled. Before Vince left to live with his new family, he had handed Will a journal, asking him to give it to Cara after he left. It was the first and last favor Vince had ever asked of him, but Will never followed through. Instead, he had kept the journal, reading it over and over again.

Each page contained memories of Vince’s childhood with Cara—secret moments they shared while playing together. As he read, Will’s jealousy and resentment began to take root. Vince had been Cara’s closest companion, her playmate. Now that he was gone, Will felt that his place was secured. Yet, the decision to keep the journal from Cara was a decision he could never undo. He justified his actions, convincing himself that he was doing what was best for her. She didn’t need to remember the past, he told himself. And anyway, Vince had likely forgotten all about her once he’d moved on with his new life.

But Will’s conscience still gnawed at him. The guilt lingered, even after all these years. He had lived with the memories Vince had shared with Cara, reliving their childhood together through the pages of the journal. He had even gone so far as to write letters, posing as Vince, in an attempt to keep his presence in Cara’s life. However, when he discovered that Cara had lost her memories, he convinced himself that he had made the right decision. If she couldn’t remember him, then she wouldn’t remember the pain of losing Vince, either. It was for the best, right?

As he read Vince’s final letter again, Will couldn’t help but wonder if Vince had ever mentioned the journal to Cara. What if he had? What if that was the missing piece that would help Cara remember everything—remember Vince, remember their childhood, and remember him? But deep down, Will knew that Vince hadn’t written to her. The absence of Cara’s memories confirmed that. But still, something about Vince’s past troubled him. What had really happened to him all those years? Had he really cut ties with everyone, including Cara, just as Will had assumed? Had he followed his mother’s wishes and left them behind for good?

“I need to find out more about him,” Will decided, his mind focused on uncovering the truth. “Start with his past—the time he was adopted and everything that happened since then. I need to know what happened to him.” He knew hiring an investigator was the best course of action to ensure that Vince stayed out of Cara’s life for good. His obsession with her and his role in her past had to be kept in the shadows.

As Will stewed over his plans, his mother suddenly appeared on the lanai, interrupting his thoughts.

“Hey, sweetie! Who’s that?” she asked, glancing at the investigator Will had hired.

“Oh, Mom. I need him for my thesis. He’s a researcher,” Will replied smoothly, not wanting to reveal his personal agenda to her.

“Oh really? By the way, have you caught up with Cara? I heard you’re going to an acquaintance party next week. Maybe you should ask her to be your date.”

Will froze for a moment, the idea of asking Cara out suddenly becoming real. He hadn’t yet figured out how to approach her, but now his mother had planted the seed.

“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll visit her later after her class,” he said quickly, already plotting his move to ask Cara to the party.

.....................................................

Cara was on her way to the library when Vince suddenly appeared in front of her, catching her completely off guard. He looked like he had just stepped away from a heated argument, his face still shadowed with frustration. But in an instant, his mood seemed to shift as a bright smile spread across his face. He stopped her and asked if she would be his date to the acquaintance party. Although she agreed, a mix of excitement and unease bubbled inside her as she braced herself for yet another awkward moment with him.

“Then we’re set. Oh, wait—Aren't you going to ask me about what happened in the library?" Vince smirked, clearly enjoying the discomfort on Cara’s face.

Cara’s heart skipped a beat as memories of their kiss flooded back to her. She felt the heat rise in her cheeks and wanted to sink into the ground. She hadn’t intended to face him again so soon, especially not after that kiss.

“What happened in the library?” she feigned innocence, trying to act casual, even though she was certain he remembered it all too well. She wanted to move past it, hoping that he might just forget it happened.

“Do you want me to tell you, or should I reenact it so you remember?” Vince teased, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

“Don’t you dare!” Cara snapped, feeling her embarrassment only grow.

Vince laughed, clearly enjoying her reaction. “Fine. I’ll save it for the party. You’ll definitely remember then. Get ready, my sweet.” His teasing smile lingered as he turned away, leaving Cara standing there, her mind reeling.

“Vince Aldred Garcia, how dare you!” Cara muttered under her breath, her heart racing at the memory of their kiss.

She couldn’t believe it. They kissed. It wasn’t something she had expected, nor something she had planned. She reflected on it with a mix of embarrassment and confusion, unsure of how to handle the situation.

Just as Cara was lost in her thoughts, Jean appeared in front of her, snapping her out of her reverie.

“Hey, what are you doing? You look like a painting by Da Vinci! What happened with your dream guy?” Jean asked, her sharp gaze taking in Cara’s distracted demeanor.

“Shush! He’s going to be my date for the party. It's just for the benefits,” Cara replied, trying to regain her composure.

“Really? So, you two are friends with benefits now?” Jean teased, her voice dripping with amusement.

“No! We’re not!” Cara protested, flustered by the suggestion.

“Well, you did do something... irresponsible,” Jean continued, her teasing tone relentless, knowing exactly what Cara was trying to avoid.

Cara sighed, finally admitting, “I guess... there’s something between us.” She couldn't deny it anymore, even though it still felt like a tangled mess of emotions.

She couldn’t help but think back to Vince’s words earlier. She had to find a way to escape him during the party. The idea of him teasing her all night long made her dread the event even more.

“Hey, Cinderella, what are you thinking about?” Jean interrupted her thoughts once again, sensing that Cara was lost in her own world.

“Cinderella?” Cara murmured to herself, a spark of an idea forming. “Right. I’ll be his Cinderella at the party—leave him in the middle of the night and disappear. That’s the solution.”

Jean raised an eyebrow but said nothing, watching as Cara’s plan took shape in her mind. Cara felt a strange sense of determination rising within her. Maybe this could work after all.