I dwell in gardens and fields and forests.

I was a caterpillar.

“Apparently there’s a butterfly sanctuary in Pismo Seaside. It have to be the place he desires us to go subsequent. They have been his favourite animal,” Natalie mentioned.

“I may see that about him. Even a butterfly doesn’t have lengthy to dwell and to make use of every second to its fullest.”

“That seems like your father. He was huge on symbolism and what all of it means. Possibly we are going to discover the reply to all of this there.”

“We now have to be getting shut, we’re nearly again in Santa Barbara so until he’s going to have us touring additional south, this is likely to be one of many final clues,” I mentioned.

“Then let’s get to it and see the place it leads us,” Natalie mentioned and with a fast kiss on my nostril she went into the toilet to bathe.

I smiled to myself as I watched her go and considered becoming a member of her. I used to be anxious to get to the following clue and get this all completed. Now that I knew what I wished, I wished it to start out as quickly as doable. I couldn’t try this till we have been completed with what my father had deliberate for us.

In lower than an hour we have been standing exterior the sanctuary, a big wooded space with timber behind them. There was a dust stuffed walkway that went across the timber permitting individuals to take a look at the timber and the butterflies with out disturbing any of the wildlife.

There have been a couple of different individuals mingling round and we wandered previous them. I reached over and took Natalie’s hand and she or he squeezed it again. As we stopped and seemed on the butterflies sitting on the timber, I knew that this may be the final clue and it couldn’t have occurred at a greater second. As soon as I knew we have been completed I might flip to Natalie and inform her what she meant to me and what I wished our future to be like.

We stopped at a tree and checked out it for a minute, we marveled at how lovely the animals have been. I considered how unbelievable they have been and the way they made essentially the most of their lives. I felt that was what Dad was attempting to inform us to do at that second too. He wished us to take pleasure in what we had, to dwell our greatest lives, and never be unhappy for him. He had given us such an exquisite basis and now it was our time to dwell it and honor him.

“Natalie,” I started however I didn’t get to say something extra earlier than she squeezed my hand in hers after which stepped away from me.

“Jason, we each know that is going to be the final clue. No matter occurs right here, that is what your father wished us to seek out. I would like you to know this has been nice. Fantastic, actually. Probably the greatest weeks of my life. And I’m so glad we acquired to take this time to get to know one another, actually get to know one another.”

I smiled at her. It was like she was studying my thoughts and I used to be so blissful to listen to that she was considering and feeling the identical means I used to be. I reached to take her palms again however earlier than I may contact her, she lifted her palms and moved farther away from me. Dread stuffed me as I waited for her to proceed.

“However this has to finish, now,” she mentioned.

“What? No. We simply began, that is only the start for us,” I protested.

“Jason, you’re nice. In all probability top-of-the-line males I’ve ever met, however we’d by no means work out. We’re too totally different, we wish various things and we’d solely find yourself hating one another ultimately. I care about you an excessive amount of to ever discover myself hating you. As an alternative, I’m going to stroll away from you whereas I nonetheless can. Whereas I nonetheless such as you and suppose you might be an unbelievable individual.”

“No. You possibly can’t try this. Don’t depart me. Don’t run away from this. From us.”

“It’s for the very best and in time you’ll see I’m proper. What you need out of life, what you need for the present, I don’t need. It is best to have every part that you really want, it is best to have every part that you simply need and I would like to have the ability to give that to you. If I keep, we’ll simply hate one another. I’ll resent the present and also you, and I by no means wish to try this,” she mentioned and shook her head.

It was then that I may see she was crying. I wished to drag her into my arms, inform her how very unsuitable she was and persuade her to stick with me. I reached for her to try this, however she stepped farther away from me.

“Don’t. Don’t contact me. Don’t make this any tougher for us than it must be. We had an incredible week. We despatched your father off in type. The best way he would wish to be remembered and I wish to keep in mind him and also you, proper right here, proper now. At this second, when issues are nonetheless good, after we nonetheless like one another.

“We might by no means work out and I don’t suppose your father or our moms would ever be okay with us relationship, a lot much less sleeping collectively. We’re associated, it wouldn’t be proper and it wouldn’t look good for the present. What’s greatest for the present is to have you ever operating it. I do know you’ll discover somebody to interchange me that might be even higher than I may ever presumably be. I would like you to be blissful and I do know I can provide that to you.”

“The one means you can provide that to me is for those who keep. I really like you, I wish to be with you. You’re all that issues.” I mentioned.

Natalie laughed. “You’re simply proving my level. You’re all tousled in me and what you’ll be able to’t have. When you have been considering straight, you’d by no means say such a factor and after I’m gone you will begin seeing that I used to be proper. The most effective factor we may ever do is simply stroll away from one another and discover our personal paths, individually.”

“The one path I wish to take is with you.”

“No you don’t. I’m not what you want. Probably not. Don’t attempt to discover me. Don’t attempt to change my thoughts. You recognize me properly sufficient that you simply received’t and it’ll solely make issues tougher for each of us for those who strive. This has been an incredible week, however that’s all it can ever be. I’ve to go, Jason. I’m sorry,” Natalie mentioned and walked away from me.

I turned to look at her go and will see she had a automobile ready for her. I used to be too surprised by what she mentioned to cease her. By the point I acquired my wits about me, she was gone. Leaving me extra harm, indignant, and extra upset than I had ever been in my total life. I used to be additionally extra decided than ever to make Natalie see that we belonged collectively and after I acquired the ultimate clue from my father, I knew I had made the fitting determination.

Chapter 23

Natalie

“See if we are able to do a layover in London for a couple of days earlier than we head over to Germany. It is likely to be good to perform a little research there for one more present,” I mentioned to Annie.

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