You Can't Hurry Love by Beth K. Vogt Page A

Jamie,
    Surprise! I know you weren’t expecting an e-mail from me. I only hope you’ll read it before deleting it or marking it as spam.
    I talked with Peter and he reminded me that you’re deployed. He didn’t give me any details, and that’s okay. I don’t need to know specifics, unless you want to share them with me. I mean, if you can. I know sometimes people aren’t allowed to share where they are when they’re deployed.
    Elisabeth paused, her hands resting on her laptop keyboard. She was rambling via e-mail. Jamie certainly didn’t want to read a bunch of blathering from her.
    Anyway, I wanted to say I wish things had ended differently that day we talked in the coffee shop. And that I’m sorry. Again. And I’ll be praying for you while you’re deployed—although I forgot to ask Peter how long you’ll be gone because I also don’t remember if you told me. And he couldn’t tell me what you’re doing. So I’ll keep the prayers general—health, safety, encouragement.
    I guess that’s it. Take care of yourself.
    Elisabeth
    She stared at the screen for a few minutes. Walked away from her laptop into her galley kitchen to reward herself with a grape soda. Came back and whispered a brief “Please let him read it and write back” prayer. And then pushed Send.
    â€¢ • •
    March
    â€œSo he never replied to your e-mail?” Tori sounded as disappointed as Elisabeth felt.
    â€œNo, and it’s been three weeks. Did you double-check the e-mail address for me?”
    â€œYes. Peter said it was right.”
    â€œOkay, then.” Elisabeth stretched out on her couch, resting her head against the padded arm and staring up at the ceiling. “He got it and either deleted my e-mail without reading it or he read it and decided not to respond.”
    â€œOr maybe it ended up in his spam folder.”
    Yeah. Or he sent it there.
    â€œI guess.”
    â€œSo what are you going to do?”
    â€œNothing. I told Peter if Jamie didn’t reply, I wouldn’t e-mail him again.”
    â€œBut you didn’t tell Peter how many times you’d e-mail Jet before you’d give up if he didn’t reply . . .”
    Elisabeth could almost see the scheming sparkle in her friend’s eyes. “I think you’re quibbling, Tori.”
    â€œDid you?”
    â€œNo. But I think one time was implied.” She ran her hand along the faded material covering the couch. Maybe it was time to stop living like a college student and buy some new furniture.
    â€œIf you didn’t specifically say you’d only e-mail Jet one time, then there’s no problem with you e-mailing him one more time—just to see if he’ll reply to your second e-mail.”
    â€œIf he wouldn’t reply to my first e-mail, why would he reply to the second?”
    â€œJust write the second e-mail, Lis. If he doesn’t respond to that one, then let it go. What can it hurt?”
    â€œNothing but my ego, I guess. And it’s already taken a hit.”
    â€œYour ego—or your heart?”
    â€œMy heart isn’t involved, Tori. I just want to end things better with Jamie.”
    â€œEnd things . . . or start something?”
    â€œIt doesn’t matter if he won’t reply.”
    â€œThen send him another e-mail. Deal?”
    â€œDeal.”
    Later that night Elisabeth dragged her laptop into bed with her. As she kicked the blankets down to the end of the bed, she realized she was wearing the same snowman pajamas she’d had on the night Jamie had shown up in her hotel room—and she’d doused him with a bottle of water.
    Did he remember that night? Did he think of her at all?
    Elisabeth opened up her inbox, and pulled up a blank e-mail. Typed in Jamie’s address. Rested one hand on the keyboard and covered her eyes with the other.
    God, please let Jamie read this e-mail. Please