Delayed Passion: Miss Lynch's Unrequited Love

TheaLynchwasseventeenwhensheinjuredherearandtemporarilylostherspeech.Herparentspassedawayinacaraccident,leavingherandherbrothertorelyoneachother.Later,herbrotherwastransferredforworkandleft,andshewastakentoliveathergrandmother'shouseinWestmere.Duringthisperiod,herbrotherentrustedfriendstocheckonher,andtheonewhovisitedmostfrequentlywasthe“ThirdBrother”—IanPreston,whowasfiveyearsolderthanher.CoronetisoverahundredkilometersawayfromWestmere,yetheinsistedonaccompanyinghertoseedoctors,patientlyteachingherhowtospeak,andevenappearingatherschoolgateeveryevening.Hesavedallofhisgentlecaringforher,buteverythingstoppedabruptlybeforeshecouldmusterthecouragetoconfess.Hersecretcrushwasunsuccessful,andasuddenchangeathomecausedhertoleave,cuttingoffallcontactwithhim.Whentheymetagain,itwassevenyearslaterwhenshereturnedhomeforamatchmakingdateandwascorneredbyhimintherestaurantcorridor,“Thatguydownstairs,isheyourdate?Howcomeafterspendingseveralyearsabroad,yourtastehasgottensomuchworse?Withbetteroptionsaround,howcanyouchoosehim?”“Whoisthebetteroption?”sheinstinctivelyasked.IanPreston:“Me.”[Childhoodsweethearts,gettingbacktogether,mutualunrequitedlove]