“Why not?” I laugh, “You’re on a roll with the good stuff. What’s your sage advice for making up?”
“Don’t.”
“What?” I blink.
“At least, not right now,” David explains. “Give it a day or so. Like I said, it sounds like he made some pretty bonehead moves last night. So, be mad. You’re allowed to love someone and still be mad at them.”
“But what if—?”
“What if what?” David interrupts. “He’s not going anywhere. The guy who lives in a cabin like that is practically growing roots of his own in that forest. And you’re not going anywhere soon. So, take your time. Don’t go into this angry. Just let the situation defuse and then come up with a way of proving him wrong.”
“Proving him wrong?” That sounds fun, but I think I need more specific pointers.
“About you,” he confirms. “Prove to him you aren’t that air-headed New Yorker who is taking the coward’s way out. Prove to him that you’re just as boneheaded as him.”
“Right… It probably is a good idea to go in with a clear head. And you’re right about me not going anywhere.”
“Yeah, I don’t think Caleb Walker is the only one growing roots here,” David laughs. “Which surprises me, since there’s no Starbucks here.”
“Hey, you were the one that said it’s the people that make the place, right?” I look out across the town. “The idea of leaving them just…”
Just makes me want to cry.
The buildings of East River Forge are now lit up in the morning sunshine. From the balcony, I have a clear view of Main Street in both directions, plus the easterly bend up ahead that turns toward the library. Oak Street runs to my left, on toward the bakery and the Jensen’s grocery store.
“I don’t think there’s much I can do about it now,” I finally admit. “This is home.”
David sighs dramatically and clutches at his chest as if I’ve just broken his heart all over again. But there’s the ghost of a smile on his lips.
“Disaster!” he declares. “Jess is going to hunt me down, I’m sure. I think I was supposed to convince you to come back to New York. In a sack if necessary.”
“Oh wow,” I laugh. “Yeah, you’ll probably want to lay low when you get back. Maybe move. Change your name.”
“Get plastic surgery,” David adds, rubbing a hand over his defined jaw. “Dammit, I always liked this face.”
I roll my eyes.
“Well,” he says, “at least let me go back with a promise that you’ll be back to see us regularly? Like, we get you for a full weekend every two months or something?”
“Like a custody agreement?” I laugh.
“Whatever it takes to keep Jess off my back.”
Longing tugs at my heartstrings but it’s suddenly a lot less powerful than it had been a few days ago. I miss my friends, but the sensation is no longer tainted by guilt over leaving.
“Fine.” I agree. “We’ll work out some kind of agreement.”
David claps his hands together in a prayer of thanks.
“We can hash out the details over dinner tonight?” I suggest.
David glances inside the house.
“You gonna feed me with varnish and sawdust?”
“I’ll take you out!” I say elbowing him in the ribs. “My treat. If I’m going to be avoiding the whole Caleb thing, then working out a plan for heading home is just what I need to—”
“Hey, Lizzie!”