I lean close until his lips are by my ears. “I love you,” I whisper.
He leans closer, replying in a deep voice full of warmth, “I love you too.”
EPILOGUE
CHLOE
One month later…
* * *
“How did it go?” Maisie asks.
I’m sitting in the diner. She’s on her break, taking the seat opposite mine, digging into my onion rings.
“I’m not sure I made the right decision.”
“Sure you did.”
“You are?”
“Yeah, now you can work full time on your project. Have that garden up and running by next summer.”
“I doubt it.”
“I have faith in you.”
“And most of my onion rings, I notice.”
She grabs my shake and takes a sip. “Perks of working here. You get to steal from the customers.”
I think back to the day I met Enzo. Found his hand on my purse. Only he was returning it, not stealing it, as I now know. Ever since then, I’ve been finding out he isn’t who I thought he was. He’s damaged, same as me, trying to get by in the world, same as me, and he’s so much calmer since he got some answers, same as me.
“What did Zeke say?” Maisie asks, bringing me out of my thoughts.
“I told him what I’d found out about my parents. Said they were outdoor garden types. Told him they never got to have the beautiful garden but they can have this one if I can get it built.”
“Layered on the guilt, good idea.”
“I did not. I just wanted him to know how important this project is to me.”
“I’m kidding. Was he okay with that?”
“Told me he was sorry to see me go but he understood. Said I could go back anytime and he hopes I’ll think of him when I need to buy plants and benches for it.”
“There you go. All sorted.” She sits back in her seat. “When’s Enzo due to get into town?”
“Any time now. I told him I was here.”
“Then I better get lost, leave you to it.”
“Stay for a minute, would you? Keep a lonely girl company.”
“You won’t be lonely for much longer.”
“I guess not.”
“You told Enzo?”