"It's beautiful out here even in the dark. I bet it's gorgeous in the daylight."
"It is," she says. "It's the most beautiful place in the world. I never want to move away from it."
"It's got to be nice to feel like you're exactly where you belong."
"Where do you belong, Anchor?" she asks me softly. The huge pine trees tower above us, the sky dark but filled with stars.
"I've been looking for a place to belong my whole life," I tell her.
"And now look at you," she says. "You've come Home."
Her words are spoken easily, with a smile. But they terrify me in a way she doesn't understand. Giving my heart, my whole heart, over to someone means there's a cost involved. Losing what I love scares me shitless.
"Right here," she says. "Turn right. That's my parents’ house."
"This is where you grew up?" I ask as we pull up to a massive homestead. A house that is lit up by lampposts, a large garage with three bays, attic windows with the lights on, a big wide porch full of white rockers. "Damn," I say, "this place is incredible."
"My dad built it with his own two hands," she tells me as I pull into the large driveway in front of the house and turn off the ignition. Jumping out of the Jeep, I head over to her side and open her door, taking her hand and then pulling her in for the hug I've been aching to give her for the last few hours.
"What was that for?" she asks, looking up at me, the moonlight across her face. Even in her pain, this girl glows.
"I'm just happy you invited me to come along. I’m glad I can be here for you. I know you love your family something fierce.” I swallow my feelings of being overwhelmed. I have never had anyone and Lemon, she has everyone.
“I know we just met, but I want you here with me," she says, pulling me in for a second hug. “I know my family can be a lot. But I just want..." She swallows. "I want you."
* * *
Inside the houseI quickly realize why her family is so dear to her. There's family pictures on every wall, big comfy furniture in all corners of the rooms. Someone's put on a pot of soup and I'm guessing one of her brothers’ wives is the one slicing a loaf of French bread.
"Oh, Lemon," a woman says, wrapping her up in her arms. "Happy birthday. I'm sure this is not how you expected to be spending it."
Lemon hugs her back. "Thanks, Abby. It's been a long day for everybody, I guess."
"Who's this?" Abby asks, looking over at me.
"This is Anchor," she says. "We met at the lake house. He's our new neighbor and my..." She is looking at me with anxious eyes, silently asking me to fill in the blank.
"Friend," I say, offering her a hand. "Good to meet you, Abby."
"Good to meet you too. You guys hungry?" she asks us.
Lemon shakes her head. "No, we ate before we left. Mac grilled burgers."
"Well, Prairie made lemon meringue pie, which I guess is apropos considering it's your birthday. She made one this morning before she even knew you were coming back into town.”
“That woman has good instincts."
I smile, watching the two women exchange updates as they head into the kitchen. I follow them, taking it all in.
An older man is sitting at the table with a bowl of soup. His eyes lift when Lemon walks into the kitchen.
"Hey sweetheart." He stands and Lemon walks over to him.
"Hey, Dad," she says, "I'm so sorry about Grandma."
"It's gonna be all right," he says. "She's going to be all right and pull through. I have faith in that."
Lemon smiles. "The doctors say anything?"