Page 75 of Between Now and Forever

I frown at how extreme that sounds.

“Wow, is that a religious thing?” I look around the church.

“No.” I wait for her to expand on her answer, but she doesn’t.

“Okay…I’ll just drop you off.”

She nods.

“Outside the gate will be fine.”

I try not to take her clear reluctance to be seen with me personally. This is her life and I’m not going to be here to help her deal with whatever the fall out may be.

She sneezes.

“Bless you.”

“Sneezing is never a good sign,” she mutters and runs the back of her hand under her nose and grimaces.

There’s a box of tissues in the back of the pew in front of us. I hand her one, and she gives me a grateful smile and blows her nose.

“Thank you. It’s been creeping up on me. But, I couldn’t miss seeing you,” she says from behind her tissue. Her eyes water as she blows.

“I want to kiss you,” I say when she lowers the napkin.

“You’re turned on by the weirdest things.” She wrinkles her nose and I lean forward and drop a kiss on the bridge. She leans away.

“Carter, you’ll catch this whatever it is.”

“I just hate that I’m leaving and you’re too sick to do anything but lay in bed.”

“I’m not. I can come meet you again tomorrow,” she says and wraps her arms around herself.

“No. You can’t. You’re sick and you’re going through something really rough.”

“But…we’re not going to see each other again? This…is goodbye?” She searches my face.

“Hell no. You’rethecheesecake.” I say it without thinking. But as soon as I do, I know it’s true.

“Did you say cheesecake?”

I stroke her face and smile.

“I mean that we’re just getting started, and I’m nowhere near ready to say goodbye. I’ll call you. Text, whatever. We’ll stay in touch.”

She fixes me with a skeptical look. “While you’re on the Appalachian Trail?”

“Yeah, our carrier apparently has great service. And, if it’s not, I’ll call you when I can. And when I’m back from that trip, maybe I can come back for a couple of days before I leave for my tour. Either way, we’ll stay in touch.”

She smiles and then winces. “Oh, God. My lips are so chapped, they hurt.” She runs her tongue over them.

“Here.” I reach into my back pocket and pull out my Chap Stick. I spread it on her lips.

“Mmmm, that feels so good. Thank you. But now it has my germs.”

I put it in her hand and squeeze it.

“Keep it. A little something to remember me.”

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