Page 35 of Unbroken

“Would it make you happy, being back in the city?” I asked, avoiding answering the question.

Fiona stared outside. “I do love the city. Denver is a special place. And I really did enjoy my job, most of the time: the fast pace and the shifting projects. It kept me on my toes, you know?”

We were both quiet, and I realized that neither one of us had actually answered the other’s question.

“Well, then take it,” I said in what I hoped was an encouraging tone. “Go for it. If that’s where you want to be, then make it happen. You deserve to be happy and doing what you love.”

Love.I wasn’t going to think about that.

She looked at me like she was shocked by my answer, then seemed to collect herself. “Exactly. Yeah, you’re right. I should seriouslyconsider the opportunity. I mean, it would be a lateral move. There wasn’t any mention of a higher position or higher pay, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t have room to grow into a bigger and better position. Thanks, Eli.”

Fiona picked up the saddle and walked away before I could come up with anything else to say.

But there was nothingtosay. She had her dreams and I had mine, and they just so happened to lead us both in opposite directions, far away from Lost Valley Ranch.

TWENTY-FOUR

ELI

“Hey, Daddy, am I clever?”

Patrick and I were hanging out in the family room after dinner. For a change, my son wasn’t begging to use my phone and was instead looking at a toy catalog, circling things he wanted for his birthday. He held the pen in the air, frozen while he waited for an answer.

The question stopped me in my tracks. My father had always said the Carter men had clever and nimble minds, and it used to drive me crazy. It was part of the impossible standard my father had forced upon me—a justification for his unreasonable demands that I always get straight As, even in subjects that I struggled in or that bored me silly. I didn’t want a four-year-old to worry about whether he was good enough. In fact, I never wanted him to worry about that. Ever. At any age.

“Where did you learn that word?”

Patrick shrugged and looked down at the catalog.

“Do you know what it means?”

He shook his head slowly.

“It means that you’re smart and quick to learn new stuff, and I definitely think you’re both of those things. Don’t you?”

Patrick raised his shoulders in a tiny shrug again.

“Bud, you figured out how to make that whole LEGO village!Icouldn’t even do that. And you remember all the words to that one song … what’s the name of it again?” I squinted my eyes and snapped my fingers. “Gosh, I keep forgetting it.”

“Daddy, the song ‘Baby Shark’ is for babies! I don’t even like it anymore.” Patrick said and laughed.

“Wow, sorry, little dude. You’re definitely not a baby. You’ve got kindergarten coming up, which means you’ll learn a bunch of new songs, learn lots of new things,andmake new friends. Are you excited?”

“I don’t know.” The happiness drained from his little face. “A little?”

I scooted across the couch and closer to where Patrick was sitting. “You’re gonna do great, don’t you worry. I believe in you.”

“Do you think Fiona thinks I’m clever?”

“Oh, I’m sure she does. In fact, I’d bet money on that, bud.”

Patrick didn’t say anything but instead jumped up and threw his arms around my neck. We hugged in silence for a few minutes as I worried about how the double challenge of a move plus starting a new school would impact my sensitive son. I wasn’t going to bring it up until I was sure about the job, though.

“Does your belly hurt right now?” I asked, still clutching him.

“Nope.” Patrick leaned back and gave me a triumphant smile. “Can I use your phone now, Daddy?”

“No, sir, I’ve got a little work to do tonight. Keep picking out toys.” I pointed to the discarded catalog.

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