Page 25 of The Strawberry Field
“Thank you. Really. Thank you, Jake.”
We walk back to the house. The sun is lowering over the lake, sky softening into gold.
“You settling in okay?” he asks.
“I’ve been making lists,” I say.“I’m getting the house ready to sell.”
He pauses.“Oh. Have you found a realtor?”
“No. Not yet.”
“I know someone. I can send you his number.”
“Thanks,” I say, hearing the note in his voice—surprise, maybe. Disappointment, too.
He watches me for a beat, then asks quietly,“Did you ever come back? After…”
I shake my head.“No. Not since—”
“Yeah,” he says.“I didn’t think so.”
We stand there, silence settling between us, full of what we’re not saying.
“I’ve thought about you,” he says.“Your family. I wanted to reach out, but…”
“I know,” I say, cutting him off gently.“Me too. It just seemed easier to leave it alone.”
“Right.”
But standing here now, I’m not sure that was true. Maybe we should have said more. Done more. Maybe the pain didn’t have to live this long without air.
“Would you like something to drink?” I ask.
“I’m good,” Jake says. He starts to turn, then stops.“Actually… I was thinking of grilling tonight. Would you want to come over?”
The invitation catches me off guard.
And for a second, just a second, something inside me lifts. The boulder shifts.
But then I remember why I’m here. What I’ve decided.
I can’t let Jake back in. Not now. Not when I have nothing to offer. Not when I’ve already decided to walk away.
“Thank you,” I say gently.“But I need to make some calls. Get things moving with the sale.”
He nods, too quickly.“Of course. I get it.”
“I’m sorry,” I add.“It’s not you. I just—”
“Tangled past and all that,” he says, forcing a smile.
“Sort of,” I say in a low voice.
He nods again.“Come on, Hattie.”
We walk back to the house together. Hattie bounds down the stairs, thrilled to see me. I scratch behind her ears.
“I remember you always wanted a dog,” I say.
