Second Chance Summer (47 page)

I pushed myself up to standing and looked down at the grave for a long time. “Bye, Daddy,” I whispered. “I’ll see you soon.”

I turned and headed down the hill, where Henry was leaning against the car. “Hey,” he said, as I got close enough to hear him.

“Hi,” I said, giving him an only slightly trembling smile. It hadn’t been simple, finding our way back to being together, especially with my loss so raw. But one thing that I was learning about what happened when you stuck around—it usually seemed that other people were willing to stick by you as well. Even though we were heading back to Connecticut soon, and he was staying here, the distance wasn’t worrying me. We’d been through too much together to let a few hours’ separation split us up now. He leaned down to kiss me, and I kissed him back, making it count. I had a feeling my dad would understand.

“Are you ready to go?” he asked when we stepped apart.

I nodded. We were having a dinner at our house, a good-bye event before everyone started leaving. Lucy and Elliot, who hadn’t stopped holding hands—and making out—once he finally got up enough courage to tell her how he felt, were bringing the cups and plates (stolen, I was sure, from the snack bar). Fred and Jillian were bringing fish. Warren and Wendy were in charge of the seating plan, and I’d no doubt my brother would tell us all how the first one was invented. Kim and Jeff were bringing their finalized screenplay for some after-dinner entertainment, as well as a sneak peek at their pilot,
Psychic Vet Tech
. Henry was bringing the dessert, and I had picked up the final element that afternoon at Give Me A Sign.

I pulled it out of my purse now and held it out to Henry, who smiled when he saw it.
SOARING ROBIN
, it read, with a bird in flight etched beneath it.

“Very nice,” he said. He glanced back up to the hill for a moment, then back at me. “I think he’d like it.”

“I think so too.” I glanced up and saw that it was getting dark quickly; I could see the very first stars starting to appear. “Come on,” I said. I smiled at him as I threaded my hand through his. “Let’s go home.”