“Do you ever think about that road?”
“Every day.”
“I almost took helicopter.”
“What?”
“To Blackstone.”
“My assistant suggested helicopter.”
“I said no because I wanted drive alone.”
Ethan smiled.
“So vanity saved family.”
“Apparently.”
She looked at him.
“If my car hadn’t broken…”
“We might have found you anyway.”
“Maybe.”
“You had article.”
“I had fear.”
“You would have called.”
“I don't know.”
Alexandra looked at him.
“I’m glad car broke.”
“Most expensive repair I ever did for free.”
She smiled.
Then:
“Why did you really refuse money?”
Ethan shrugged.
“You looked like someone who was used to money solving every inconvenience.”
“That sounds judgmental.”
“It was.”
Alexandra raised eyebrow.
“You judged me.”
“Yes.”
“Terrible.”
“I've grown.”
She laughed.
Then their eyes held slightly too long.
Ethan looked away first.
Alexandra noticed.
Neither said anything.
Three months later they kissed.
It happened in the workshop.
Not romantic.
Alexandra had tried helping replace brake pads.
She got grease across cheek.
Ethan laughed.
She shoved his shoulder.
He caught her wrist.
They froze.
Then kissed.
Afterward Alexandra stepped back.
“That was irresponsible.”
“Probably.”
“Nora.”
“Yes.”
“Hannah.”
Ethan’s expression changed.
Alexandra immediately said:
“I’m not trying to replace her.”
“I know.”
He looked at old photograph on shelf.
“I feel guilty anyway.”
“For being alive?”
“For loving someone.”
“Hannah would hate that.”
“You didn't know her.”
“No.”
“But based on furniture-apology story, I’m confident.”
Ethan laughed.
Then cried.
Alexandra held him.
They moved slowly.
So slowly Nora noticed before they told her.
At breakfast she said:
“You guys are weird.”
Ethan nearly choked.
Alexandra asked:
“What does that mean?”
“You look at each other then stop.”
Ethan said:
“Eat cereal.”
Nora grinned.
“Are you dating?”
Alexandra looked at Ethan.
Ethan looked at Alexandra.
Nora groaned.
“You're adults.”
“Please communicate.”
Alexandra burst out laughing.
Hannah would have loved her.
Two years after the mountain road, Ethan proposed.
Not with a diamond at restaurant.
He took Alexandra to the exact stretch of highway.
She recognized immediately.
“You have got to be kidding.”
Ethan parked the restored blue pickup on shoulder.
“Come on.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“You brought me to place where my car died.”
“Important history.”
“This is deeply unromantic.”
“Get out.”