Then asked carefully, “Does she know about Hannah?”
“Yes.”
“And Lily?”
“Yes.”
He nodded.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then he said something I hadn't expected.
“Don't make this harder than it needs to be.”
I looked toward him.
“What does that mean?”
Marcus shrugged.
“You're allowed to have feelings about someone from your past. Doesn't mean you're betraying anybody.”
I felt my throat tighten.
He continued.
“But you're also allowed to ask questions before deciding what those feelings mean.”
I stared.
He grinned.
“Surprised I can be wise?”
“A little.”
He laughed.
Then pointed toward the Mustang.
“Now stop pretending to work. You're making the rest of us nervous.”
I smiled.
For the first time that morning, I felt slightly better.
Mara arrived shortly after one.
Her blue Camaro pulled into the lot beneath the afternoon sun.
When she climbed out, Marcus looked through the office window and gave a low whistle.
I turned.
For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.
She wore an olive-green velvet corset that followed the shape of her waist, a flowing black skirt that moved around her legs, and high-heeled ankle boots. Gold jewelry caught the light at her wrists, and her dark hair had been drawn into a sleek ponytail.
Oversized black sunglasses framed her face.
She looked beautiful.
But as she approached the garage, I noticed that her confidence was mostly an illusion.
Her fingers tightened around the handle of her handbag.
Her shoulders were slightly tense.
And when she saw me, she stopped as though she were standing at the edge of something dangerous.
I stepped forward.
“Hi.”
She removed her sunglasses.
“Hi.”
We stared at each other.
Then she smiled nervously.
“You remembered.”
I nodded.
“Most of it.”
Her eyes filled immediately.
She looked away.
For a moment, I wanted to embrace her.
But we were not children anymore.
Twenty-four years had passed.
We had lived entire lives apart.
And I had learned that affection did not give me the right to assume physical closeness.
So I remained where I was.
“Would you like to come inside?”
She nodded.
“Please.”
I led her into the garage.
Marcus looked up from his workbench.
“Afternoon, Mara.”
She smiled.
“Hello.”