“We’ve got the summer and then we’re back to school in different states.”
I slumped at the thought but said, “We’re only three hours away.”
“That’s long enough to kill me,” he muttered, brushing the back of his hand affectionately across my cheek.
“It’s just one year,” I promised him. “And we’ll make the most of it. I’ll come see you one weekend, you come see me the next. We’ll make it work.”
“You’re right.” He pulled me into his arms so I was snuggled against him, my head on his chest. “But for now, let’s just enjoy this. I thought I was happy when you decided to give me a second shot… but nothing compares to this.”
“What? Talking nonsense and eating peanut butter?” I teased.
“Exactly.” He kissed the top of my head. “We’re Jake and Charley again. Older but no less immature.”
I giggled and burrowed deeper against him. “Isn’t it awesome.”
Chapter Eleven
Edinburgh was laid out before me. As I looked out over the cityscape from my perch on Arthur’s Seat, hugging my arms around myself against the bracing wind, I felt content. At peace.
The air was so crisp here, fresh, alive in a way I couldn’t explain. I’d never felt more awake.
“Do you miss it?”
Startled, I looked over my shoulder to see Jake walking toward me. “Miss it?” I asked as he came to a stop and took my hand.
He was so warm.
“This.” He nodded to the view. “And this?” He tugged on my hand.
I smiled, confused. “How can I miss it? It’s right here. You’re right here.”
Jake looked at me with his soulful eyes, his countenance too grim for such a beautiful day, such a beautiful moment. “Am I?”
The sadness in him caused me alarm. “What are you talking about?”
He leaned into me. “Open your eyes, Charley.”
“They—”
“For God’s sake, open your eyes!” he yelled and I flinched, closing them instead against his attack.
When I opened them, he was gone.
Edinburgh was gone.
I stumbled, discombobulated. My eyes swept my surroundings, taking in the trees, all the green, and all… the gravestones. I tripped over one, leaning on it to right myself.
The name engraved on the gray stone froze me to the spot.
Andrea Delia Redford.
“No,” I whispered, falling to my knees, my hands rubbing over the letters as if I could make them go away.
“You can’t.”
My head jerked up and I looked at my mother, standing over me. “Mom?” I licked the tears from my lips.
“You can’t make it go away.”