Ali rolled her eyes. “You’re both so blind. I could just smack you. And if you think I can make Sam do anything, maybe you don’t know my brother as well as I think you do.”
I pushed back my chair. Suddenly, I needed to leave, to make the break, as fast as I could. If I sat here talking with Ali, she’d wear me down, and I’d end up doing something I regretted. Like begging Sam not to let me go.
“I’m going to get a shower and then grab my bags. If I get on the road pretty soon, I can be to the Cove before dark.”
I HATED GOOD-BYES. Each time my parents drove me to college, even though I loved being there, I cried when they left. When I’d taken Laura to the train station back in May for her trip to North Carolina, I’d sobbed so much that she said I was never allowed to drop her off for any trip ever again.
Standing in the yard outside the kitchen, with my car loaded up, I tried really hard not to break down when Bridget barreled herself into my legs. “Meghan, I’m going to miss you so much. But I’ll send you lots of drawings. I promise.”
“Make sure you do.” I swept her into my arms, hugged her tight, kissed her round cheek and then set her on the ground. Ali stood next to her daughter, hands tucked into the front pockets of her jeans.
“It’s been so much fun, Ali.” The tears would not be stopped. “Thank you for being such a good friend to me this summer. Thanks for bringing me to Burton. And for letting me stay here, and feeding me all the good food ...”
“Oh, come here, you crazy girl.” She held me tight, rocking a little as I’d seen her do with Bridge. “You know we love you, right? And any time you need a place to go, this is your home, too. For as long as you need it, forever. You hear?”
I nodded. “Thank you. I couldn’t imagine a better place to call home.” It was true, I realized. The old buildings, the land and every other integral part of this farm had seeped into my veins, and become a part of me. It felt as comfortable as the Tide or the beach.
“You just remember that. And text me when you get to Florida, because I’ll be worrying until I hear from you.”
“I will.” I climbed into the driver’s seat and put down the window. Drawing a deep breath, I glanced down the path to the fields, almost willing Sam to appear in the rattletrap old farm truck. When he didn’t, I threw the car into reverse.
Ali leaned in the window. “I’m only going to say this one more time. You don’t get an unlimited number of chances in life, and I don’t want to see you screw this up. If you get down to Florida and realize you’ve left something essential up here, something like your heart, you hightail it back. Don’t let anything stand in your way.”
I gazed up at her, and in her eyes, I saw the lingering pain of her own heartbreak. “If you had to do it again, Ali, what would you do different?”
I expected her to say she wouldn’t have changed a thing. Instead she gave me a small, tremulous smile. “I’d go with him. I’d leave that day, with just the clothes on my back, knowing that nothing else mattered.” She patted my hand where it rested on the door. “There’s not a day goes by that I don’t regret telling him to leave without me.”
She stepped away from the car. I eased up on the brake, letting it roll back and then shifted to drive. With a final wave to both Ali and Bridget, I drove down the driveway and out of their lives.
I STAYED OUT IN the field until it was nearly dark, just to make sure I didn’t run into her again. I didn’t know how long she’d slept after I’d left her that morning, and it was possible Ali had talked her into staying later. I couldn’t say good-bye again. I’d end up breaking down and begging her to stay.
But when I finally pulled back into the yard, the little blue Honda was gone. I sat for a minute, absorbing it, before I jumped out and went on with my regular routine.
Ali was sitting at the kitchen table when I walked in. I stopped in the laundry room to toss my dirty tee in the basket, but I didn’t bother with a clean one.
“I kept some dinner for you.” My sister pointed to the foil-covered plate on the counter. “Figured you might be hungry after not eating all day.”
I shook my head. “Nope. But thanks. I’m just going to get a shower and go to sleep. It was a long day.”
I expected her to fight me on the eating, but she only nodded. “Okay, I’ll put it in the fridge in case you want it tomorrow. Sleep well.” I turned and was nearly through the doorway when she added, “Meghan just texted me, right before you came in. She made it home safely.”