The Pieces We Keep(150)

“In that case,” Tess said, “take your time.” A smile curled her lips before she headed for the house.

Audra hadn’t decided how to deliver her message to Sean, as she’d barely had a chance to digest the idea herself. She made her way over, contemplating her words.

“Do you need any help?” she asked.

He turned to her. On one knee, he was arranging the mini-pyrotechnics on a large slat of plywood. “I think we’re just about set.”

Here, away from others’ ears and eyes, she sat down on one of the lawn chairs Sean had arranged for the audience. As he finished his task facing away from her, Audra’s gaze was drawn to the back of his T-shirt, his neck, the strong lines of his arms.

“So, you’re going on a trip this summer,” she said.

Twisting around, he smiled. “You heard already?”

“Luanne told me in the kitchen.”

He came to his feet, brushing dust from his hands. “My mom’s a little nervous. But I think it’ll be good.”

Audra was delighted he and Luanne would be accompanying Judith to Lucerne. Evidently Jakob, after his wife’s death, had revealed his past to his children, including the possibility of an American daughter. Luanne learned all of this a few days ago, when Judith worked up the nerve to contact them—perhaps encouraged by the necklace Sean had passed along, its inscription promoting great risks. As a result, Judith received an enthusiastic invitation to come meet her relatives across the sea.

The fact she had asked Luanne to join seemed a significant sign of Judith’s willingness to rebuild trust. Luanne must have recognized this, because she swiftly bought the plane tickets, paid for in part by a large tin of money that had been stored with Vivian’s belongings. If you ask me, Luanne had said to Audra, this trip is exactly what she would’ve wanted her daughter to spend it on.

Although Audra had never met Vivian, she would dare to guess that was true.

Sean took a seat in the neighboring chair. “You know, I was thinking,” he said, “on the way back from Europe, maybe I could swing through Boston. Come see you and Jack for a couple days.”

And there it was: a lead-in to the impending subject.

“Um ... yeah . . . ,” she said, hedging. “That actually wouldn’t work out.”

His brow pinched for a second before relaxing, nonchalant. “Sure, okay,” he said.

“I only say that because we won’t be in Boston.”

Now he looked puzzled. “You mean, you’re not moving?” “No, no. We’re definitely moving,” she said. “Just not as far as I’d planned.”

“Oh,” he said. “So ... where are you going?”

“Well, I was thinking it was time to buy a house—once I get a job anyway—around the Portland area.”

He studied her face, cautious, then the corners of his mouth rose.

It was during the drive here, with the sun’s rays warming her face and Jack in the backseat humming softly to a song on the radio, when Audra realized the most rewarding destination was right where they were. Upon being asked for his opinion, Jack had heartily agreed. There was no guarantee of a job—unless maybe Cheyenne permanently banned shaving. Nor was there a school or neighborhood to target. But they would handle those details as they came.

“Just do me a favor,” she said to Sean, “and please don’t tell Tess yet.”

“Why’s that? Won’t she happy to hear it?”

“Overjoyed. But the lectures of I told you so won’t be far behind.”

He laughed. “My lips are sealed.”

At the reference, her attention moved exactly there, to the curves of his lips, and with little thought she leaned in and sealed them herself. The kiss was slow and tender, yet laced with a thrill of possibilities. When they finally drew apart, he ran his thumb down the slant of her face.

The world wasn’t perfect and neither were their lives. They, along with their families, had a great deal of growing and healing ahead. But in that moment, Audra knew that somehow, in the end, everything would be all right. Based not on statistics or provable facts, but a hunch she felt inside.