Where the Forest Meets the Stars(37)

“I thought we agreed Lacey shouldn’t come here?”

“We won’t let her see Ursa.”

“It’s too late to call her.”

“You never even considered it, did you?”

He looked out the screen at the dark forest.

“We have to figure out how to make you part of my life up there.”

“I knew it,” he said. “This isn’t about moving a few boxes.”

“What is it about?”

“You want me to move up there.”

“I know you can’t do that. I’m not asking you to leave your mother and your farm. I’m just asking you to imagine a way we can be together.”

He turned his body toward her. “Do you really want that?”

“What we have doesn’t happen every day. I’m afraid it will never happen again in my life.”

“I know. I’m afraid of that, too.”

“Then do something to keep it.” She clasped his hands. “Please try.”

“If you think it will help, I’ll go.”

“It will help. I can’t always come to you at the farm. You have to be willing to face the world.”

He nodded, but tensely.

“Who will take care of your mother tomorrow?” she asked.

“I’ll go call Lacey right now.”

“It’s nine thirty.”

“That doesn’t matter—she comes when my mother says she has to.”

“Is that what you’ll do, have your mother call?”

“I don’t know.” He rose off the couch. “Let me go home and talk to my mother. But I already know she’ll want me to go up there with you.”

Jo stood next to him. “Because she loves you.”

“Yeah.” He kissed her cheek and walked out the screen door.

“How will I know if you’re going?” Jo called to him.

“I’m going. Lacey will come.”





26



Gabe watched the town of Mount Vernon slip by. He’d said little since they left, and Jo thought it best to let him have his quiet. He’d probably had a less than pleasant interaction with Lacey. She’d driven over from Saint Louis at six in the morning.

Jo looked in the rearview mirror. Ursa was still coloring a picture for Tabby, a drawing of the tabby kitten she’d named Caesar. It would take a long time to draw all the stripes, Ursa had said. Jo didn’t doubt she’d do it well.

Gabe wiped his palms on his jeans.

“You okay?” Jo said.

“Yeah,” he said.

“Interstate 57 must bring back memories.”

“Sure does.”

“Mostly good?”

“I guess so.”

She left him alone.

They passed Salem, Farina, and Watson, and the farther they drove in silence, the guiltier Jo felt about prying him out of his comfort zone. But she had to know how bad it was with him. She was deeply invested. And if the trip proved he couldn’t handle the outside world, she’d have to start the painful process of cutting ties.

When they arrived at the edge of Effingham, where Jo often stopped for cheap gas and Necco candy, Gabe perked up. “We used to eat at a good pizza place here.”

“Is it near the highway?”

“No, not that close.”

“How did you find it?”

“My dad hated chain restaurants. He was a connoisseur of local eateries, especially in small towns. He actually did research to find places with a homegrown atmosphere. I’ve eaten at quirky pie shops and old-time diners all over this state.”

“Your dad was an interesting guy.”

“You’d have liked him.”

She waited for more, but he lapsed into silence again. She looked in the rearview mirror at Ursa. She’d fallen asleep, rare for her busy brain. “This boring scenery even puts Ursa to sleep,” she said. “If you can call corn and soybean fields scenery.”

“It is if you haven’t seen it for a while,” he said. “Now that I live in the forest, I’m not used to seeing so much sky. It was kind of shocking at first.”

He’d once said he had a touch of agoraphobia. Maybe that was why he’d been so quiet. She tried a few more times to open conversation but got little response and gave up.

They arrived in Urbana on schedule, around noon. The plan was to meet Tabby at the old apartment and load Jo’s belongings into her VW and the Honda. Jo hoped they would need only one trip, because going up and down the stairs to the third-floor apartment would make the move slow enough.

When Jo saw the building she and Tabby had lived in since senior year, she was relieved they were moving. Other than being a convenient distance to campus, the ugly building and congested location were far from the kind of relaxing home Jo had craved since her surgeries.

“Look, there’s Tabby’s car,” Ursa said.

“She’ll be upstairs,” Jo said. She wrapped her arm around Gabe’s waist and kissed his cheek as they walked toward the stairs. “Are you hungry?”

“Not yet,” he said.

“I am,” Ursa said.

“We’re having sandwiches at the house with Tabby.”

Ursa skipped the rest of the way to the stairs. They climbed to the third floor and walked the outer balcony to apartment 307. Jo knocked rather than use her key in case the new renters were inside. Tabby opened the door wearing a midriff-baring blue lace tank, rolled-up green army pants, and ripped red Converse shoes. “Jojo! You’re gorgeous!” she said, throwing her arms around Jo.

“Thanks. So are you. I like the new color,” she said of Tabby’s pale denim-colored hair.

Tabby could hardly drag her eyes away from Gabe to greet Ursa. Jo hadn’t told her she was bringing Gabe and Ursa, or even that she was in a relationship. Everything had been too complicated to explain, especially the situation with Ursa. No one in the outer world, not even Jo’s closest friend, could possibly understand. And explaining her life in the forest cottage—being forced to defend it—would certainly ruin its fragile beauty.

“Ursa, my favorite alien,” Tabby said, leaning down to hug her. “How’s it going, girlfriend?”

“Good,” Ursa said. “I have a picture for you in the car.”

“Awesome! And you wore our color.” She gave Ursa a high five for her purple T-shirt.

“Tabby, this is Gabe Nash,” Jo said. “Gabe, this is Tabby Roberti.”

Gabe smiled tensely and shook Tabby’s hand.

“Wait . . . Gabe?” Tabby said. “The guy in Ursa’s picture?”

“Yes, minus the beard,” Jo said.

“We shaved it!” Ursa said.

“Who did?” Tabby said.

“Jo and me. But I only helped. I wasn’t allowed to use the razor.”

Tabby couldn’t hide her shock. Or her injury. If Jo was intimate enough with a guy to shave him, Tabby expected to know. And it had to sound very weird that Ursa had helped with the beard removal.

“Let’s get going,” Jo said. “It’s already crazy hot out here.”

“I guess I could let you into the air-conditioning,” Tabby said. She stepped back and ushered them inside. “Anyone want water? I can’t offer anything else because the stuff in the fridge belongs to the new renters.”

“Are they here?” Jo asked.

“They cleared out to give us some space.”

“Are you sure they won’t trash the place? We’ll be responsible if they do.”

“I trust her. I don’t know him, but he seems quite the well-mannered Brit.” She said the last in a stuffy British accent that made Ursa laugh.

“Have they paid?” Jo said.

“Cash in hand,” Tabby said. “Need the bathroom?” she asked Gabe. “I want to talk about you behind your back to Jo.”

He smiled, his first all day. “Where is it?”

“First door on the left in that hallway.”

As soon as the bathroom door clicked closed, Tabby said, “Bitch! You always get these really hot guys. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I wasn’t sure where it was going.”

She arched her eyebrows, nudging for more. “Where has it gone so far?”

“They’re in love,” Ursa said. “I made it happen.”

“With her alien powers,” Jo said, winking.

“I did!” Ursa said.

“I don’t care who made it happen. Is it true?” Tabby whispered.

Jo looked in the direction of the bathroom. “You know I can’t talk about this right now.”

“Yeah,” Tabby said. She clutched Jo’s shirt under her neck. “But I’m gonna beat it out of you later. You hear?”

“I hear.”

Tabby released Jo’s shirt and folded her into her arms. “I’m happy for you, Jo.”

The bathroom door opened.

“Does he play the banjo?” Tabby whispered in her ear.

“Shut up.” Jo walked past her and brought Gabe into her bedroom. She loaded his arms with clothes from the closet and sent him down to the car. Jo grabbed an armload and followed him before Tabby could corner her and ask more questions.

With all four of them working, Jo’s belongings were packed into the two cars in less than an hour. They drove to the new house, and Jo gave Gabe a tour while Tabby and Ursa made sandwiches and lemonade. She showed him the backyard last.

He cupped his hand on a red lily flower. “This place suits you.”