I hugged Seth, Gus and Cook in turn. Cook surprised me by wiping his damp eyes. I patted his arm; the only comfort I was capable of providing.
"No need for that," Gus said. "She'll be back soon enough. He'll miss her too much." He kissed my cheek and drew me into another hug.
He only let me go when Seth elbowed him. "Gus is right, for once," he muttered into my hair. "Your exile won't last long."
"We'll bloody see that it don't," Gus added.
Fine, misty rain began to fall. It was the sort of rain that could last all week at this time of year and dampen the hardiest of spirits. It seemed appropriate for my departure from the place I called home. Five years ago it had also been raining when I was banished from the only home I'd known, and now it was raining again as I was banished from a different one. It was too cruel.
Seth helped me up the coach steps, folded them away, and shut the door. I tried not to cry as I peered out the window, but I couldn't turn off the tears. They streamed uncontrollably. My heart felt like it was disintegrating beneath the deluge. Soon the hole where it had been would be filled up with my tears until they overflowed.
The coach turned and drove off. I spun on the seat and waved out the rear window. My three friends and Doyle waved back.
I don't know what made me glance up to the tower room. A flutter of the curtain? Shadowy movement? I was glad that I did. It provided me with my last glimpse of Lincoln, standing in the window. He was too far away for me to see his expression, but it gave me hope, something to cling to. It meant he wasn't as indifferent to my departure as he seemed.
I pressed my palm to the coach window in a final plea, but he was already gone.
THE END
