Her breath hitched. “Unfortunately.”
“Why is it unfortunate?”
“He thinks he’s in love with me, and I’m in love with him, and we should get married and have kids.”
“I take it you don’t go along with that.”
“How can I? How can we be just friends for twenty-two years and suddenly it’s love? If I hadn’t kissed him on New Year’s Eve, he wouldn’t be on this kick. He’s thinking with his?—”
“You kissed him?”
“Oh, that’s right. I didn’t tell you. I’d better start with that.” She gave a brief overview, eliminating details like the contract and Auntie Kat’s undies. “It’s all happened really fast, which is why I know he’s confused a physical attraction with love.”
“Or he’s had these feelings for years and your New Year’s Eve kiss brought them to the surface.”
“Then why didn’t he come to see me the next day and say that? Why did he write me a long letter of apology, send it through themail, for God’s sake, and then avoid me for six weeks?”
“Maybe because he wasn’t comfortable with those feelings at first. Neither were you. I can see why both of you questioned what this is all about.”
“I’m still questioning, but he says he’s sure. After only four days. He’s delusional.”
Her mom was quiet for a while. Then she adjusted her position so she was sitting cross-legged, facing her. “You know, I’ve heard that whatever you loved when you were eight you’ll love forever.”
“Like my stuffed moose Hermie.” She smiled. Almost wished she’d brought Hermie out for this discussion.
“Like Hermie. I’m surprised you haven’t taken him to your apartment.”
“He likes country living better.”
“And you want him to be happy. That’s true love. Sooo… what if the eight years old thing applies to people?”
She’d figured that was where this was headed. “Are you saying Adam and I loved each other when we were eight?”
“Oh, you absolutely did. You wanted to be together constantly. You don’t remember?”
“Not really.” Her stomach did a few flips. “We had fun making that diorama.”
“It was way more than that. He liked coming over here because no other kids were around and you two could be in your own little world.”
“I kind of remember playing in my bedroom with my stuffed animals.”
“For hours. One day he told me he was going to marry you as soon as he was old enough to drive.”
“Oh, my God. Really?” Her chest felt tight. She rubbed her breastbone, trying to ease the pressure.
“Really. He came out to the kitchen to get lemonade for both of you. When I was pouring it, he made his announcement.”
“Did you laugh?”
“Of course not! He was dead serious.”
“I’ll bet he doesn’t remember that or he would have told me.”
“He might not remember, but maybe his heart does.”
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. The pressure didn’t go away. “Even if he’s subconsciously tapped into something from our childhood, which I doubt, I’m not doing that.”
“Are you sure?”
