For so long, we’d tried to find “the middle ground” between us, thinking that there was some magical spot of compromise where we’d find all of our answers and live happily ever after as co-Presidents. But that just wasn’t true. At best, such a place existed temporarily, but time had a way of eroding even the strongest of truces.
But instead of trying to find that mystical middle ground, if we approached each other from a place of understanding, forgiveness, and empathy, it didn’t matter if the distance between our positions was five feet or five hundred miles. We’d figure it out because we loved each other without reservation. We gave each other the benefit of the doubt.
“Well, you’re going to forgive me even more when I admit this to you,” he said. “You know I sold the house right after everything happened. You know that I made no attempt to reach out to you, to get you your half.”
“It would’ve been impossible to reach me.”
“Fair, but you know what I mean. Anyway, even though that was a shitload of money... I never could spend it all. I gave myself various excuses, like I just hadn’t gotten around to it, I just didn’t know how I’d use it, it was dirty money, whatever. But now, well, no more fucking excuses. When this is all said and done, Cole, you’re going to be a whole lot fucking richer than before.”
“Sweet!” I said, and then we both laughed.
Because what more could we do?
What more could we do than express ourselves with the most joyful action of all, a good, well-founded laugh?
“Now then,” Lane said.
“Finish the job?” I said.
Lane nodded. He rose and offered his hand.
I did him one better.
I pulled him in for a hug.
“Let’s finish this.”
“Together.”
“Together.”
