Natasha: Crazy but good.It was as smooth as we could have hoped for.
Ford: That's great, right?How is the toy drive going?
Natasha: The floor at town hall is covered.
She sent me an image with the tree in the corner, and the rest of the room filled with toys.
Ford: I love seeing that.
Natasha: I've had a long day.I think I'm going to bed.
I wanted to talk to her, but I couldn't on the floor of my buddy's house with my friends sprawled in sleeping bags next to me.She hadn't asked when I was coming home, and I didn't know when that would be.Her failure to ask about the details was telling.
Had I brought up bad memories?She thought I'd ghosted her, and now she was distancing herself from me.But there was nothing I could do about it in North Carolina.I had to hope that she'd listen to me when I got back.
We spent the week with Mitchell, helping him apply for jobs and setting him up with a local veteran, so he could mentor him through the transition.He promised to visit me soon in Christmas Town.I wanted all my friends to come with him.Maybe around Christmas, so they could experience what the area had to offer: skiing, hot chocolate, and the holiday stuff.
Mitchell promised to stay in touch and seemed better when we left.
River offered to take me to the airport.He lived in Virginia, so he was driving home.On the way he asked, "You fix things with your girl?"
"We haven't had much of a chance to talk.I texted her that first night, and then things got busy."I kept telling myself we'd have plenty of time to talk when I got home, but I was a little worried I'd be too late.
He glanced over at me."She okay with you skipping her thing to be here?"
"I'm not sure.She hasn't reached out to me."My stomach clenched.
River pulled up to the curb at departures."Fix things with her.She sounds like the real deal."
I gripped my backpack."I can't lose her."
"So don't.Do whatever you have to do to hold onto her."
"That's good advice."
"That's what I'm here for, helping friends not screw up their lives."
"And what about yours?"I wasn't sure what he had going on in his life.I'd been so wrapped up in the business and renovating my house.
"I don't have a girl.Not anymore."He looked through the windshield."Don't make the same mistakes I did."
He'd dated someone when he first enlisted, but they grew apart, and I think he always regretted it.
"I'm getting a second chance, and I can't make the same mistake I did before."But it appeared I already had.I hadn't communicated with her, and as soon as I got around my friends, I was too busy to check in with her.
I wanted to help Mitchell, but I should have talked to Natasha in person before I left.Made her realize that I'd be back.That I wasn't going anywhere.
"Good luck," River said before he got out of the truck.
At the bed, he pulled out my suitcase, and we embraced.
"Thanks for calling me," I said to him.
River nodded."We'd said we'd be there for each other."
We promised to stay in touch, and I hoped they'd visit soon.
On the plane, I had a lot of time to think and plan.I needed a way to show Natasha that I was here to stay, and that she could take a chance on me.I wouldn't let her down.At least not again.First, I needed to apologize to her sister because I was supposed to be the one manning town hall for her.
