Colin said nothing for a long moment. Then he reached for the doorknob, hand steady now.
“I won’t stay if it feels wrong,” he said.
“And you shouldn’t.”
“I won’t pretend I’m OK if I’m not.”
“And again… you shouldn’t.”
He turned. Met Joshua’s eyes.
“But I’m going.”
Joshua smiled, soft and proud. “And I’ll be here when you get back.”
The lobby looked the same.Same water-stained ceiling tile in the corner. Same worn bench near the elevator, the cushion a little more lopsided than before. Same smell of old coffee and disinfectant.
He stepped through the glass doors and hesitated just inside. No one had seen him yet. He adjusted his collar—still smelling faintly of sawdust and lavender detergent—and moved toward the security desk. The guard on duty, Marcy, looked up, her eyes going wide. “Campbell!” she gasped. Then, louder: “You’re back!”
He gave a small smile. “Hey, Marce.”
Before she could speak again, footsteps echoed from the hallway. Norm rounded the corner, tie askew, face flushed as if he’d sprinted. He didn’t stop until he was in front of Colin—then he pulled him into a hug. A real one. Bone-deep. Held a second too long.
Colin smiled and returned the embrace, then patted his back and leaned away. “If you’re waiting for a kiss…”
“Shut up, asshole.” Norm stepped back, eyes sharp but shiny. “You’re late. Esther’s been pacing since dawn.”
“I told her I’d come.”
“You toldmeyou’d come. That’s different.”
Colin huffed a breath that was almost a laugh.
“Come on.” Norm gestured down the hallway. “She’s in your office. Probably dusting, though I wouldn’t bet on it.”
Colin stopped walking. “My office? It’s still…”
Norm turned. “Of course! We didn’t box it up. Figured if you came back, you’d need it. And if you didn’t… well…” He shrugged. “We’d deal.”
Esther stood near the window, arms crossed. She didn’t look up right away. “I heard the door,” she said. “I was trying to decide if I should yell or cry.”
“Both would be fair.”
She turned. Her eyes brimmed but didn’t spill. “You look tired.”
“Feel it.”
“I can’t pretend this place hasn’t missed you. But I won’t let it eat you alive either.”
Colin nodded. “I’m not here to save the world, Esther. I’m here to see if—if I still belong.”
She nodded. “Well, I could tell you that you do, and it would be the truth. But let’s try this instead.” She moved behind his desk and pulled out his chair. “Take a seat, Counselor.”
Colin drew in a shaky breath, then moved to his chair and sat down.
“Still fit?” Esther asked, taking a seat in the chair facing him. Norm chuckled and took the seat next to her.
“Well,” he said. “This feels… almost normal.”
