“And,” she points a finger at me, “I fully expect you to take us flying again once I bust out of this place.”
“Anytime.”
She smiles warmly. “Good. I like you, Miles. And I think you’ll be good for my daughter.”
When I step out into the hallway, my nerves settle, but it’s different now. It’s laced with a little fear but also hope. Because caring isn’t easy. It’s patient. And if Nora needs time to find her way back, I’m willing to wait. At the next garbage can, I toss away the candy. The Atomic Fireballs are all hers.
The next day passes without a word from Nora. I tell myself that’s okay. I trust her mom. Diane said Nora needs time, and I’m doing my best to believe her.
I’m halfway through my second cup of coffee when a new email slides into my inbox. I almost ignore it—until the subject line grabs me.
Contract Employment—Sandia Wind Farm
I open it, my pulse picking up with every line.
New Mexico.
Complex infrastructure inspection.
Two weeks on-site, with extension potential.
It’s the biggest job anyone has ever offered me. I lean back in my chair, staring at the screen as if it might disappear if I look away. The excitement hits first, then it tangles with something else.
I want to tell Nora.
Not just because this is huge, but because the idea of leaving without saying anything feels wrong. If I vanish to New Mexico with no explanation, I already know how that looks to her. If I leave now, I won’t just be taking a job—I’ll be proving her right.
By the time I push open the door to Porter’s, the bar is humming with its familiar midafternoon rhythm of low music and clinking glasses.
Jake’s behind the bar, pouring a beer without looking up.
I slide onto a stool. “Is Nora working?”
“Nope,” he says flatly. “You want a beer?”
I shake my head. “Not today.”
That’s enough for him to move down the bar, already done with the conversation.
Lach appears a moment later, and I flag him over. “Hey—do you know if Nora’s working later?”
He scratches his jaw. “Nah. Day off.”
Unease curls through me. “I’m trying to find her. I need to talk to her before I leave.” I hesitate, then add, “I got a job offer.”
His eyes widen. “Seriously? Where?”
“New Mexico.”
“Damn.” He breaks into a grin. “That’s huge.”
“It is, and… I leave in two days.” Saying it out loud makes it real in a way I’m not ready for yet. “If you see her, can you tell her I was looking for her? I’d rather tell her in person.”
Lach nods. “Yeah. I’ll let her know.”
I leave Porter’s with the job offer buzzing in my head—and Nora’s name tangled right up in it, impossible to separate.
On the drive home, I detour past Nora’s apartment. I circle the lot once. Then twice. Her car isn’t there. Every call goes straight to voicemail. No text. No sign of her. I don’t know what else to do. So I do the one thing that usually calms me. I head home, grab my gear, and drive out to the RC park.
