Noah looked straight at her. “Stay with me,” he said. “That’s all I want.”
His yearning shook their connection like wind on a wire. AJ felt time slow.
“I’m here,” she managed.
Noah’s stare was so charged she could feel it in her cells, whole swaths of her being limning, waking, silently chantingIt’s you, it’s you.For a moment, even the darkness held its breath.
“And scene,” said Eudora.
AJ reared back, but neither she nor Noah could stop looking at each other. Heart racing, AJ watched him fill his great lungs and exhale a slow jet into the night.
Then Eudora rose to her feet, drawing their attention. She opened her mouth and closed it, eyes brimming. Finally, she whispered, “Ezell would be so proud.”
Noah moved instantly, enveloping the old woman in his arms. AJ saw him whisper something in her ear, saw her nod. Then they both looked to AJ, and she joined in their hug, her senses aswirl in Eudora’s rich floral perfume and the feeling of Noah’s hand on her back.
Eudora sniffed loudly as they broke apart. “Is that the time?” She scoffed, “I need my beauty rest. Wouldn’t want to look piqued for the nut convention.”
“I’m actually allergic to pine nuts,” offered AJ as the three of them headed inside.
She heard Noah’s deep laugh and caught his eye as they crossed the threshold.
And there it was again, insistent, unmistakable.
It’s you, it’s you.
Mike asked if hecould carpool with AJ to Springfield, clearly hoping to spend some time with Eudora. When the Graves siblings arrived at Drew House at five, the grande dame was already waiting outside in black cashmere pants, an electric-blue-sequined blouse, and white boots.
“You look incredible,” said AJ, taking her hands.
“Just trying to keep the fantasy alive,” said Eudora, her eyes drifting to Mike.
“Eudora, this is my brother Mike—”
“Oh yes, I’ve heard all about you,” she said. “Apparently, you’re the man to know.”
Mike’s chest inflated. “I’m a huge Nautical.”
“I won’t hold that against you,” said Eudora. She looked over AJ’s shoulder to the family’s blue Ford Escape. “Shall we?”
For a second, AJ didn’t understand what she meant. Then she noticed that Noah’s Camaro wasn’t in the driveway. She gave Eudora a confused look.
“He had to rush up to Simmons at the last minute,” said Eudora dryly. “He’ll meet us there.”
AJ nodded and released a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.
Stay with me.
The move had been completely on game for their characters, but as he said it, not one part of AJ had doubted he had been speaking directly to her. She didn’t dare think what it could mean.
Eudora was already strolling toward their car. As she brandished open the passenger door, the bag from AJ and Mike’s McDonald’s run plopped onto the driveway. “Charming.”
“Hey,” whined Mike. “That’s myTransformersBeast Machine.”
The drive to Springfield was just under an hour, during which Eudora and Mike bickered so verbosely over the radio station, AJ was forced to play the only CD in the car:Spiceworld.
“Ah yes, I remember the gal on the Home Shopping Network talking about them,” said Eudora, her toe tapping along to “Stop.”
“They kind of stole your look,” said Mike. He showed Eudora a picture from the CD booklet.
