“I haven’t heard this song in years,” said Ellie.
“Neither have I. This must be fate.”
She looked up at him and smiled. “I didn’t think you were a believer in fate.”
“I’m not, but my opinion might be changing.” In the ensuing quiet, he spun Ellie once, then held her close.
“You’ve gotten better at this,” she commented, recalling the awkwardness of their first dance.
“It’s easy when you have the right partner.” He looked deep into her eyes, his face lighting up as he spoke. “Just keep your eyes on me and move with the music.”
She got the sense he wanted to kiss her, but something—perhaps the thought of Sara, or what had happened the night before—stopped him.
“So what happens now?” Jack’s smile faded as he changed the subject. “With you, I mean. Will you be going home tomorrow?”
Ellie drew a breath. “I suppose so. There’s really no reason for me to stay. Unless you can think of one?” She glanced at him, then away.
Jack was silent for a moment as the music played on. “What if I asked you stay?”
His question caught her off guard. “Why would you do that? You made it clear that what we almost did last night would have been a mistake. Don’t you think if I stayed the temptation would only grow stronger?”
Jack considered that before answering. “Isn’t it obvious? This place just isn’t the same without you. I’m not the same without you.”
“Jack, I’m flattered, but… you’re with Sara, remember?”
Regret burned in his eyes. “But if I wasn’t, would you stay then?”
Ellie took a moment, wrestling with her answer. “I-I don’t know. But it doesn’t matter because you are.”
Rain began falling, cutting their dance short.
“I think Mother Nature is telling us it’s time to go,” said Jack. He took the glasses inside, turned off the radio and the lights, then escorted Ellie to her car. “Will I see you again before you leave?”
“Yes,” she answered automatically. “I’ll swing by tomorrow on my way out and say goodbye.”
A gust of wind brought with it more rain.
Jack opened the door for her, and she climbed in the car. “Well, I’d better get home before Sara starts to think we’ve run off together.” He took a step back.
Ellie cracked a smile. “Can you imagine the look on her face if we did?”
“Oh, I can imagine,” he said. “It’d probably look similar to the night she found out I was going to propose to you.” Jack shut the door. “Drive safe.”
His words hung in the air for a moment, then hit her all at once. Ellie rolled down the window. “What did you say?”
Jack pivoted on his heel. “I said drive safe.”
“No. Before that.”
“Just that Sara would be shocked if we ran off together,” he shouted over the rain and wind. When she didn’t respond, he said, “Is something wrong?”
“I-I don’t know.” Her mind raced. “Listen, I need to take care of something. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, okay?”
* * *
On the drive to Clara’s, Ellie put the pieces together in her head. Sara’s jealously. Her mother’s untimely visit. It all made sense. How could she have been so blind?
Barging through the front door, Ellie found her Marie and Amelia sitting in the living room, talking.
