Page 111 of When Love Is Unexpected

"Yes. I let her know you'd be here."

"Thank you," I say before getting up to leave.

I watch Loren walk to the kitchen and retrieve a familiar set of keys from a drawer.

Smiling, she hands me the keys and says, "Welcome home."

I hug her goodbye and walk across the lawn to my new, permanent home next door.

***

The next day, I meet Laura and Charles Clay for lunch.

"And you plan to keep it as is?" asks Charles.

"Yes, Sir," I say. "The studio will stay open, as is, with the same name: Just In Clay Ceramics. I might expand it if I can buy the space next door."

"Can you tell us why you won't sell?" asks Mrs. Clay.

"This is where I met Laila. I don't want it to change either."

"So sentimental reasons," says Laura.

"Yes, ma'am. Exactly."

"I never knew you and Laila were seeing each other," says Laura.

"I'm working on it," I say.

"Okay, Son," says Mr. Clay, reaching to shake my hand, "good luck."

"Thank you, Sir."

***

When I contacted Jon six weeks ago, I expected him to hang up on me.

"I'm returning to Athens in two weeks," I said. "I'd like to stop by before I leave to speak to you and Sharon."

"Son," he said, "You're always welcome in our home. I hope you know that."

"Thank you," I said.

I sat with them in their kitchen and explained everything, going over every detail of the last twelve years of my life.

"I love Laila," I said.

"So why are you leaving?" asked Sharon.

"I won't be gone that long," I said. "I have to take care of some things before I return for good."

"Back to San Diego?" she asked.

"No," I said, "I'm coming back here. I just opened escrow on Loren's old house.

"You're buying Loren's house?" asked Jon.

"Yes, Sir."

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