Page 23 of When Love Is Lost and Found

"They are such good people," I say. "They really care about me."

"A lot of us care about you."

"I met Jon," I say, not wanting to forget to mention him.

"The guy who recommended you for the job?"

"Yes. He's super nice. He's been renting a guesthouse from the neighbor, Lorenza. Loren for short. She's an elderly woman, and he won't move back home because he doesn't want to leave her alone. Isn't that sweet?"

"Yeah," she says, "most guys would rather bum a room from their parents and not pay any rent. Hmm, that sounds like my brother."

"Poor Bobby," I say, laughing. "Cut him some slack, will you."

"The slacker loser is almost twenty years old and doesn't want to get a job!"

"Jon is a middle school teacher."

"How's your little ward doing?"

"Noah? He's in high heaven. His family's back together. His room is decorated with all things dinosaurs. He's a happy little boy. Jon is really good with him. We visited our neighbor, Loren, this afternoon, and Jon played with Noah the entire time so I could get to know Loren better. It's like he's a kid at heart, you know what I mean?"

"Wow, he sounds like a great guy."

"He is. He also took me to the bank to open an account, and he—."

"Sharon."

"He also has a great sense of humor."

"Sharon!"

"What?"

"It sounds like this guy has made quite an impression on you."

"Betty, he was there when Jimmy died."

"What?!"

"I wanted him to tell me what happened, but I chickened out and told him I don't want to know."

"You never wanted to know. I read the story in the paper, but when I tried talking to you about it, you always said you didn't want to hear it."

"I don't know. The fact that Jon was there made me think I could, but I was wrong. I'm not ready. I don't think I ever will be."

"And that's okay. If knowing all the details will break your heart all over again, you're better off not knowing."

"Part of me thinks I owe it to Jimmy to know exactly what happened. I question whether or not I was able to truly mourn him, with all my heart, if I don't know what he went through?"

"I saw what you went through. Trust me, your whole heart was in it. You were crushed, and it changed you forever. You don't need more heartache."

"I love you, Betty."

"I love you too."

After I hang up the phone with Betty, I call the Bowmans and speak to Jimmy's mom.

She lets me talk for twenty minutes, listening to everything I have to say.

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