Page 78 of When Love Is Lost and Found

"You promise?"

"Yes, I promise. I'm not going anywhere."

"It's after six. Do you want to go back to the hospital?"

"When Caleb dropped me off, he said he was going back to the hospital to keep Rick company and would call me as soon as Mom woke up. I'll go in the morning if I don't hear from him tonight."

"Are you hungry?"

"Maybe, but I don't feel like going out."

"I bought a rotisserie chicken and everything to make a salad."

"Did you buy tortillas?"

"Yes. Flour and corn."

"I'll make some tacos."

"That sounds even better."

Jon begins tracing a slow, lazy path up and down my arm with his fingertips when I don't get up.

I lift my head and look at him.

"Thank you for being here. I can't imagine going through this with anyone else."

"Not even Patrick?"

"I said I was sorry about Patrick."

"Are you going to go out with him?"

I put my head down to avoid his gaze.

"I canceled my date with him."

"You did?"

"Yes. I called him last night."

"What did you tell him?"

"I told him I couldn't go out with him because I realized I have feelings for someone else, and it wouldn't be fair to him."

I feel his body tense up next to me. I look up and try to read his gaze.

"Sharon, we need to talk about Jimmy."

"I know. But whatever it is, it won't change how I feel."

"How do you feel?"

Using his words to me, I say, "I feel like I'm standing on the edge of a precipice. I'm scared but excited. For the first time in almost a year, I'm happy. You make me happy."

Before I can form another thought, Jon propels both of us to a seated position. He's now sitting beside me, facing me with his gray gaze fixed on me.

"When we get back home, I'm taking you to Cold Spring's Farmers’ Market and I'm going to hold your hand the entire time."

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