Page 8 of When Love Is Lost and Found

"She's lovely," Mom said. "She has beautiful green eyes."

My heart skipped a beat, and Jimmy's words instantly came back to mind, "Did you know that only two percent of the world's population has green eyes?"

"She's nice," said Noah before taking a huge bite of pumpkin pie, leaving a whipped cream mustache on his upper lip.

"I agree," said Mom, wiping Noah's face with a napkin. "She is nice. Quiet but nice."

"How are things going with you?" Dad asked before I had a chance to ask more questions about the nanny.

"Better than I could've imagined," I said.

"Oh really?" asked Mom. "Tell us all about it."

"I'm renting a small guesthouse from our neighbor in Garrison. She owns the property directly behind ours. I couldn't believe my luck when I saw the ad in the paper and read the address. She's even giving me a break on the rent because I fix things around the property whenever she needs it. Those handyman lessons you forced on me have paid off, Dad."

"Aren't you glad you spent all your summers learning a thing or two about construction?" Dad asked, chuckling under his breath.

"Yes, but I'm mostly changing lightbulbs and mowing the lawn. Nothing major."

"Is the place comfortable?" asked Mom.

"Yes," I said. "It's small, but I don't need much. It has a small kitchen, a full bath, and a living space with a sofa, a recliner, a television, and a comfortable bed. What more could I ask for?"

"We've been there a few times since we started construction on the house," said Mom, "I can't believe we never met her."

"You're going to love Lorenza," I said, "She'll be here for Easter to visit her son. I'm going to be watching her place while she's gone."

"So we won't get to see you until June?" asked Mom.

"I start my teaching job next month," I said. "I don't think I'll make it back out here before the move."

"But, Jon," Mom said.

"It's okay, Mom," I said, reaching for her hand. "These next six months are going to fly by. We'll be back together before you know it."

"How are you doing with—?" The look on Dad's face finished the question without his having to articulate it.

"The nightmares?" I asked. "I only have one or two a week now. I guess that's progress."

"I'm glad to hear that," said Dad.

"Listen," I said, "I'm sorry I put you guys through so much when I came home."

"Never apologize for that, Sweetheart," said Mom, squeezing my hand. "I would do anything to make those memories go away."

"I don't want to forget what happened," I said honestly. "I just want the bad dreams to stop. But the memories, even the tough ones, help me keep Jimmy's memory alive."

"You're punishing yourself for—."

"Dad," I said, cutting him off and glancing at Noah. "Can we change the subject?"

***

Everything went according to plan. I started teaching at one of the middle schools in Cold Spring in January. Lorenza went to visit her son in the spring, so I haven't seen my family since Christmas.

We stayed connected through nightly phone calls. I spoke to Noah first and then to Mom and Dad. Shay would answer the phone most nights, but she always seemed rushed, never giving me a chance to ask her any questions. When I asked Mom about it, she said Shay had to leave on time to catch the bus ride home.

"We offered to let her borrow one of the cars," Mom said, "but she never accepted it."

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