Page 29 of When Love Is Lost and Found

"We have some nice trails around here if you ever want to go for a walk or a hike."

"I'd like that," she says.

She's wearing an orange blouse that brings out the green and gold in her eyes.

"Do you want some breakfast?"

"Yeah, I could eat."

When she sets a bowl of oatmeal in front of me, I burst out laughing.

"What's so funny?" she asks.

"Loren offered me the same breakfast before I left. I thought I was coming home to bacon, eggs, and toast."

"We had that yesterday," she says. "You want to live long, don't you?"

"I want to live happily," I say, smiling.

"I did put sliced bananas, blueberries, and a dash of cream on it. It's good, I promise."

I take my first bite and am pleasantly surprised.

"It's good."

"I told you."

"Sharon, I really need to talk to you about Jimmy."

"What about him?"

"The day of the accident, I —."

"Jon, please. I already told you I don't want to know. Please respect my wishes."

"But I have to tell you some—."

"If you don't stop, I'm going to get mad and walk out of the room."

"I'm sorry," I say.

"Nothing you say is going to bring him back. It was a tragic accident. I'm convinced that's all I need to know. I have to move on from this and live the life Jimmy would want for me. Now that I've left California, along with all my issues with my mother, I'm determined to make the best of my situation and try to find happiness. Jimmy would want me to be happy."

"I want you to be happy too," I say.

"Well, you can start contributing to my happiness by eating that oatmeal before it gets cold."

"Yes, ma'am."

We spend the next hour talking about everything except the accident. Loren is not going to let this go, but when will Sharon trust me enough to be vulnerable and let me broach the subject again without shutting me down? What if it's never? Sitting here with this beautiful girl, I realize I never want to hurt her. Her contagious smile and captivating gaze reach deep inside me and touch my heart—her strength and determination to have a life after Jimmy touches my soul.

"So, was Noah a surprise addition to your family?"

"Yes. They only wanted one child, so Dad had a vasectomy years ago."

"Oh my gosh! It failed?"

"That's what the doctors said. Mom was so upset. 'At my age?' she kept saying. 'Who has a child at forty?!'"

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