Page 34 of Evan

On one side is the life I've always known - the farm, the responsibilities, the familiar rhythms of Benton Falls. It's a good life, filled with warmth and community. Molly and Chad are part of that now, bringing a joy I never expected to find.

But on the other side is the unknown - the chance to see the world, to push myself in ways I never have before. Morgan's offer dangles before me like a shiny ornament, tempting and bright.

I finger the business card in my pocket, the edges already curling from how many times I've taken it out to look at it. The decision I face seems to loom larger with each passing moment.

As I finally make my way to join Molly and Chad, my steps feel heavy. The contentment I felt earlier has been replaced by a restlessness I thought I'd left behind. The warmth of the community center gives way to the chilly night air, and I shiver, but not from the cold.

"Are you sure you’re okay?" Molly asks as I approach, her brow furrowing slightly in concern.

I force a smile, but it feels brittle on my face. "Yeah, fine... "

Chad, oblivious to the tension, chatters happily about wanting to make a gingerbread house of his own. Molly laughs at his enthusiasm, but I catch her glancing at me with worried eyes.

As we walk to our cars, the festive lights of Benton Falls twinkling around us, I'm acutely aware of the weight of the decision before me. The life I've been building here, with its unexpected joys and deepening connections, suddenly feels both precious and precarious.

I help Chad into Molly's car, then turn to say goodnight. Molly's eyes search my face, and I know she can sense my unease.

"Evan," she starts, her voice soft with concern, "if there's anything you want to talk about..."

I shake my head, not trusting myself to speak. Instead, I lean in and place a gentle kiss on her cheek. "Goodnight, Molly. I'll see you tomorrow at the farm."

As I walk to my truck, I can feel her gaze on my back, while the card in my pocket seems to burn, a reminder of the choice I have to make. I climb into the cab of my truck, the familiar scent of pine and leather doing little to calm my churning emotions. As I drive home through the quiet streets of Benton Falls, my thoughts continue to war one with another.

The farm looms ahead, dark and silent under the starry sky. I park and sit for a long moment, engine off, staring at the house that's been in my family for generations. I pull out Morgan's card one last time, staring at the embossed letters until they blur before my eyes. The promise of adventure, of a life beyond these familiar boundaries, calls to me with a siren song I thought I'd stopped hearing.

But then I think of Molly's warm smile, of Chad's infectious laughter, of the life I've been slowly building here. It's a good life, a meaningful one. Isn't it?

Later that night, as I get ready for bed, my mind continues to whirl. The gingerbread contest, meant to be a simple evening of festive fun, has instead cracked open a door I thought I'd firmly closed.

I lie awake long into the night, Morgan's offer and Molly's concerned face battling for dominance in my thoughts. The future, which had seemed so clear just hours ago, now stretches before me like an uncharted path, full of possibility and peril in equal measure.

Sleep, when it finally comes, is fitful and filled with dreams of faraway places and roads not taken.

And through it all, one question echoes: What do I really want?

Eighteen

BETTY

The air in the celestial realm shimmers with a soft, golden light as I walk through the halls of the Angel Institute. The familiar warmth of heaven envelops me, a stark contrast to the nippy winter air I've grown accustomed to in Benton Falls. Despite the comfort of this ethereal space, I feel a knot of anxiety forming in my celestial core.

"Betty," Henry's gentle voice breaks through my thoughts. "You look concerned. What troubles you, my dear?"

I turn to see my mentor coming towards me, his kind eyes twinkling with understanding. Even in this radiant realm, Henry's presence stands out, a beacon of wisdom and compassion.

"Oh, Henry," I sigh, the weight of my worries manifesting in a very human gesture. "It's Evan. He's at a crossroads, and I'm afraid he might make the wrong choice."

Henry nods, a knowing smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Ah, yes. Morgan's job offer. It's quite the temptation, isn't it?"

I nod, feeling a surge of frustration. "It's everything he once thought he wanted - travel, adventure, freedom from the responsibilities of the farm. But he's come so far, Henry. He's found something beautiful with Molly and Chad. How can he even consider leaving that behind?"

Henry places a comforting hand on my shoulder, and I feel a wave of calm wash over me. "Remember, Betty, our role is not to make choices for our charges, but to guide them towards making the best choices for themselves."

"I know," I say, my voice tinged with a hint of earthly exasperation. "But it's so hard to watch him struggle when the answer seems so clear to me."

Henry chuckles, a sound like distant bells. "Clear to you, perhaps. But Evan must come to his own conclusions. That's the beauty and the challenge of free will."

I nod, knowing he's right, but still feeling the weight of my concern. "I just wish I could do more. Show him somehow what he'd be giving up if he left."

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