Page 57 of An Engagement Pact

Ten

THE DRIVE BACK TO JIMand Esther’s is utterly silent. I focus mostly on trying not to cry.

Dan is tense and unreadable. I know he’s not happy, but otherwise I can’t tell exactly what he’s feeling. When he reaches the town house, he pulls into the driveway and shifts into park.

I fumble with my seat belt, scrambling to get out as quickly as I can before I lose it. I’m opening the door when Dan says, “Vicky.”

I freeze, glancing back at him over my shoulder.

He works his jaw for a moment. “So this is it? We’re over just like that?”

I almost choke. “Looks that way.”

Then I’m finally able to stumble out of the car.

***

IBURST INTO TEARSas soon as I step through the front door, and it’s a couple of minutes before I can manage to explain what’s going on to Jim and Esther between sobs.

They were watching TV in the living room, but Esther jumps up immediately to make some hot tea and sit with me at the kitchen table.

I’m so upset that she texts Savannah, evidently hoping for reinforcements for the crisis.

After about five minutes, she goes to glance out the window for some reason. Maybe she’s hoping for Savannah to arrive, but there’s no way she could make it here so soon from her and Lance’s place even if she jumped right in the car. “He’s still in the driveway,” Esther says.

That startles me so much I lurch to my feet. “What? Why?”

“I have no idea. But he’s still sitting there in his car.”

I go to the window to look, and Esther is right. Dan is still sitting in his car. Unmoving. It’s dark outside by now and the lights are turned on inside, so he obviously sees me looking out.

Our eyes meet across the distance in a weird, somber gaze.

I wonder for just a moment if he’ll get out and come to the door. Want to talk to me for real.

Maybe there’s still a tiny sliver of hope that we could work this out.

He doesn’t. He finally puts the car into reverse, backs out onto the street, and drives away.

***

SAVANNAH ARRIVES ABOUTtwenty minutes later, wearing what must be her pajamas with a pair of flip-flops.

I’m still crying but not quite as uncontrollably now, so I’m able to give her a more complete accounting of everything that’s happened.

Both she and Esther clearly understand that I’m in love with Dan. I don’t say it, but apparently I don’t have to.

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