Page 99 of My Promise To Keep

‘Zoe, what exactly are you waiting for?’ Grandma stands on her front lawn, pruning shears in hand, sun visor on her head as I pace on the front porch.

‘He’s not picking up. What if he doesn’t want me anymore, Grandma?’

‘Get your butt in the car, Zoe.’

‘But…’

‘Car.’

She points her garden-gloved hand toward my car, and I grab my keys. She’s right. I have to go to him.

The drive takes toolong, and I’m impatient to be there. I try calling him from the car again, but he still doesn’t answer, so I call Bree.

‘Twinnie,’ she answers brightly, having no idea what’s happened the past couple of days.

‘Hey,’ my tone is clipped as I concentrate on changing lanes.

‘Zoe, what’s up?’

‘I think we broke up.’

‘What?’

‘I mean, I left him and went to Grandma’s for two days.’

‘Zoe—’ I hear theget to the pointin the way she says my name.

‘He’s going to California for six months, and he asked me to go. I said no, and I left, and now he’s not picking up my calls.’

‘You said no?’

‘I didn’t think I could do it, Bree.’

‘Zo,’

‘I know. I know now that I can. I want to, but what if I’m too late?’

‘Where are you right now?’

‘I’m driving back to him.’

‘Zo, Leo waited a lifetime for you. I don’t think there’s any such thing as too late where you two are concerned.’

‘I can’t lose him, Bree.’

‘Then get to him, twinnie.’

I smile, and we turn silent for a moment.

‘Six months.’

‘Yeah.’ I understand. Six months and a couple of thousand miles apart. ‘Bree.’

‘It’s okay. You were always supposed to travel, Zo. I accepted that a long time ago.’

I smile. I knew she’d remember even if I didn’t.

‘I love you, Bree Bree.’

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