Page 292 of Mountain Grump

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I finish the turn, lining us up for takeoff.

“But it’s only ever been about you, Matilda.”

We start rolling forward.

“I need a few more weeks.” The plane picks up speed. “Then I’ll show you.”

The plane vibrates.

“Show me what?” Tilda whispers.

“How much I love you too,” I whisper back.

Then the nose of the airplane lifts, and the wheels leave the ground.

Chapter 169

Tilda

I’ve stayed silent.

The whole flight. The landing. While Ethan got the rental car.

I’ve stayed silent.

Since we left the ground. Since Ethan said he loved me. SinceI’ll show you how much I love you too.

I know he saw me wiping at my cheeks.

And even though I have a thousand questions, I’m grateful he didn’t say more.

Didn’t spend the flight trying to convince me of anything.

He just flew.

Only breaking the silence at the end. When he reminded me to relax. To breathe. As we landed smoothly.

The sunglasses are still covering my eyes, and I turn my head just a little to see him in the driver’s seat.

I wanted to tell him to stay at the airport, that I could drive myself. But I couldn’t bring myself to speak.

I want his love to be true.

I want it to be true so badly.

But I don’t trust myself to be smart right now.

So, I let him drive.

The car slows to a stop.

We’re here.

Ethan turns off the engine, and we both climb out.

He hasn’t asked me anything about who I’m seeing. But now that we’ve arrived, a new stress starts brewing inside me.

I’ve never visited anyone at the end of their life. I don’t know how to do this.

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