Sublime

I knot my hands into his shirt and whisper, “Did you just quote Love, Actually?” “Not intentionally.”

“You’re really hung up on the pig farmer,” I say. “Whereas Libby won’t be satisfied with me dating anyone but a widowed single father who rejected a country music career to run a bed-and-breakfast.” He says, “So you’ve met Randy.” I burst out laughing, and the corner of his mouth ticks. Oh, shit. It is a smile. He’s pleased to have made me laugh.

I personally would’ve gone with a color-coded pro-con list, but to each her own.

“So tell me about this place,” I say. “What’s interesting here?” “Do you like grass?” Charlie asks. “Big fan.” “We’ve got lots.”

“All the furniture will be secondhand,” she says. “I have the thrift-store magic touch. I was grown in a lab for this.

“Evie,” came his faint whisper, “I’m going to your mother, y’see…she’s got ’em to leave a back door open…so I can steal into ’eaven.” She laughed quietly even as a few hot tears spilled from her eyes.

On the stairs, Hannah holds her breath. She is afraid to move anything, even a fingertip. Maybe if she stays perfectly still, her parents will stop talking. She can hold the world motionless, and everything will be all right.

During the flurry of these and other playful notes that were sent back and forth, Annabelle began to experience something she had forgotten long ago . . . the delight of having friends.