Chapter Thirty-Seven
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Early the next morning, the leaves reached their explosive peak. The mountains were a riot of reds and oranges and yellows, a fiery blaze against the chilled air.
It was a Monday. He would be home.
I love him , I thought as I climbed onto my bike.
My heart was in my throat.
“I love you,” I practiced to the trees.
“I’m in love with you,” I practiced to his mailbox.
“Please tell me you love me back,” I practiced to his front door.
“Ingrid,” he said, opening it in shock. He was crying. “How did you get here so quickly?”
Our embrace wasn’t happy. I held him as his tears turned into sobs. I led him back inside, and we sat at his dining room table because his couch was already gone.
It was Bonnie, I learned.
She was gone, too.