Chapter 22
Twenty-Two
“Ican’t believe I sold everything I brought,” I said as Theo walked the giant table back to Lori’s truck that we’d borrowed—I still wasn’t too keen on driving my car around, even though Theo had assured me it was fine now.
The market we’d driven to in another town wouldn't end for another fifteen minutes, but we’d started packing up early after I’d sold my last sketch. A ton of people had also taken my card that I left out for commissions.
I felt like a proud parent, sending off all my art to good homes.
We packed the stuff away in the truck, Theo not even grunting as he effortlessly lifted the table into the back.
It was like the entire state of Maine had become informed it was now early November. All the leaves had been stripped from the trees. The rain had finally stopped for multiple days in a row. Everything was gray, quietly awaiting winter.
I didn’t mind it so much. After such a colorful, wet autumn, the gray signaled the start of something new.
There were few things I found more inspiring than one season shifting to the next.
Maybe toward the end, a season could become drawn out—depressing even.
But then you knew the next one was right around the corner, and nothing beat a beginning.
It was like a rebirth every few months. I lived for it. My mother had floated the idea of us moving to southern California once a few years ago. I’d told her I could never do it. I couldn’t leave the magic of the seasons.
As I settled into the passenger seat, I watched as Theo put the truck in reverse.
It was his last full day here. The full moon was tomorrow.
I wanted to ask when he’d have to leave. Did the portal open as soon as the day started? Was it only in the evening? How long was it open for? Could he wait until the last possible second?
Those questions all seemed overly needy so I’d kept my mouth shut. Instead, I let my mind race, hyperfixated on what Lori had said the other day.
Soulmates.
A word I used to think was cheesy and reserved for epic romance novels. Now I wasn’t so sure. It felt heavy and all encompassing.
I glanced at Theo again as he focused on the darkening road ahead.
This was a crush. Right? Lust, maybe? I’d felt lust before and it had been nothing like this. Lust didn’t leave me practically gasping for air every time we were intimate with each other because I almost couldn’t handle the intensity of it.
I’d never say the word soulmate out loud. Theo wasn’t the type who’d laugh or be cruel about it, but I could practically picture his face twisting into one of concern as he worried for my sanity.
We drove in silence like we always did. The chill in the air plus the countless hours of being on my feet at the market had my eyes nearly glazing over. I forced them open. I didn’t want to sleep at all today if I could help it.
“Can we stop somewhere?” I asked.
“Where?”
“Anywhere.”
We were driving on one of the main roads back into town, but I’d hardly explored anywhere over here.
Theo thought for a moment. “I know a spot, but it’s not that close,” he warned.
“Drive,” I said, secretly hoping it was hours away, the truck would break down, and he would be trapped here for at least another month.
We drove with my left hand threaded in the fingers of his right one as his other hand gripped the steering wheel.
I loved our quiet. Even when we were both lost in our own thoughts, it still felt like the most present I’d ever been.
We’d been driving for nearly thirty minutes when the ocean came into view. It was a windy day so the waves crashed high against the shore, the white caps eating at the navy blue evening.
I sat up, eager to be close to it.
Something about staring out at the ocean felt like being at the edge of the world. I thought of the other realm and realized that we were basically at the edge of a world.
I hated that Theo didn’t belong in this one.
He pulled into an empty parking lot and told me to wait while he ran around to my side of the car, opening the door and helping me out.
“You know, for not having a driver’s license you’re a very good driver,” I said, clutching his waist as we walked down to the water.
It was freezing with the wind nipping at our faces and he wrapped his arm tighter around me.
“Did Lori take you here?” I asked.
He shook his head. “My parents. One month when I was visiting them.”
“I want to paint this.” I traced my eyes over every detail so I could store it away for later.
“What will you do after?” he asked.
“I think I’ll stay here. Keep painting.” Even though I was content and happy with the idea, it felt small and insignificant saying it to Theo. As if any existence after he left was somehow smaller. “Will you keep doing energy healing back there?”
“I don’t know.” He frowned, turning to stare at me. “It’s usually a trade reserved for women. I’m not sure I’d have much luck finding clients.”
He’d mentioned not liking what he was doing now—dealing with relics. I hated the idea that he might be forced back into that instead of doing what he was so clearly meant to do.
He kept glancing at me and then back at the horizon. I could sense he wanted to say something but he refrained.
“You can tell me anything, you know,” I said.
His eyes searched mine. “I guess I was thinking about how I wish I could take you with me.”
“Me too.”
We both looked back out to the ocean, staying that way until only the moon illuminated the sky.
Then we drove home together for the last time.