“Yes.”
“Good.”
He had almost said, I missed you too.
The words stayed in his throat.
Lily looked disappointed.
Bear sighed.
“I missed you too.”
Her smile returned.
And that was how the next problem began.
Daniel was standing behind her.
He had a folder in his hand.
Bear knew trouble when he saw it.
“What’s that?”
Daniel’s expression was tight.
“I need to ask you something.”
“Never a good opening.”
They sat down.
Lily was sent to the counter with hot chocolate.
Daniel opened the folder.
“I got a job offer.”
“Congratulations.”
“It’s in Colorado.”
Bear waited.
“Lily and I would move next month.”
The words landed heavily.
Bear looked toward the counter.
Lily was drawing something on a napkin.
“Okay,” he said.
Daniel stared at him.
“That’s all?”
“What do you want me to say?”
“I don’t know.”
“Colorado’s nice.”
“You’re angry.”
“I’m not.”
Bear was.
Not at Daniel.
At himself.
At the ridiculous idea that Lily belonged in his life simply because he had gotten used to her being there.
Daniel lowered his voice.
“She loves you, Bear.”
Bear said nothing.
“She’s been through a lot.”
“So have you.”
“I know. But she asks about you constantly.”
“That’s not a reason to stay.”
“No.”
“Then what is?”
Daniel closed the folder.
“I don’t know.”
That was the honest answer.
And Bear respected it.
A week later, Lily brought another drawing.
This time it showed a motorcycle riding down a long road.
A little girl stood beside it.
On the other side of the paper was a mountain.
“Colorado,” Bear said.
She nodded.
“You can come visit.”
Bear looked at the mountain.
“I don’t fly.”
“Then ride.”
He almost laughed.
Of course.
PART 6
The night before Lily left, Bear could not sleep.
He had a route mapped.
He had checked the weather.
He had even considered which motels would be safest.
Then he deleted everything.
He had no right to promise.
That was what his life had taught him.
Promises were dangerous.
Especially when made by people like him.
At nine in the morning, Daniel called.
“Where are you?”
Bear was in his garage.
“Home.”
“We’re leaving.”
“I know.”
Lily wants to see you.”
Bear gripped the workbench.
“No.”
“Bear—”
“Don’t make this harder.”
There was silence.
Then Daniel said quietly, “She asked if you didn’t come because you were sick.”
Bear closed his eyes.
“Tell her I’m sorry.”
“I don’t think she’ll understand.”
“Maybe she shouldn’t.”
Daniel ended the call.
Bear stood alone.
Ten minutes passed.