No, he decided, it all depended on your expectations and how you handled them. The fact was, any time he and Shallie went out together, they encountered his friends, neighbors, acquaintances. There was no opportunity for the kind of discovery an old-fashioned date could provide. Time to change that.

He glanced at Shallie. Her eyes were closed. “Uh, Shallie, are you awake?”

“Yes.” She smiled over at him.

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Of course!”

“Would you go out with me?”

“What?”

“On a date, I mean. An old-fashioned, real, honest-to-God date.”

She giggled and he was delighted by the sound. “Have we reverted to high school or something?” she asked.

“No.” He laughed, too, then explained what he’d been thinking.

“Where would we go?”

“How about somewhere outside of town? I was thinking about Silver Hills. There’s a nice inn there, with an elegant restaurant. That’s not a slight against Bailey’s, mind you. Her place has its own charm. I’d just like to go somewhere that would give us some privacy, a little solitude. If you like that idea.”

“I love it! My answer is an unqualified yes.”

Feeling a rush of excitement, he said, “I’ll make the reservation. And the animal-care arrangements.”

CARLY CLIMBED INTO BED, wearing another long T-shirt of Susan’s, this one with an I Love New York logo. The first thing she did was haul out her makeshift journal. She wrote the date at the top of a fresh page, chewed the end of her pen for a moment, then began to write.

Today was the beginning of the beginning. A new beginning. I truly believe that. I’d be happy if Cord turns out to be my dad. Or if it’s Eli or J.P., that would be really good, too. Cord would still be in my life. Like, my uncle. I hope he and Shallie get married! Then she’d be my mom—or my aunt.

I was so worried about how dinner last night would go—and it was so good. Nobody freaked out about the YouTube thing—or the $.

I know I keep saying this, but I just love the people I’ve met here. Including Len and Mary Jean. I adore the animals. I’m thrilled about the chance to get more music experience, to learn from Aaron and Ted and the others.

I feel so lucky, and a month ago I couldn’t have said that. Didn’t think I’d ever be able to say that.

I’ve heard about “gratitude journals” for years. They seemed totally pointless, in my life, anyway. Now I finally have all kinds of things to write in one!

She closed the notebook, attached the pen by its clip and set the book on her nightstand. Next, she found a country-blues station on her laptop and let it play softly, lulling her to sleep.