“Can I have a chance to earn that back, Lily? Can I take you out to dinner? Next Friday?”

“Like a date? You’re asking me out?” It seemed funny for him to ask me out. We had been through so much, and a date was such a simple thing.

“Yeah, maybe we could start over.” He smiled.

“Like, start over in the middle.” I laughed.

“Something like that.” He cupped my cheek and wiped away a tear with his thumb. “Everything I’ve ever done is for you,” he murmured.

“Oh, Luke.” I breathed, and without even thinking about it, my body swayed toward his, my arms reached up for him, and like he always used to do, he swept me up and held me close, wrapping me up in his warmth.

“I’ve missed you so much. I thought about you every day,” he whispered into my neck, his beard tickling my skin.

I pulled my head back to see his face. “I missed you too. I tried not to think about you, but I couldn’t stop. I could never stop wondering what you were doing. I want you to read the letters. For a while, I wrote to you whenever I thought about you, so there are a lot.”

Tears sparkled in his eyes as he looked at me. “I want to read them. I want to know about everything I missed.”

I pulled his face closer, pressed my body closer. I felt a peace I hadn’t felt since the last time I was in his arms. His lips brushed my forehead, then each of my cheeks. Once, twice, so soft, so sweet. But I wanted more. I wanted to keep this feeling. At that moment, I wanted it all back.

“I’m not going to kiss you yet, Lily. When I do, it will change everything and you’re not ready.” He put me down. Luke had always been able to read me. “Let’s get you home.”

He held my hand for the entire drive. Relief and a sense that I was finally, truly home filled my heart. He pulled into the driveway and turned to me with a smile.

“Thank you for taking me home, Luke.”

He grinned. “Stay there. I’ll walk you in.” He got out and opened my door. Old Luke was back, or he had always been back, and I was just now allowing myself to notice him. He took my hand and led me to the door.

My dad woke with a start when I opened the front door. “Lily. And Luke.” He seemed pleased to see Luke. “Both kids are out. Calla has been asleep the whole time. That would be a record, right?” I nodded. “Well, then, it looks like my work here is done. Night, Lily-girl. Good night, Luke.” He kissed my cheek, then patted Luke on the shoulder as he walked out.