“So, that’s why you’re here?” I ask.

“To meet you, yes. And for Ethan’s launch, and because my husband wanted to visit California, so we packed up the kids, got on a plane and here we are,” she says, laughing again.

I like her. I liked her even when I hated her.

Husband. Kids. My manuscript. Ethan. Everything is spinning and spinning.

“And you want to represent me?” I ask.

“I would love to. If you want me to, of course.”

I look over at Ethan, and he’s all a smile. A grin.

“I do,” I say. “Thank you.”

“No. Thank you for this special love story. It’s just, ah, it melted my heart. Alright,” she says, “I have to go now, or else my husband will declare me missing. I will send you the contract via email tonight, so we can go over it tomorrow if you have any questions. I hope you both have a lovely night,” she says and leaves.

Is flabbergasted the right word for my state right now? Maybe. I don’t have any other.

I look at Ethan. He looks at me. I can hear my breathing; it’s that quiet between us.

“Thank you,” I say. “For that.”

“Nothing to thank me for. You deserve it and like you said, I kind of stole your story.”

I can’t even smile, I’m so shocked about this new development.

“We had a deal and I’ll keep my end of the bargain. I promised that once I finish reading the book—I didn’t say how many times though—if I believe you, I’ll tell you who Max is.”

I hold my breath.

“I finished reading your book for the fourth time this morning and I do believe you. It’s time for you to meet Max.”

I don’t want that anymore, I want to say, but the words don’t come out. Instead, I sit across from him, trying not to cry.

“I have something for you. Something that will explain everything I couldn’t,” he says and gives me two typed pieces of paper.

“What are these?”

“The missing pages from my novel. The ones I told you about the day we made the pact.”

I take them and my fingers tremble as I hold them.

“Once you read them, you will have the answers to all your questions—”

“Ethan, what does that mean?”

He leans down and kisses me on the top of my head, then leaves the café without a word.

June After Midnight

Chapter 28 (Draft 1 Version)

I’m sitting by the fire, holding a beer and looking out at the ocean. I know she will show up in a few minutes, but I do my best to stop staring in the direction of the path. I have to seem casual. Luckily, there are over twenty-five, maybe thirty people here and more come. People drink beer and wine, roast marshmallows, a woman brought two thermoses with hot cocoa. I believe some of them are tourists or new to the area, but still I know at least half of them, even if just by sight.