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But as I stepped up into the kitchen, I heard my father’s voice. “Archie, any friend of Jake’s is welcome here any time. Please join us for Thanksgiving. My wife makes enough for eighteen people anyway, and it’s just the three of us.”
Inside, I sagged against the counter, and the tears came. I couldn’t piece through all the emotion inside me. Joy at Archie’s appearance and declaration of love; some misplaced sadness at the idea that we were finally going to move on from the accident—did that mean leaving Jake behind somehow? I also felt the adrenaline and confusion of finding them here like this finally washing out of me, and it left my limbs feeling heavy, my body tired suddenly. I drank a big glass of water, wiped underneath my eyes, and took a deep breath. This was going to be a very different Thanksgiving from what I’d arrived anticipating.
Chapter Thirty
Good Ideas Abound
GHOST
It took a few minutes, but once Emily overcame whatever shock she felt at seeing me at her parents’ house, she seemed happy that I was there. It had been a gamble, coming here without telling her, but I knew that confirming my feelings for her was only one part of what I had to do in San Diego.
I wouldn’t have been able to move forward without formally apologizing to Jake’s family. And hearing them accept it. I’d apologized in the letter, the one Gabe told me he’d read for the first time just a few days ago. But seeing Jake’s parents’ faces, being able to speak directly to them, to try to communicate the depth of my sorrow for their loss—it was different.
The navy had done its part and moved on. But I knew that moving on wasn’t as easy for humans as for organizations. We needed more than facts and findings. We needed time and conversation, words and feelings to help knit together the disparate elements of tragedy.
Emily gave me that.
And I owed it to her family.
I’d been scared. But I also knew that if I could get through whatever emotions her parents had to offer me—even if they were rage and fury—it would clear the path for me to talk to her again. To tell her I wasn’t angry, that I understood why she hadn’t told me right away who she was. To tell her that I wanted to know her. To love her. If she’d have me.
Dinner was wonderful.
The food was every bit as Emily had advertised—I guess that’s what you got when you had Thanksgiving cooked by a professional chef. But the best part of the night was seeing Emily’s family together. In a lot of ways, it was like spending time with Shazz, having him back for a minute. Emily looked a little bit like him—the same dark eyes and quick smile. Jake’s father had the same calculating mind, coming up with questions I didn’t expect and keeping the conversation interesting at all times. And his mom had the same warmth and charm I’d come to know with Jake. Plus, there were pictures of him in the hallway on the way to the bathroom, and one in the living room over the couch.
When dinner was over and the plates had been cleared and washed, I stood to say my goodbyes, not at all certain what came next. I hoped it would be time alone with Emily, time to talk, maybe to plan. I knew I needed to explain to her what was in my heart, but I didn’t want to do it in front of her parents.
“Thank you so much for having me, Mr. and Mrs. Schaeffer. It was really wonderful to meet you, and the food was incredible.”
“We’re so glad you came by,” Mrs. Schaeffer said.
“Thank you,” Mr. Schaeffer said. He hung back for a moment, as if deciding something, and then ignored my outstretched hand, pulling me in for a hug. He sniffed as wemoved apart, and his eyes shone, but he smiled widely at me. “It really meant a lot.”
Emotion welled in my throat and I struggled to keep it inside, to end the evening without devolving into tears. I turned to look at Emily, not at all sure what the right thing to do might be, hope burning fiercely inside me.
“Where are you staying?” she asked.
“I figured I’d head back toward the airport and find a hotel there.”
A strange look came over her face, a half-smile that had her blushing as she glanced to her parents and then back at me. “I’m pretty tired anyway, I can walk you out.”
My heart lifted. I’d take even a few more minutes with Emily. I glanced back at the Schaeffers. They both smiled, and Mrs. Schaeffer guided her husband back inside. “We hope to see you again soon, Archie,” she said, pulling the front door shut behind them.
Emily turned to face me, stepping closer. “You’re not staying at a hotel by the airport.”
“I’m not?” My heart stuttered with hope.
“Of course not. Come stay with me.” She smiled widely, and it felt like the dipping sun gleamed just a little brighter over the horizon of the Pacific, warming my skin to match my heart.
“I’d love to stay with you,” I said. “There are a lot of things I hoped we could talk about.”
Emily smiled and then glanced around. “Do you even have a car here?”
“Uber.”
“Then I guess you’ll ride with me,” she said. Her smile was wide and full of promise as she got into the driver side of the little sedan parked in the driveway.
“Where do you live?” I asked.
