“It’s not stupid at all,” I assured her.
“Well, sometimes it doesn’t make sense, even to me. I just know that closing the door to this room helped a bit. Like, I could save this and deal with other things. One at a time. That way, it never got to be too much.”
“Like waiting until this year with the decorations?”
“Exactly like that. This bedroom is the last big thing I need to tackle.”
“Do you come in here a lot?”
She reached over and clasped my hand. I expected her to give it a squeeze and let go, but she held on. “This is the first time in a long time, James. Thank you.”
I stared at her in the silence.Damn, this woman.Making me feel like I’d accomplished something, just by standing next to her. This window she was offering into her heart. Her openness. I’d never experienced anything so incredible. I was done lying to myself. Even if it was a truly terrible idea to go there—I wanted Marley.
I did not know what to do next. She’d just told me about her mother, and I was standing there having some entirely unrelated and very inappropriate-for-the-moment thoughts. I felt thewantlike a physical force. But beyond that, there existed a soul-deep need to do something meaningful for her. To honor what she’d just given me.
I kept our hands linked as I asked, “Do you want me to move your stuff in here? Help you clean out your mother’s old bedroom?”
Her eyes grew wide. A few different expressions crossed her face—each more unreadable than the last—before she surprised me by barking out a small laugh. “That’s so weird.”
Not the reaction I’d expected. “What’s weird?”
She grinned as she let go of my hand. “I was planning to ask you to help me move my mom’s things. Before you offered just now.”
“Oh, nice. Glad we’re on the same page.” I said, my turn to smile. I took a few steps around the room, taking a mental inventory of what might need to be done. “Guess it’s settled. Just let me know when you want to do it.”
But her expression looked far from settled.
“How about this, James—” she paused, gazing up at me. “I accept your offer to help me do this very difficult thing I need to do, and in return, you let me do the same for you. Specifically, you let me go with you to your reunion.”
It took me a beat to process her words. “My reunion? Huh? What does that have to do with this?”
She exhaled heavily before explaining. “After you left yesterday, I thought a lot about your reunion. How you reacted to those texts. Obviously, something happened back then, something you’re struggling with. We both have this…stuff we’re holding on to. That’s why I shut the door on this room. But it’s time to let in the light. I want to help you too. I’m asking you to please let me.”
Wow. It felt as though Marley had just chucked a suitcase full of lead at my chest. I took a step back and rolled my shoulders. Worried my legs might give out, I dropped into a squat position, elbows resting on my knees as I laced my fingers behind my neck.
“Will you still let me help move your furniture into the master, even if I don’t go to my reunion?”
Marley sighed. “Of course. But I really hope you’ll consider the trade.” She stepped away, running a gentle hand over the dresser. “It’s still hard to imagine coming in here, clearing out these last pieces of my mom’s life, but I’ve known for a while that Ineedto.” She eyed me levelly before stating, “I don’t want to force you to do something you truly do not want to do, but it seems like, in your heart, going to the reunion is something you need to do.”
“You’re sure you want to go with me?” I asked as I stood up.
“I’d be honored, James.”
“You realize you’d have to skip one of your volunteer shifts at the Christmas tree lot, and we’d miss out on chaperoning the school dance, since the reunion is that weekend?” I felt my resolve weakening as I grasped for any excuse possible.
She released a small laugh. “James, it’s okay. Of course I want to do my part for the school. But there’s no question supporting you is more important. Other people can help at Coleman Creek. I don’t trust anyone else to go with you to your reunion.” Marley peppered that last remark with a wink.
She’d said it tongue-in-cheek, clearly unaware I held the same sentiment. There wasn’t anyone else in my life I trusted not to judge or pity me if things went wrong. I’d left acquaintances behind in Seattle, but no one I thought of as a true friend. Oliver had been like a brother to me—until our friendship imploded. My family loved me, but I’d never been able to talk to them about high school.
As the idea established itself in my gut, I knew Marley was right. I tilted my chin to my chest and folded my arms. “We’ll go to my reunion, and I’ll help you move furniture.”
“Deal.” She grinned. “Nowit’s settled. Let’s wait until after the holidays to switch the rooms, though. Then it will be like starting fresh for the new year.”
We walked back out to the living room, Marley closing the door behind us. The dogs were still knocked out in front of the fireplace, Bambi on his back with Oscar’s paw draped over his belly.
“How about I make us a snack and then we can finish up outside?” Marley asked.
“Sounds good.”
