The Silence Between Us: A Vow to Return novel · Chapter 19 of 24

Chapter 19: The Porch Step

Nathan's POV

I got to the cottage at dawn on Wednesday and sat down on the top step.

The loon was out on the water, and my breath showed in front of my face.

The porch light stayed off.

Hannah's curtains stayed drawn.

I didn't knock.

At eight, a battered station wagon came up the gravel road and stopped behind my car.

Molly Dunne got out with a paper bag in one hand and her canvas apron still tied on over her sweater.

She walked up to the bottom of the steps and looked at me for a while.

"You look terrible," she said.

"Thank you."

"I didn't say it to be nice."

She held out the bag.

I took it.

Inside was a blueberry muffin, still warm.

"That's from me," Molly said. "The rest isn't."

"Go ahead."

"For seven years I thought you were a very polite man who was going to let my best friend be lonely," she said. "I was right."

"You were."

"But I watched your face yesterday on that stage, and I might be wrong about the rest." She folded her arms. "If you do it again, I'll tell the whole town. They already like her better."

"They should."

"Eat your muffin."

I ate it.

She nodded once and got back in the wagon.

At noon, my phone rang.

The screen said Dad.

I looked at it through three rings.

Then I answered.

"Nathan," my father said. His voice was thin, but it was the old voice, level and managed. "I've talked to the board chair. She's coming around. If you apologize to Kendra and stay out of the press for a month, they'll vote you back by Friday."

"No."

"You didn't hear the terms."

"I heard them. They're a plan, Dad."

"It's the plan that keeps you the head of this company."

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