THE GIRL ETHAN COLE COULDN’T LEAVE BEHIND
CHAPTER 4
The next two weeks changed something in Ethan.
He began finding reasons to return to Willow Creek.
Sometimes there was actual work.
Sometimes there wasn’t.
He repaired a broken fence.
Fixed a heater.
Helped the clinic move equipment.
Replaced a window.
Then, eventually, he stopped pretending.
He came to see Lily.
The first time he brought a book.
She looked at it suspiciously.
“What is it?”
“A book.”
“I can see that.”
“You asked.”
She took it.
The second time he brought colored pencils.
The third time he brought nothing.
That was Lily’s favorite visit.
They sat outside and watched rain move across the mountains.
“You don’t always have to bring things,” she said.
“I figured that out.”
She leaned against the porch railing.
“Why do you keep coming?”
Ethan looked at the rain.
“Because I want to.”
She nodded.
That answer seemed to satisfy her.
One Saturday, Ethan took Lily into town with Sarah’s permission.
They went to a small diner.
Greyhaven’s diner.
The moment Ethan walked in with Lily, the room went quiet.
Not because anyone was suspicious.
Because everyone knew.
Martha stood behind the counter.
She looked at Lily.
Then at Ethan.
Then smiled.
“Well,” she said, “I was wondering when you were going to bring her.”
Ethan frowned.
“You were?”
“Of course.”
Lily looked around.
“This is where you eat?”
“Sometimes.”
Martha put a plate of pancakes in front of Lily.
“I didn’t order these.”
“You’re ten.”
“Nine.”
“Then you definitely didn’t order them.”
Lily looked at Ethan.
“Is she always like this?”
“Usually.”
Martha laughed.
Soon the entire diner had gone back to normal.
Someone brought Lily hot chocolate.
Someone else gave her a piece of pie.
Ben arrived and immediately started telling an embarrassing story about Ethan.
Ethan glared at him.
“Don’t.”
Ben grinned.
“I haven’t even started.”
Lily laughed.
A real laugh.
Ethan looked at her.
For a moment, he forgot everything else.
He had heard laughter before.
But this one felt different.
Because he had helped create the reason for it.
After lunch, they walked along the harbor.
Lily pointed at fishing boats.
“Which one is yours?”
“I don’t have one.”
“Why not?”
“I’ve never needed one.”
“You should get one.”
“That’s expensive advice.”
She smiled.
They stopped near the docks.
Lily looked at the ocean.
“Do you think people can become family?”
Ethan stared at the water.
“Yes.”
“Even if they aren’t related?”
“Yes.”
She looked at him.
“Then how?”
Ethan took his time answering.
“By choosing each other.”
Lily looked away.
The wind moved through her hair.
Neither said anything else.
But that evening, when Ethan drove back to Willow Creek to return her to the home, Lily stood at the doorway for a long time.
Before going inside, she asked quietly,
“Would you come back next Saturday?”
Ethan nodded.
“I will.”
She smiled.
“Okay.”
He watched her disappear inside.
Then he stood alone in the parking lot.
For the first time in his life, Ethan wondered what it would feel like to have someone waiting for him to come home.
