THE HOUSE ETHAN COLE BUILT FOR TWO
Chapter 12
The house slowly became theirs.
Lily’s drawings appeared on the refrigerator.
Her shoes appeared near the door.
Books appeared on the couch.
A jacket was permanently left over the back of a chair.
A glass of water appeared beside Ethan’s bed one night.
He didn’t know why.
Lily said she had left it there “just in case.”
The kitchen became noisier.
The mornings became chaotic.
The evenings became warm.
Sometimes Lily asked too many questions.
Sometimes Ethan had no idea what to answer.
Sometimes they argued.
Once, Lily slammed her bedroom door.
Ethan stood in the hallway.
He didn’t know what to do.
He waited.
Ten minutes.
Twenty.
Finally, he knocked.
No answer.
He sat on the floor outside her room.
“I’m here.”
Silence.
He waited.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
A small voice came through the door.
“Okay.”
Ethan stayed.
