THE HOUSE ETHAN COLE BUILT FOR TWO
Chapter 9
The first week changed Ethan’s routine completely.
He had to wake earlier.
Make breakfast.
Pack lunch.
Check school schedules.
Remember homework.
Remember appointments.
Remember that Lily didn’t like tomatoes.
Remember that she loved strawberries.
Remember that she was afraid of thunder.
Remember that she liked stories before bed.
Ethan had never had to remember so many things.
One evening, he stood in the kitchen staring at a grocery list.
Bread.
Milk.
Eggs.
Chicken.
Apples.
Strawberries.
Cereal.
Soap.
He looked at the list.
Then at Lily.
“Anything else?”
She thought.
“Chocolate.”
Ethan raised an eyebrow.
“Is that essential?”
She nodded seriously.
“Very.”
Ethan laughed.
“Fine.”
At the grocery store, people from Greyhaven recognized them.
June waved.
Walter called from the other aisle.
Someone asked Lily about school.
Someone else gave Ethan advice he hadn’t asked for.
Lily seemed fascinated.
Everyone knew Ethan.
And now they knew her.
On the walk home, she held his hand.
“Everybody knows you.”
Ethan smiled.
“Apparently.”
“Why?”
“I’ve been here a while.”
She thought about that.
Then smiled.
“Me too.”
