Forrest is about to say something when we see Hal approaching up the hill. He’s carrying a picnic hamper. When he reaches Artie, he sets it down and begins to help her pick up her drawings.
“That guy is really wooing you,” Forrest says, sitting back on his heels, his expression unreadable.
“He really is.” I smile. “He is a very nice man.”
“And you like him too, don’t you?” he asks.
How to answer that question when the very reason Hal exists is because of me. Of course I like him, I love him in many ways. But even if I didn’t I think I’d feel obliged to.
“I... do,” I say. Forrest nods.
“Ava, I’m sorry for how I hurt you. Even if it was never my intention, the thought that you felt that way about me for so long makes me feel dreadful.”
“Apology accepted,” I say with a rueful smile.
“So, just for clarification, I am off the nemesis list, right?” he asks.
“I mean, I’ve never rescinded nemesis status ever, but I think for you, I might make an exception.”
“Well, that’s a start,” he says, getting up. He starts to put away his supplies as Hal approaches.
“Picnic?” Hal suggests.
“Drawings of greatness!” Artie announces.
“Lovely,” I say.
A start, Forrest said. What does that mean?
“Come on, Artemisia, how about we hang these in the dining room for everyone to admire later,” Forrest says, taking the stray sheets of paper from Hal. “That way, Ava can see them to their best advantage.”
“Oh.” Artie looks disgruntled. “But there’s a picnic here, Daddy.”
“Yes, a picnic meant for two,” Forrest says. “Come on, I’m sure we can rustle up a picnic too.”
“Bye, Ava! Bye, Hal!” Artie calls to us as Forrest leads her back down the hill.
“Bye, Artie,” Hal and I call.
“Oh, and when it comes to Rani,” Forrest calls to me over his shoulder, “try apologising. I’ve found it works wonders.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
As I am walking with Hal to the spot that he has chosen, I see Rani standing on the edge of the lake, throwing bread to the ducks, who cluster noisily at her feet.
“Can I catch up?” I ask him. “I really need to talk to Rani.”
“Of course you can,” he says. “I think Forrest’s suggestion of offering an apology is a good one. I would have suggested the same approach.”
“Oh, right,” I say.
“I have a particular location in mind. I’ll drop you a pin.” A moment later my watch buzzes with a notification and I realise that Hal doesn’t need to take out a device and open an app to drop a pin; he just “thinks” it and it happens.
“I’ll see you when you’re ready,” he says with a small smile and a slight nod of his head. He walks off into a meadow to wait for me.
“Hey,” I say to Rani, as I approach her, hoping that maybe I just imagined upsetting her, that actually everything is fine.
“You,” she says. That dream didn’t last long.
