Page 171 of Key West Homecoming

At the cottage, Jake made tea in the blue enamel kettle. They carried their mugs to the porch and sat on the step.

For a while, Emma listened to the sounds of the neighborhood settling into evening.

She had been thinking about this conversation since the night before.

“Jake.”

“Yeah?”

“I need to tell you something.”

He turned toward her.

Emma held the mug between both hands.

“I’m not going back to Chicago.”

Jake didn’t answer immediately.

“I mean, I have to go back,” she continued. “I have an apartment and a job I need to deal with. I can’t just disappear. But I’m not going back to stay.”

Jake looked at her. “You’re sure?”

“I am.”

She expected the words to feel enormous once she said them to him.

They didn’t.

They felt true.

“What are you going to do?” he asked.

“I don’t know yet. That’s the part I’m trying not to panic about.”

Jake smiled.

“I’ll probably resign. I’ll have to decide what to do with the apartment and figure out whether I want to work here or do something remotely. I have no idea what any of that looks like yet.”

“You don’t have to know tonight.”

“That’s what everyone keeps telling me.”

“Maybe everyone’s right.”

Emma leaned her shoulder against his.

“There’s something else.”

Jake waited.

“I don’t want you to think I’m staying because of you.”

His face changed, but he didn’t look hurt.

“I know you’re not.”

“You do?”