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“That’s a good list,” Tiffany said.
“And someone who makes me laugh,” I said.
“Well, Darby doesn’t seem funny at all,” Stormi said. “Or witty.”
“He is funny and very witty,” I said before realizing she was teasing me. “We have a lot in common and like the same things.” I told them about our mutual love of vintage country music. “I mean, that’s pretty weird, right?”
“What’s weird,” Stormi said, “is that it took this long for you two to figure it out.”
“I don’t know,” I said, the doubt creeping in again. “What if he’s still hung up on Arianna?”
“You’ll be able to tell tonight.” Stormi handed me the mascara tube. “You have to do your lashes. I’m afraid I’ll tear your cornea or whatever it is.”
“Keep your eyes wide open,” Tiffany said. “Like Stormi said, if he still loves her, you will know it.”
“And if so, run, don’t walk, out of there,” Stormi said.
* * *
That night,we drove to the lodge in the orange glow of sunset. Darby’s car had been released from the shop and seemed to be running well. The valley between the two mountains had never looked prettier to me. I reached over and gave Darby’s knee a squeeze. “I feel nervous for some dumb reason.”
“Are you?” He glanced my way and smiled. “You sure about this? Because we can tell them you or I weren’t feeling well and go back to your place.”
“As tempting as that sounds, no, we have to go through with it,” I said. “Unless you don’t want to?”
He was quiet, contemplating my question. I’d learned this about him over the last few days. He often took his time to answer, as if organizing the words in his mind before speaking them out loud. Given my impulsive mouth, I appreciated this quality. Being with him made me feel like a delicate porcelain bowl resting in his capable and steady hands.
“I want to,” he said at last. “Just to show them how great I’m doing. Or, at least faking it.”
“Should we hold hands during dinner?” What a stupid thing to ask, I chastised myself. What was wrong with me, practically begging him?
His forehead creased as he seemed to think through the details of his answer. “It’s been such a long time since I’ve been part of a couple, I don’t know. Whatever you think. I’ll let you take the lead. I’m afraid I’m going to freeze and just stare at them like a startled deer confronted with a lion.”
“Do lions eat deer?”
“I think so.” He grimaced, chuckling. “Or antelope, maybe? I don’t think we have lions in Colorado.”
“Maybe a bobcat then?”
“That works. My metaphors aren’t too great, huh? I just teach English, not write it.”
I looked out the window. We were out of town now and traveling along the road toward the historic lodge. Late-blooming flowers and tall grasses grew alongside the road. The northern mountain, where the ski runs had long dominated the greenery of the trees, was pretty against the pink sky. In the side mirror, I could see that the southern mountain stood proud, although the fire had taken out a swatch of trees, leaving her partially bald with a feathery dusting of green from new foliage. Soon, snow would cover up the seedlings and saplings that had sprouted in the dead spots last spring. We might not have many more weeks of good weather, but tonight was glorious, with golden aspen leaves fluttering hello from the foothills. “It’s pretty, isn’t it?” I asked. “I’m still in awe of it—amazed I live here.”
“I took my fifth period outside today, figuring I should let them soak up the crisp fall weather for as long as they could. If they get off their devices for long enough, they can still see the beauty of the world. Even more so than those of us who have been around longer. Youth see the world with fresh eyes.”
“We’re hardly old,” I said.
“No, not really.” He chuckled and turned into the driveway that led to the lodge.
“But I know what you mean. When I’m with my little niece, who’s not even three yet, she sees everything with such excitement that it’s contagious. Except when she’s pulling the cat’s tail just to see what she’ll do.”
“Poor kitty.”
“Is that why you love teaching?” I asked, serious.
“Seeing the world with fresh eyes, you mean?”
“That and being around when someone discovers something for the first time,” I said.
