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Poppy didn't reply with words, but I saw her answer when her eyes lit up.
***
Later in the day while I packed, I replayed the conversation with Poppy in my head. I wanted her and Caden to work; I wanted them both to find what Bastian and I had.
I looked over at him as we packed up my room. He stood near my workstation individually bubble-wrapping my pots of paint. I stopped what I was doing to just watch him.
He wore those faded jeans I loved so much, so worn they almost looked white in spots, and an Aerosmith tee. The images on his arms looked as if they were dancing along his skin as his muscles flexed from his efforts. His hair was pulled back with a blue bandana and his face in profile was set in determination as he focused on his task.
Quite unexpectedly, he asked,“Hey, Lark, how's your happy place?”He glanced over at me when he asked this. “What?”His smile cut the sharpness in his tone.
“I like looking at you.”
He placed the pot down and walked to me in that loose-limbed stride of his. “I like you looking.”
“My happy place is just overflowing.”
He bent down so that our eyes were level.“I am so glad to hear that.”
And then he was kissing me.
***
“What do you want to do tonight, Lark?”Poppy asked as we sat on the sofa watching a repeat ofGame of Thrones.
“I don't know.”It was my last weekend home and everyone but Bastian and Poppy had to work.
“You're disappointed aren't you?”Sheasked.
“I was really hoping to spend the weekend with everyone. I know that's kind of selfish.”
“That's not selfish, Lark,”Poppy said with a smile.
“Why don't we go to that Italian place you've been wanting to try? Isn’tthat the one that Mr. Alfonso’scousin opened?” Bastian asked before he draped his arm over my shoulders and kissed my head.
I forgot Mr. Alfonso had mentioned that.“Yeah, I can drown my disappointment in pasta and cheese.”
On the way to Lombardi's, I couldn’tshake the melancholy. Though good food always made me feel better, I was conflicted about my move to Maine. I wasn't going to be gone for that long and, thankfully, Bastian was coming with me, but this move felt like my first step into adulthood, and that was scary.
We opened the door to the restaurant with Poppy acting edgy. That should have been my clue that something was up. As soon as we walked inside, my feet just stopped moving. A banner hung from the ceiling:Congratulations, Lark. We'llMiss You, and a huge cake sat on one of the tables. But it was the people, everyone I wanted to see, all standing around staring at me that had those blasted tears leaking from my eyes.
I walked to the Wrights and wrapped my arms around both of them. “Thank you.”I whispered through my tears.
“Did you really think we were going to let you go without a huge send-off?” Dr. Wright asked.
“I did.”
“Silly girl.”Mr. Wright chided.
I took a step away from them and wiped at my eyes.“I didn't need all of this, but thank you.”
“It wasn't just us, honey. You've made a lot of friends here and they wanted to wish you well,” Dr. Wright said with kindness.
“You ready to party?”This statement coming from the reserved Mr. Wright made me laugh.
“I am, but only if you agree to dance with me later.”
“You're on, kiddo.”
