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“You’ve grown up so much, River,” Fern says. “You don’t have the same naive view of the world. You’ve even let go of certain old fixations.”
She means Lexi. We all know it without her saying it.
“But you’re as starry-eyed about love as Fern was,” North says. “You want to run away, because she has doubts.”
Deanna’s doubts hurt, yes, but it’s not that simple. “We’re adults. I respect her choices,” I say.
“Do you, though?” Fern asks. “Do you really agree with her reasons? Her logic? I’m sure she came at you with logic. It’s not like she said, sorry, River, we can’t work out because you didn’t send me enough roses.”
No. I don’t agree with her logic. “So, what, I need to drop my naive ideas of romance to commit to a grand gesture? That’s growth?”
“Not a River kind of gesture. You’re not going to run to the airport,” Fern says.
“Or write her name in the sky,” North says.
“Actually, that would be sweet,” Fern says.
North motionssee what I mean. She’s right. Fern is like me. She still holds onto a lot of her romantic ideas.
“You need to let go of things going your way. You need to let go of your need for perfect, pure, doubt-free love. You can’t expect that from someone else. You can’t expect them to feel the way you do. You need to stop arguing with your heart and start using your brain,” North says.
“Cold, hard facts. That’s what Deanna respects.” North looks to Grandma. “Right, Grandma?”
“It’s a smart plan, but it’s River’s choice,” Grandma says. “We need to respect his choices, even when he makes them incorrectly.”
That’s unfair, but I know better than to argue. The women in my life double down when met with any debate.
It’s better to act disinterested or let them believe they’re right. But this time…
Maybe they are right. Maybe I need to let go of my idea of love, too. Maybe I need to meet Deanna halfway.
“What do you propose?” I ask. “An essay on my feelings?”
“Ugh, artists.” Fern throws her hands in the air. “An essay? Come on. Use your brain.”
“Use logic,” North says.
“Convince her I love her with logic?” I ask.
Fern nods. “A slide deck maybe. Bullet points. ‘Why We Belong Together.’ Face it, she’s totally a New Yorker. She would love the city as much as you do.”
I can see her there, but I don’t know if she would go there. Deanna wants to stay near her family. I respect that.
“You just need to explain it in terms she understands,” Fern says. “A business proposal. Come on. Let’s start now.” She stands and offers her hand. “I know exactly how to do this.”
Chapter Forty-One
Deanna
In the morning, I wake to a notification on my phone.
A Google Cal invite.
Meeting with River Beau re: business proposal.
We need to discuss the terms of our bet.
Monday. Three p.m. MeetCute conference room.
