Page 93 of Paradigm

“I can’t answer that for you. But you know who can?”

“She’s only texting me right now. I’m trying to give her a little space.”

“I wouldn’t give her too much of that before you go.”

“Yeah. I’m going to try calling her again tonight. If she answers, maybe she’s ready to talk. If not, I’ll get a text, but either way, I have to tell her that I am taking the job. I wasn’t sure before, but I am now. I think it’s the right thing to do. I know I won’t be happy just sitting around here, even though I’d have her. I need my work, and I want us to take those steps when we’re ready, not because we have to.”

“She’ll understand, Eline,” Violet told her. “She might not be happy about it, but she’ll understand.”

“Thank you, Violet.”

“Of course. I do have to go, though. I have a girlfriend of my own at home, who requested coffee and a scone, because she likes their scones. I’m just grabbing that for her and heading home.”

“When are you going to propose?”

“I’m still working on the timeline, but I’m making progress. I want it to be special and something she’ll love.”

“She loves you. She doesn’t need special. Trust me, if Arlowe had asked me how she did the other night, without this whole visa thing looming over us, I would’ve said yes. I would’ve laughed about how spontaneous it was and told her how much I loved her while we hugged and kissed in my living room. Stella really will not care.”

“So, I’ve been told,” Violet said with a smile and stood up. “I’m working on it.”

“Can’t wait to hear the story after you ask, and she says yes.”

“And I can’t wait to tell it,” Violet replied. “I’ll see you again before you have to leave, right?”

“I hope so. I have to tell Arlowe first, and that really is up to her.”

Violet nodded before she walked over to the counter, and Eline decided that since she didn’t have much time left, she should give Arlowe as much time as she could with the information that she was definitely taking the job in Holland. She picked up her phone and sent a quick text.

Eline Claasen: I know you need your processing space, but I think we should talk, and not over text, babe. Any chance we can do that tonight after you’re done with work?

She didn’t have to wait long for a response.

Arlowe Romano: I’ll come by with dinner later.

Eline smiled when she read that.

CHAPTER 29

“I’ve got it,” Arlowe said. “I’ll have it all taken care of, I mean.”

“Thank you,” Eline replied. “It’s a lot.”

“It’s not that big of a deal. I’ll just have movers pick it up and take it to the house.”

“Arlowe, you should sell it. Use whatever the stuff happens to make for the admin fees for the visa.”

“I’m not worried about that, and I want to keep this stuff. It’ll be in the garage until you get back,” she said.

“I thought you wanted to park your cars in there for once,” Eline said.

“We’ve gone this whole time without doing that. I think we’ll be fine. I’ll cover everything up so that it’s still in good condition for when you come back, and we can move it into your new place.”

“My new place?” Eline asked. “Right.”

Arlowe wasn’t ready to commit to them getting a place together when Eline returned. It had been about two weeks of awkwardness between them since Eline had told her that she was taking the job, and that had been yet another difficult conversation. They’d had more than a few of those since their reconnection, and it was all too familiar, except it was happening much faster this time. Previously, they had had a few months before things had gotten difficult, but it had been a few days, maybe a week this time, and Arlowe was still trying to process having Eline back in her life only to lose her again.

While she knew that she wasn’t losing Eline completely, it still felt like something was ending, and that made her want to hide in her bedroom, curl up in bed, and cry, not moving for the next twelve years.