I nodded.
“I won’t.”
“And don’t fight him on my behalf just because you think I need someone to defend me.”
I smiled faintly.
“You really don’t want me to do anything, do you?”
“I want you to trust me to handle my own life.”
I squeezed her hand.
“Then that’s what I’ll do.”
She kissed me softly.
Outside, the streetlights illuminated the empty pavement, and the bookstore’s red door reflected faintly in the glass.
For the first time, Karen wasn’t waiting for someone else to tell her what her future would look like.
She was building it herself.
Daniel Makes His Decision
A month later, Daniel invited us both to dinner.
Karen nearly declined.
“Are you sure he’s ready for this?” she asked me.
“I think we should give him the chance.”
She looked nervous.
“What if he changes his mind halfway through dinner?”
“Then we’ll order dessert and let him complain about us.”
