I tried not to stare at Jared as we walked. Instead, I focused on the serene and breathtaking woodlands walk. It was peaceful and quiet and reminded me of our walks in Madison Green. Was that what he was thinking too? Was he being transported to our teenage years?

I wasn’t sure if this was the right thing to do. What was I doing here? What did the weekend hold for me?

I didn’t know what I was expecting. The only thing I knew was that I wanted to be close to Jared. This could be the very last time we got to spend time together. Like Mona said, I needed the closure.

I heard the sound of a waterfall before it even came into view. Jared quickened his pace and I followed him. We were jumping over rocks and laughing as we continued on our way.

For some time, it seemed like we didn’t have any problems. Neither of us spoke of serious things. It was like we were play-acting a scene from our childhood. I knew where Jared was taking me. We were headed to a waterfall.

Very soon, it came into view. We had climbed a slow and gentle incline to get to the top of a large boulder. From there, the view of the waterfall was breathtaking.

“How did you find this place?” I asked him, staring at the steady stream of frothy water. We were at least forty minutes away from the cabin now.

“I spend every available weekend here. I’ve spent a lot of time exploring these woods,” Jared replied. I breathed in deeply, allowing the fresh, cool air to fill my lungs.

This was one of the most beautiful things I’d seen in a long time.

“I couldn’t find a lake for us to go to,” I heard Jared say. His voice was a deep whisper beside me. We were standing close together and the water splashed on us in a light shower. If I kept standing there, so close to the edge of the boulder—I knew I would get wet soon.

I didn’t want to move though. I could have stayed right there, at that spot, all day.

“This will do,” I told him with a smile and we faced each other.

“Elsie, I’m glad that you agreed to come here. We can finally talk,” he said. My breath was caught in my throat. What was he going to say to me?

“What do we have to talk about?” I asked, and Jared clenched his jaw tightly as he stared at me.

“About how we’re going to move on from this,” he replied.

He was speaking in riddles. I didn’t know what to make of what he was saying.

“Move on from what?” I asked.

“From what’s happened between us. It shouldn’t have happened. I want you to know that I’ve always respected you.”

He was talking about the sex. He was talking about moving on from it…which meant that he didn’t think there was any sort of future for us.

“It’s very simple, Jared. We do what you did the last time. We cut each other off from our lives,” I said. My throat had gone dry. I wanted to hear him say it. I wanted him to admit that’s what he wanted.

Jared looked away from me and at the waterfall.

“I know you won’t believe me now, Elsie, but that was the hardest thing I did. Cutting you off,” he told me.

Hot tears pricked the backs of my eyelids.

“Then why did you do it?” I asked and there was a strain in my voice now.

“I told you, Elsie. I don’t know why,” he said. I groaned and turned from him. He caught my hand and pulled me back.

“Not so close to the edge,” he warned. I looked down at his hand on mine. Every time he touched me, electric shocks ran up and down my spine. I was weak in the knees again. I felt like I had no control over myself.

“That answer is never going to be good enough for me,” I told him.

“That is all I have.”

“I don’t know what I’m doing here! I shouldn’t have come to Vermont. I should have known I won’t get any answers from you!” my voice sizzled as I spoke. This time when I looked away from him, tears filled my eyes. Jared was watching me closely; he could see that I was crying.

Without warning, he reached for me. By the back of my neck, he pulled me to himself. I had no other choice but to rest my cheek on his chest. I could hear his heart thudding. His fingers were in my hair; he was stroking my head compassionately.

“I’m sorry for everything, Elsie,” I heard him say. I could feel his body reverberating with his deep voice. I pressed my eyes closed, trying to force myself to stop crying.

“Jared…” I whispered his name and looked up at him.

“Yes, Elsie,” he said, searching my eyes.

My words choked in my throat…but I had to say it. I was still clinging to hope.

“Can we…will you…I want to make love, one last time. Before we part ways,” I whispered the words. My cheeks were flushed and I was embarrassed.

“I don’t know if that is a good idea,” he growled, but he was still holding me close to himself.

“It isn’t. It’s a very bad idea,” I replied.

“Not here. This time, I want to do it right,” he said and released me from himself. He had my hand in his and he was quickly leading me back through the woods.

It was a forty-minute walk back to the cabin. Enough time for either of us to change our minds. Somehow, I got the feeling that neither of us would.