Chapter 1

 

 

Reed took a bite of the apple, methodically chewing. He wasn’t supposed to meet Kate until dinner but he didn’t want to wait, so he left his car in the lot and walked to the engineering building.

Aura’s family had arrived in Boulder a few hours ago, her latest text message weighing on his phone like a brick in his pocket. The last time he had seen her, she’d been withering away in a hospital bed. Now she would be on his doorstep after dinner.

He took another bite and checked his phone as he entered the building, the interior warmth a welcome reprieve from the freezing temperatures of early winter. Four hours to go. He grimaced and realized he’d checked the clock so many times his battery was going to be dead. He stuffed it into his pocket and ascended the stairwell to the third floor.

The corridor was empty so he took a seat on the bench outside Kate’s classroom. Posters of engines and machines adorned the walls, while a notice board was situated across from him, its surface covered with flyers and papers. He noticed one inviting students to join Tau Beta Pi, the honor society for engineering students, and wondered if Kate had joined the program.

He would have preferred to join her class, but he knew she was taking a quiz. During their marathon date the professors had been very accepting, except when it came to quizzes or exams. He sighed and took another bite of his apple, his thoughts shifting to Aura.

It had been four weeks since he’d learned she was awake. He’d claimed the marathon date was for Kate’s benefit, but it was also for his, and the proximity to her kept him from thinking of Aura. But now the day had come, and he could avoid it no longer.

His thoughts pulled to when he’d said goodbye to Aura in the hospital in Florida. It seemed like decades ago but it was just a couple of months. He’d waited three years and, just as he moved on, Aura was returning to his life. It felt like she’d risen from the grave. His feelings for Kate hadn’t changed, but the love he’d had for Aura hadn’t entirely disappeared.

He leaned his head against the wall and sighed, wondering what he could possibly do. What would he feel when he saw her? They’d spoken a few times over the last few weeks but she’d been brief, as if reluctant to speak over the phone. Hearing her voice struck a chord in his soul that thrilled him. And terrified him.

His phone buzzed and he pulled it out. To his surprise it was Kate. The text message was simple, and asked if he could meet her outside her class. He smiled and texted back a picture of him sitting on the bench, the image tilted to show the exterior of her classroom door. The reply came quickly.

Reach under your seat.

He frowned but did as requested, and knelt down to search under the bench. Then he noticed an envelope taped under the bench containing a single key and a list of directions. His confusion turned into a smile as he realized Kate had planned an invitation.

I thought we agreed we were skipping our challenge date today.

She replied with a smiley face. He laughed, the sound echoing down the empty hall, and then followed the first of the directions. It didn’t have a destination or a map, so he had no idea where it was going to lead.

He reached the end of the hall and it directed him down the stairs and outside. Autumn now gripped Colorado and the trees on campus were glorious shades of copper, coffee, and fire. Leaves littered the ground and a freezing wind carried them away.

The directions told him to turn and follow the edge of the engineering building to the corner, and from there they pointed back into the engineering building. He frowned and reviewed where he’d gone, but it clearly said to enter the nearest door.

He swung the side door open and entered a stairwell that led upwards. He ascended several flights to the top of the building and then down a corridor to a grey door. The instructions indicated he should open it.

The sign on the door said maintenance and it proved to be locked. Producing the key, Reed looked both ways before unlocking the door and entering. The room beyond was large and filled with an assortment of tools and equipment. Large pipes ran along the ceiling and a boiler made the room stuffy and warm.

He flicked the lights on and followed the directions around the machinery to the back corner of the room, to an alcove and a ladder. Intrigued, he ascended the ladder to a small room on the roof. Then stepped into the open.

Taller than most of the buildings on campus, the roof of the engineering building provided an unbroken view of the university and the city, the lights of which were just coming to life. The sun was setting and vivid colors stretched across the horizon. Warmed by the machinery on the roof, the breeze blew across his shoulders, ruffling his coat.

He rotated to view the other side and found a table. Complete with two chairs and a white cloth, the table contained bread, salad, pasta, and two pieces of chocolate cake. He strode to the table and examined the meal.

“You’re early.”

He turned to find Kate picking her way across the roof. Dressed in jeans, a button-up shirt, and a jacket, she was stunning, her brown hair hanging over one shoulder. He smiled and stepped into the embrace.

“I thought we agreed no big date tonight,” he said.

“You planned a marathon date,” she said, her eyes sparkling. “I planned a miniature one. And did you really think I was going to let you spend time with Aura without a final reminder of me?”

“I suppose not,” he said. “However did you book the table?”

“I made a new friend,” she said. “One of guys in my class works in the building. He asked if he could help and I told him I wanted to take you to the roof. He loaned me a key.”

He sat down with her and they began the salad course. Throughout the meal he caught her watching him, measuring his reaction. He saw worry in her eyes. At first he thought it was for herself, that she was worried about him choosing to be with Aura. But by the main course he wondered if it was for him, because she understood what he was going through and knew she could not help.

“You sure you don’t want me to come with you tonight?” was the closest she came to talking about Aura.

“No,” he said. “I think this is something I need to do on my own.”

She nodded as if the answer was expected and steered the conversation to their plans for next week. He guessed she was avoiding the topic of Aura for his benefit and was grateful. Just being with Kate melted his fears and left him unfettered. But this close to seeing Aura, thoughts of her continued to surface.

“Reed . . .”

Realizing he’d stopped paying attention, Reed straightened. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” she said. “I don’t think I would know what to feel either.”

“Is that what I’m doing?”

“Do you still love her?”

The question was blunt but said softly, as if she feared the blow it would land. She held his gaze as she waited, but he could see the budding emotions beneath her stillness. Reed wanted to assure her but didn’t know how, so he told her the truth.

“I don’t know,” he said. “Her return has brought everything back up.”

Kate looked away and then back. “I know.”

“You know?” he asked.

“Love doesn’t just evaporate because a person leaves,” Kate said. “Remember Jason? I loved him for a year even after I broke things off. Talking to Aura will you give you the chance to let those feelings go.”

I hope.

She didn’t say it, but that’s what he heard. She was gambling everything, their relationship, their future, their fate, all on him deciding he didn’t love Aura. Although Reed wanted to argue with the risk, he couldn’t, so he reached out and took her hand.

They finished the cake as the sun set. The miniature date was quickly cleaned up and they retreated into the building with a box of supplies. Reed cast a final look at the last light on the horizon before following her down the ladder.

Once they were out of the building they faced each other and she set the box down to give him a crushing hug. He felt the weight of the contact, as if she never wanted to let go, and hugged her just as fiercely.

“I’ll see you when you’re done,” she said.

I hope.

He heard it again, and his heart ached. He gave her a quick kiss, and before he lost this nerve, turned and walked away. He knew if he looked back, he would find her standing alone on the sidewalk.