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voice,” I sighed, leaning back into the chair.
    “You okay?”
    “I’m fine.  It’s just been a long day.”
    “What’d you have for dinner?” he asked.
    “I made spaghetti.”
    “ You made dinner?” he said with a laugh and I grinned at his insinuation. “What was the occasion?”
    “Just felt like it.  What are you doing tonight?”
    “Not much.  Just eating some leftover pizza and watching TV.  Wish you were here though.”
    “Me too,” I said softly, closing my eyes.
    “I miss you, Ry.”
    “I miss you too.”
    “I was thinking I’d come down in a few weeks.  Would that be okay?”
    “Seriously?”
    “Yeah.   It’s only a four hour drive. I could come for a long weekend if that’d be alright.”
    “Of course it would be.  I can’t wait actually,” I said and I smiled as I heard him breathe on the other end of the phone.  I missed Evan and I needed to hear him tonight.  We stayed on the phone for another hour talking about nothing really, mostly our jobs, but it was good just to talk and keep my mind off of the day’s unexpected events.  When we finally hung up, I just sat on the porch, rocking slowly as the crickets chirped around me.  A train whistle blew in the distance and I closed my eyes as I listened to a sound I’d always associated with Carver…of home, but as I listened this time, it suddenly didn’t feel so much like home anymore.  

Chapter Four
     
    Mandy and I told Brandon we’d stop by after work and hang out.  I was nervous as I approached his house though and I found myself looking for the familiar Wagoneer Jesse drove.  I knew it was stupid.  He probably didn’t even drive it anymore.  I didn’t even know when the last time was he’d been in Carver.  The old Jeep probably didn’t even run anymore.  Still, I looked for it and breathed a sigh of relief when I didn’t see it out front.  Mandy’s car wasn’t there either.  Brandon answered when I knocked on the door and I could tell by the way he looked at me, he knew I’d seen Jesse.
    I followed him into the living room where we sat on the couch and I started talking before he could say anything.
    “Why didn’t you tell me Jesse was back?” I asked him.  I heard him sigh and look away for a moment before he turned back to me.
    “I didn’t know he was coming.  He said he might, but I didn’t know till he got here.”
    “You could’ve called me, Brandon,” I said, and I hoped I didn’t sound as agitated as I felt.  I knew I had no reason to be upset with Brandon, but I wanted to blame these emotions on someone and he seemed like a good target. 
    “I was gonna.  I didn’t think you’d run into each other at Dillon’s.  I thought I’d have time to talk to you…to see if you even wanted to see him again.”
    “I was just…well, I was shocked when I saw him.  Some warning would’ve been nice.”
    “I know and I’m sorry.  It couldn’t have been easy to just run into him like that.”
    “No, it wasn’t.  It was completely awkward,” I said and then looked to him curiously. “What’d he say about it?”
    “Not much.  Just that he’d seen you and he hadn’t known what to say.”
    “How long’s he staying?”
    “I don’t know.  He didn’t tell me ,” Brandon said as both of our heads turned when the doorbell rang.
    “Enter!” Brandon called out and I heard feet that sounded much too heavy to be Mandy’s walking towards us.  I got a nervous twist in my stomach as I thought about who it probably was.  My fears were founded when Jesse’s tall frame entered the room.  He couldn’t have been surprised to see me.  My car was out front.  It was the same car I’d had since I’d met him.  Even so, when our eyes locked, it was with the same look he’d given me at the grocery store. 
    “Hey, Jess,” Brandon said, his voice finally breaking our locked stare.
    “I’m sorry if I’m interrupting,” Jesse said, looking over at Brandon as if I didn’t