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happen.”
    â€œI’m not so sure,” Mother said.
    â€œI am,” Daddy said.
    Her father was wrong. Stephen was here to stay and Daddy would simply have to accept that.
    * * *
    The two families met for their traditional picnic lunch by the river. Little Wendy stayed far away from the water. Mrs. Green made her famous fried chicken and Mother had picked up potato salad and cold cuts from Schwartz’s deli. The cooler was stocked with soda pop for the younger generation and beer for the dads. Mrs. Green’s chocolate cake finished off the meal and shortly thereafter everyone packed up and went to watch the parade.
    It was in full swing when Muriel caught sight of Stephen across the crowded street. Tonight they’d meet at the river where they’d partied only a few weeks ago and watch while the town’s younger generation set the sky on fire shooting fireworks over the river. She could hardly wait to set off her own fireworks with Stephen when he kissed her. Her heart rate picked up, and she gave him a smile and a tiny wave. He nodded and waved back. Surely she was imagining that his answering smile failed to reach his eyes.
    Darkness took its time coming, but at last the sun slipped behind the mountains. The whistle and boom of fireworks filled the night and the sky lit up with showers of colored sparks.
    â€œIt’s beautiful, isn’t it?” she said to Stephen as they sat together on a log by the campfire Nils had built for the gang. “Not bad for a small town,” she teased.
    â€œNot bad,” he agreed, then fell silent as he chewed on his lower lip.
    â€œWhat is it?”
    â€œLet’s take a walk.” He stood and held out a hand to her.
    Foreboding settled on her heavily. This wasn’t a happy, romantic walk they were about to go on. She hesitated and he reached down, took her hand and gently towed her to her feet. Then he led her away from the fire.

Chapter 5
    T HEY WERE AWAY FROM THE other people. They should have been about to kiss. Instead, Stephen drove his hands into his pants pockets.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” Muriel asked, not wanting to hear the answer.
Something
was wrong. She’d known it all evening. Heck, she’d known it since she saw him at the parade. Yes, he’d smiled at her, but it hadn’t been a lover’s smile.
    â€œI’m leaving town.”
    She blinked. Proof was mounting up but she refused to see it. “For how long? When will you be back?”
    â€œI won’t. It’s time to move on.”
    â€œMove on?” she repeated. “Why don’t you want to stay?”
    He looked beyond the park, beyond the town, to the highway. “This isn’t working out.”
    â€œWhat’s not working out?” she persisted. “Us?” He couldn’t mean them.
    â€œMuriel, you know what I’m talking about. I saw the way your dad looked at me at the parade today.”
    So while she’d been smiling encouragement, her father had been sending a very different message. And to think she’d made breakfast for him.
    â€œHe doesn’t approve of me. He’s never going to.”
    â€œAnd so you’re leaving? Just like that? You’re not even going to stay and fight for me?”
    â€œLook, it’s been great.
You’re
great. But I don’t want to be tied down,” Stephen said. “Life’s too short.”
    â€œI wouldn’t tie you down,” she protested. “I’ll go anywhere you want to go.”
    â€œWould you really, Muriel?”
    â€œOf course!”
    â€œProve it. Get on my bike right now and ride out of town with me.”
    â€œN-now?” she stammered. Without even saying goodbye? That didn’t make sense.
    He shook his head. “That’s what I thought.”
    â€œYou thought wrong!”
    He shook his head again. “No. I know you think you’d follow me anywhere. And maybe you would for a while, but