Take Care, Sara

within the next few months. I’ve gotten used to you being around. I also need my eye candy fix and your Lincoln will do.”
    Sara put the last of her bags in the trunk of the Pontiac and closed it, turning to lean her hips against it. She crossed her arms, squinting under the glare of the August sun. A smile on her lips, she met the fluorescent pink and orange clothed Dana head on. Her hair was teased exceptionally high today in honor of Sara’s departure.
    “My Lincoln?”
    “Well, he isn’t mine and I know he isn’t anyone else’s. Boy calls every day and says nothing. Crazy lovesick fool.” Dana shook her head, but a smile curved her lips. “He’s yours,” she said definitively.
    Warmth trickled through her at the thought. She hoped he was. The phone calls hadn’t ceased as the time had drawn out, giving her encouragement that Lincoln loved her still, that maybe, even though it wasn’t right of her to expect or want him to, he was waiting for her. She felt like she’d been waiting for him for so long as well.
    “I promise I will be here within one month, not two. I’ll miss seeing you too much if I go any longer than that. Maybe you could come visit me in Boscobel as well.”
    Dana dabbed at her eyes with a wadded up tissue, smearing her makeup. “Well. If you insist.”
    Sara reached over to wrap her in a tight hug. Dana’s flowery scent amplified with her nearness and caused a small twinge of homesickness for her in Sara’s chest even though she hadn’t left yet. Sara vowed, “I do.”
    The wind blew, scattering fallen leaves and waving tree limbs as though Waupun was saying its own farewell to Sara. She smiled, feeling a closure she hadn’t known was possible. This time away had healed her; not completely, but enough.
    “I’m old, Sara. I’ve known a lot of people. I’ve loved a lot. Hell, I’ve married a lot. But you,” Dana patted her cheek, “you’re my girl. I’m glad you picked up the phone and decided to call me. I think I got as much out of our time together as you did, if not more. I always wanted a daughter. You’ll do.”
    “Only I’m more like a granddaughter,” Sara teased around the tears burning her eyes.
    “Hush,” Dana said, reaching up to kiss Sara’s cheek, her lips papery thin and cool. “I didn’t say how old I was.”
    “I’ll call you,” Sara promised, unable to resist the pull to hug her friend once more. She kissed her tight cheek, already missing her.
    “You better.” Dana gave her back a pat as Sara turned to get into the car.
    Hands on the steering wheel, Sara’s gaze went to the second floor room that had been her home the past few months. Dana walked past the front of the car on her way to the office, waving as she went. Sara smiled and waved back, inhaling slowly around the churning sensation in her stomach. Her nerves were jittery with excitement and fear. It was time to say goodbye to another piece of her life and began a new one. Beginnings and endings; that’s what life was made of. Sara turned the key in the ignition and turned the car in the direction of Boscobel.
    ***
    Sara saw with clarity she hadn’t been able to find before the time spent in Waupun. She knew she could love Lincoln without betraying Cole. Some things, like the blame she’d placed on herself for the loss of her husband’s life, weren’t so easily accepted. But she was trying and that was all she could do. Forgiveness, even for oneself, was earned. Sara was earning it with each thought of Cole that was happy instead of sad; with each smile she allowed herself, with every sunrise and sunset she gazed at with thankfulness; with every breath she felt worthy of instead of unworthy.
    She’d been gone a little under three months and she’d been back over a week. It was unusually hot for September in Wisconsin; making her think even the weather could be confused at times. There had been no calls from Lincoln since her return and she wondered why that was. Had he known the exact day she’d come back to Boscobel or was it a coincidence that that was the day he’d decided she wasn’t worth waiting for? The thought made her heart painfully squeeze. Or maybe he was simply waiting for her. He’d waited so long already; too long. Knowing Lincoln had loved her for so years was dizzying, unbelievable.
    Sara talked to Dana every other day. She made her laugh with her recollections of her marriage fiascos and her continuing search to find the thieving housekeeper at