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“No, I can’t make him be with me. But as long as I’m going off to Boston, he gets to tell himself that he’s being some kind of hero by not giving us a chance. And I think he needs to feel like a hero. And believe me, he is one. He is so profoundly wonderful. He is so brave. And he is so...everything. And he has rebuilt this part of me that was so weak. Built me up.” She had to smile, because it was like weight lifting for her self-esteem, being with him.

And maybe that wouldn’t make sense to Lydia. But it did to her.

“I’m strong enough now. To do this. To step back, actually make my own choices. Instead of just quitting because it’s hard, or trying to prove myself because other people made me feel bad. I do not care what anyone thinks. And I’m not running from anything. So... I’m staying.”

“Are you sure, Rory?” Lydia asked. “Because it was such a big deal that you got that job, and you were very excited.”

“I know. I was. I am. It’s not nothing. Giving it up isn’t nothing. But I wanted to leave here because I was ashamed. Of how little I had done.

“And I’m not anymore. I’m good at my job, and I’m good at it here. We started the farm store here. We have accomplished a lot. I have. I just couldn’t see it because nobody was throwing me a parade. And he’s right, I can’t live my life toward that. It’s a stupid thing. A foolish thing. I’m staying.”

Lydia reached out and hugged her. “I’m really glad. And I’m really, really glad that you’re there for him. That he has you. That is so amazing. And I am... I’m overwhelmed, actually. Because I didn’t feel like I could reach him. And I think you did. You are extraordinary, Rory. I think you were maybe always exactly the right person to love him.”

It was bigger than destiny. Rory knew that.

Because there were so many paths that he could’ve taken. Dark roads he could’ve gone down that would’ve led to oblivion.

Just like she could choose to walk away now. But she wasn’t going to.

She had felt all her life like she didn’t match up to other people.

And he was feeling that as well.

And they had both shifted just enough to meet each other’s needs.

It was better, honestly, than finding someone who fit her perfectly just as she was.

She found somebody who had changed her in all the right ways. Whose story gave her the kind of perspective she never had before.

Who listened and accepted her, and never tried to make her hurt feel less, and who somehow accomplished all that at the same time.

Because he was Gideon.

There was part of her that did feel like maybe they were meant to be. Like her heart being set on him from middle school to now was something sort of predestined.

There was a magic to that.

But there was also magic in knowing that they had to claim this. That they had to make choices now. To have that life. To have a new life for both of them.

Yes, she could go off and have one alone.

But it would never be as wonderful as the one she could have here.

With love.

With Gideon.

“I have to tell Fia.”

“Oh,” Lydia said.

Rory flung the door open. “I’m not going to Boston.”

Fia appeared at the bottom of the stairs. “What?”

“I’m not going to Boston. I don’t want to go anymore. I want to stay here.”

“Rory,” said Fia. “If this is because I’ve been sad...”