Page 70 of Take My Name

“Exactly.”

“Whaddya mean? Which is it?”

“We don’t know…the book ends after they realize who each other is.”

“Itends? Do they fall in love or not?”

“It’s up for reader interpretation.”

I lean back in my chair, frustrated. “That’s some bullshit.”

Maisie laughs, shrugging. “And that’s why it’s my favorite book. There isn’t always a straight answer. Like…did the female main character add that to her list on purpose so she felt less guilty that he fell in love with a sick woman who couldn’t give him a future or did she do it so he knew it was okay to move on? Or both? Did the guy feel pulled to go to that beach that day to find her sister so they’d fall in love or to help the child? And did the sister also get the feelin’ she had to go to the beach that day? Or does she always go to that beach and they happened to cross paths that specific day? What if they both felt that pull but only one had shown up? Or neither did and never got the chance to meet again? It’s all about choices and how one small decision can alter the rest of your life.”

“That is truly wild, Maze. I think I need this book.”

“Well, I told you most of the plot.”

“Don’t care. Is there a second book so we see what happens between him and the sister?”

“There were talks about it at one point, but the author never published it.”

“But you’re in publishin’…can’t you reach out to her agent and give her a little push?”

She snickers. “Doesn’t quite work that way.”

“Damn. I need closure. What happens? Do they fall in love? I mean, it’d be kinda weird considerin’ it’s the dead woman’s sister…”

But who am I to judge?

“But what if that was the whole point the entire time?” Maisie counters. “The sister and the guy were supposed to meet because they’re fated to fall in love, but the circumstances to ’em meetin’ was through the sick sister.”

That makes me pause for a moment. “Nah…that’s too twisty for me.”

“I’m just sayin’…it’s a possibility.”

I don’t like that there’s no straight answer, but I can appreciate how it makes you think twice about your life circumstances and how small choices can lead to big outcomes.

When Yani returns, we’re both laughing.

“How was your food?” she asks.

“So delicious,” I tell her.

“That’s great to hear! Dessert is on the way, so I’ll get your plates outta the way,” Yani says, reaching in front of us to grab them.

“Dessert? What’d you order?” Maisie asks.

“Not me. Must’ve been Aunt JoJo.”

“Yes…and it comes with a surprise, so don’t go anywhere.” She winks, but this time it’s directed at Maisie.

Her mouth parts, looking bashful, and her cheeks flush.

“Told ya,” I gloat, taking a sip of the wine. “Neither of us can stop starin’ at you.”

chapter twelve

Maisie