"Hi, Francesca."
"Oliver?"
"Yup, how're you doing?"
"Oliver! What a surprise! I'm fine."
"I'm in Seattle."
"No!"
"Yeah. I wondered if you wanted to have coffee or something. I don't
want to be in the way or anything, but I'd love to see you. Lots to
tell you."
"Oliver, of course. How could you possibly be in the way?"
"I have a confession. Actually, I came to see you a couple of days ago.
It was late in the afternoon. You were standing outside your house,
with your guy, and I turned around and left. I'm O.K. about it now."
"Oliver, that was my brother!"
"What?" His mind reeled.
"Yes, my brother, Giles."
Oliver vaguely remembered Francesca telling him about a brother. "Oh
yeah, Giles," he said.
"He's a pilot for Delta. He comes by sometimes when he has a layover.
Can you come over now?"
"Uh, sure--be about half an hour, I guess."
"I can't believe it!" Francesca said.
"Me neither. Great! See you." Oliver walked quickly to the Jeep and
drove to Ballard, struggling to adjust.
Francesca was waiting in front of the house. They had a long wordless
hug. Oliver felt immediately the familiar calm that radiated outward
from them, only now he seemed to take a more active part in generating
it.
"You've changed," she said, stepping back and looking at him closely.
"I've caught up, I think."
"It's so good to see you."
"How are the girls?"
"Just fine. They're in school. They'll be back soon." She led him
inside and gave him a tour of the house. He sat at a kitchen table and
explained his situation while she made tea. Francesca didn't say
anything until he finished.
"Jacky called me after your housewarming. She was worried about you."
"I like Jacky," Oliver said.
"She said Emma was a doll."
"Quite true," Oliver said.
"Oliver, where are you staying tonight?"
"I hadn't got that far yet." Oliver considered. "I don't know."
"Well, I do," Francesca said. "You're staying right here." She extended
a long arm and pointed over his shoulder. Oliver turned and saw the
bronze heart on a shelf, leaning against the wall. He could feel his
thumb stroking the letters.
"O plus F," Francesca said softly.
"O plus F," he repeated, turning back.
He looked into her eyes--patient and amused, mysterious, the color of
the inner heart of black walnut--and knew that he was home.