39 – Epilogue

Felicity put her arms around Ben's neck. "I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you, too." Ben kissed her and held her close. "I might not see you until we get back to school in the fall."

Felicity felt him press his face into her hair and inhale as if memorizing the smell of her. She smiled and kissed him again. "You could send me a tape, like Sally does."

He laughed softly at that. "How about I call you, instead?"

"Okay." Dimpling, she kissed him a third time. She was about to step back, but Ben pulled her close again for a last embrace. She hugged him hard.

When they separated, Felicity backed away and watched him get into the car with Eric. "Have a safe trip."

He grinned, and she found herself committing the sight to memory. "See you soon."

She waved them off as the car pulled out of her driveway. Eric honked the horn, and the car drove away down the road.

- - - - -

She wasn't sad. She couldn't be. For the past week, she'd felt too good inside to leave any room for sadness that she couldn't have spent the whole summer with Ben.

Felicity went upstairs to her room, touching Ben's necklace with a sentimental smile. She opened her door and saw the road map hanging over her bed, and smiled wider. She started across the room to pick up her tape recorder from the vanity, but stopped and turned around.

Hanging on the wall by her door was the painting she'd done of The Baby. Felicity angled her head and went closer, studying it. The couple embracing beside the car wasn't saying a tearful goodbye, after all. Ben was right.

They were saying hello, and looking forward to traveling the road ahead.

Together.

- The End -