"Jaclyn! Over here!"
I turned around to see Hawkeye. I'd delivered the note before the conference (slipped it under his door--how sophisticated).
"Well?" I asked.
"There's a problem," said Hawkeye.
"What is it?" I said. "If you don't feel comfortable coming, I'll understand. Half the time I don't even-"
"I can't read a map," he said. "You'll have to give me detailed instructions on how to get to Stockton, or else I'll probably end up in Canada."
"You'll come?" I breathed.
"Only if you keep that mother of yours on a chain."
I burst out laughing. "There is nothing I would like more."
XXX
The next day, Dr. Matthews and I left Sioux Falls. Before leaving, I caught up with Hawkeye.
"You want detailed dirctions now or later?" I asked.
"Later," answered Hawkeye. "Are you going to tell Calla?"
I bit my lip. "I should, shouldn't I?" It was more of a statement than a question.
"Jac, if I just waltz into her life with no warning..."
"I'll tell her," I said. "And, when I do, I'll write to-"
"JACLYN! I'M LEAVING!"
That, needless to say, was Dr. Matthews.
"It's been--I'm glad I--it's been nice seeing you again." I could hardly put a sentence together, for some strange reason.
"Yeah." He nodded. "Well."
There was a silence, and Hawkeye burst out laughing. "This is crazy. We're two reasonable adults who don't know how to say goodbye to each other."
I let out a sigh of relief. "How about a handshake?"
And that's how we ended the meeting in Sioux Falls.