The Long Way Home by Janet Purcell

Author:Janet Purcell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sunpenny Publishing Group
Published: 2015-04-10T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

It took me nine hours to get here, with all that heavy traffic through Connecticut and New York,” Callie told Stephanie, as she settled onto a canvas chair on the balcony of the townhouse, a tall iced tea in hand. “I’m beat.”

“I hope not too beat, because we’re going to Whiskey Tango tonight. Modern Bliss is playing and I told a bunch of the old gang you’re going to be in town.” Stephanie reached for her cell phone and dialed. “She’s here,” she said when the person on the other end answered. “Come on over. Let’s get started.”

Callie found herself caught up in a whirlwind of old friends and a swirl of ‘Remember when we…’ stories, and the next three days passed so quickly she hardly had time to get her bearings. She’d called Joe the day after she arrived and the plan was for her to drive to New Hope on day four, and stay at the Lambertville Inn just across the Delaware River in New Jersey. New Hope, an historic art colony, home to the Pennsylvania Impressionists a hundred years ago and still thriving with art galleries and quaint restaurants, had spilled over in recent years to Lambertville, which was just as funky and full of life.

I’m here,” she said when she called Joe after checking into her second floor room at The Inn.

“How about if I come right on over? Are you settled in enough? Want to just go for a walk across the bridge into New Hope and maybe get something to eat, and then later catch the open mic at John & Peter’s?”

“Sounds great. I’ll meet you out front.”

Joe was already waiting for her when she came out of The Inn. He held out his hand to her and, leaning into each other, they walked past the shops and galleries and across the bridge into New Hope.

“It’s good to have you here on my home turf, Callie,” Joe said.

“Hey, don’t forget, I’m a Penn girl. I’ve spent my share of time in New Hope too,” she said, laughing.

“All right, all right, so we’re on almost even ground,” Joe said. “Where shall we start first? How about the New Hope Arts Center?”

They spent the evening going in and out of galleries, critiquing what they saw in whispers when they weren’t too impressed, and out loud when they were. They grazed as they went along, having a salad here, a quesadilla and a beer there, and ending up with big ice cream cones with all the tourists at Gerensers on Main Street.

There was a crescent moon as they walked hand in hand back across the bridge to New Jersey. When they got to The Inn, Joe leaned in and kissed her lightly. “So you’re still up for me picking you up for breakfast tomorrow?” he asked and when she nodded sleepily, he kissed her again, lingering a little longer on her lips.

They met for delicious omelets at the Full Moon the next morning before walking to

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