"Okay. You mean, like, a bagel shop?"Shops.
"More than one?"
"A hundred and forty-six."
"So you're doing well?"
"His company is worth eight million."
"Ouch. My little company is worth twelve thousand on a good day."
"You said you had something to say." She had shown not the slightest hint of thawing. There was no interest in any of the details of his life.
Neely heard faint footsteps on the wooden floor of the foyer.No doubt Mrs. Lane was back there, trying to listen. Some things never changed.
The wind picked up slightly and scattered oak leaves across the brick sidewalk in front of them. Neely rubbed his hands together and said, "Okay, here goes. A long time ago, I did a very bad thing, something I've been ashamed of for many years. I was wrong. It was stupid, mean, lousy, selfish, harmful, and the older I get the more I regret it. I'm apologizing, Cameron, and I ask you to forgive me."
"You're forgiven. Forget about it."
"I can't forget about it. And don't be so nice."
"We were just kids,Neely . Sixteen years old. It was another lifetime."
"We were in love, Cameron. I adored you from the time we were ten years old and holding hands behind the gym so the other boys wouldn't see me."
"I really don't want to hear this."
"Okay, but can I get it off my chest? And would you try to make itpainful ?"
"I got over it,Neely , finally."