The next day, after I'd finished my chores and my errands in Konohana, I saddled up Nimbus and started up the mountain. Since I wanted to arrive around the time Cam closed up shop, I took my time, exploring along the mountain paths and foraging more thoroughly than I had for some time. I collected quite a few herbs, nuts, and mushrooms, as well as a few late season berries and a pretty nosegay of wildflowers. As I approached the mountain peak, I saw Mikhail a short ways off the main trail, perched on a large rock and gazing dreamily across the forests and farmlands below. He turned at the sound of hoofbeats, so I waved to him and hurriedly urged Nimbus on before he could jump down and stroll over for a chat. I just wasn't up to it today.

I reached Bluebell by late afternoon, just as the shadows were lengthening. I knew Cam would still be working, so I paid my calls and stopped at the message board. I still had some time to kill after that, so I stopped in to see if Eileen was busy. I knocked and opened the door, admiring the new wreath of fresh flowers hanging on it as I went in. I found her in her workshop, poring intently over some blueprints.

She looked up and smiled when I walked in, then pushed the blueprints to one side. "Hi, Alice! How nice to see you. How's things?"

"I'm fine, thanks! Are you in the middle of something? I was hoping you'd have time for a chat."

"Nah, just looking these over for a client. It's nothing urgent, though—we're still waiting on the permits. What's up? Care for some coffee?" she replied, grabbing her mug as she jumped up and headed towards her kitchen.

"That sounds great, thanks," I replied, and she got a second mug and poured out steaming, fragrant coffee for us both.

We sat down at her kitchen table. "So what's on your mind?" she asked as she blew across her mug and took a sip.

I slowly sipped my coffee. "Well... you know that musician that just moved into Konohana?" I asked.

"Oh, yeah, I've seen him up on the mountain when I go for my walks on my days off. He's really cute! Why? Oooh, Alice, have you got a crush on him?" she asked eagerly, her eyes crinkling up as she grinned at me.

"Well, not exactly. You see, it's like this. We knew each other a long time ago. In fact, years ago when we were in our teens, we were in love."

"What?" Eileen exclaimed, setting her mug down quickly and leaning forward towards me. "You don't say! Really? Well, come on—hurry up and tell me all about it!" I told her the story of how we met, fell in love, and separated, and when I finished, she let out a long sigh. "Oh, Alice, that's just sooo romantic! And to think, now you've found each other again! Did you recognize him? Did he recognize you?"

"Yes, we knew each other as soon as we saw each other. You... you just don't forget someone you've loved so intensely very easily. And while we've both changed, neither of us has changed that much. But... well, he says he still loves me, especially now that he knows the truth about our separation. But I'm not at all sure that I'm in love with him anymore. It's been such a long time, and, well, there are other men out there, you know. I couldn't bring myself to date for years after Mikhail left, it took so long to get over him. But I did, finally, and, well... some of the guys around here are really nice. I'm just not sure, given a choice, that I'd choose him."

Eileen looked thoughtful as she replied, "Yes, that's true. Well, I think you're smart not to restrict your options just because an old flame showed up and wants you back. As you say, there are some awfully nice boys around here. But it's still terribly thrilling!"

I laughed, saying, "Well, that's as may be. But I am a little worried that people will get the wrong impression when they hear about it, especially since we tried to keep it a secret. I think that was a mistake. So I wanted you to know the truth before it becomes common knowledge. And I'm going to tell Cam about it, too. He's... well, he's one of the 'awfully nice boys', you know, and he's kind of sensitive. I wouldn't want him to hear about it secondhand and misinterpret anything. I remember one time he saw me out riding with Kana, and boy, did he give me the cold shoulder! And we're not even exactly 'dating' even, just going on dates now and then. I don't think he's really even the jealous or possessive type, not exactly. I think he's just sensitive, and maybe afraid of being hurt."

"I think you're right." Eileen replied, then hesitated a moment. "Don't let him know I told you this, but... well, Cam was once in love with a really beautiful girl who used to live here some years ago. He was only eighteen, but he really fell for her. And... well, she really hurt him. That's all I'll say about it, as it's not my story to tell. But yeah... I think he's scared of getting hurt again. If he didn't feel something for you, I don't think it would bother him in the least—you'd just be another friend, and he wouldn't care who you went out with. So please just keep that in mind. He might find your news about Mikhail hard to take. But still, it'll be better to hear the truth from you now than to hear rumors from others later."

"Yeah, thanks, Eileen. I will." I glanced over at her clock and exclaimed, "Oh, I'd better get going. It's getting late, and Cam should be done with his shop for the day. I'll see you soon. Thanks for listening!"

"Sure thing, and good luck, Alice!" Eileen called as I hurried out the door.

I walked over to Howard's Café and waved to Howard and Laney as I passed through to the back in search of Cam. He was still in his stock room, going over his inventory in preparation for tomorrow. He turned when I opened the door and smiled as he greeted me. "Oh, hi, Alice. How are you?"

"I'm fine, and you? How's the shop?"

"Oh, fine, you know... Hey, are you busy? Want to go for a walk?"

"Yeah... actually, that's why I'm here. I need to talk with you."

He raised an eyebrow, but only said, "Okay, how about the river?"

"Sounds good," I replied.

"All right, just give me a second to finish this up and we can go."

"Sure," I replied, "I'll wait for you in the café."

"Okay, be right there," he said, turning back to his clipboard as I left.

I went on out and chatted with Howard and Laney for a few minutes before Cam came out and joined us. We said goodbye to them and headed off towards the river, me leading Nimbus by her reins as we walked. We chatted on the way, just ordinary small talk about the two villages and our neighbors. When we reached the river, I tied Nimbus to a small tree and breathed a deep sigh of satisfaction. "It's so peaceful. I can see why you like to spend so much of your free time here. It's relaxing."

Cam nodded, then turned to me and said, "So. You said you needed to talk. What's up? Is something wrong?" he asked, looking a little apprehensive.

I sighed and said, "Not exactly wrong. But... well, I have some news, and I wanted to tell you about it first, because you... you're important to me. I didn't want you to hear rumors and then be hurt that I didn't tell you."

Cam scowled and looked more concerned. "You'd better just come right out and tell me, then. All this vague suggestion is, well, worrying. What is it? You—you aren't leaving, are you?"

"No, nothing like that," I hastened to assure him, then sighed. "I just don't know where to start...."

"How about you start at the beginning?" he replied, settling himself on a log by the river to listen to what I had to say.

I sat down next to him and took a deep breath. "Right. Well, then, you know the musician that just moved to Konohana, right?"

"Yeah, I heard. He's a well-known violinist or something, right?"

"He... it turns out he's someone I used to know. Well, more than just knew. To be honest, we were once very much in love."

Cam looked off into the distance, silent for a moment, then said, "I see. What happened?" So I took another deep breath and launched into the story of my history with Mikhail, our recent meeting, our agreement to keep silent and get reacquainted and the results of that failed experiment, my decision to come clean, and my concerns about doing so. When I was done, I sat and waited for him to speak.

He didn't say anything for some time. He sat and watched the river flowing by, apparently lost in thought. After a while, he stood up and paced to and fro along the riverbank before me, and said "Well. This is... unexpected. So... you might still be in love with him, but you might not? You aren't sure, so you want to give him a chance and see what happens?"

"Well, kind of. I guess it's more that I feel that if we 're ever going to be in a relationship again, then we need to start all over, just about from scratch. We can't just pick up where we left off all those years ago. I guess basically I'm willing to give him the same chance that I'd give any other man that I found myself attracted to. No more and no less."

"I see," he replied, looking thoughtfully at me. "So... you don't definitely feel anything for him, then?"

"I love him; I'd be lying if I said I didn't, and I won't lie, Cam. But... I'm not in love with him, not anymore. I care deeply about him, and I want him to be happy. That's how I've felt ever since we parted ways—what I've always wanted for him. He was my first love. But he's no longer the boy I once loved, nor am I the girl who loved him. It's been a little over eight years since he left. So... despite our past, we really are almost strangers now. And I don't know if I can ever feel for Mikhail now what I felt for Mikhail then. Too much time has passed, and hearts that were broken have long since mended. And... well, I don't want to rule out the possibility of falling in love with someone else," I said as I looked away, feeling my cheeks flushing.

Cam nodded, then looking up at the sky, he said he'd better be returning to town, and that I'd better be heading home, too—it was a long ride, and it was getting dark. He turned to leave, then paused and turned back. He reached out and grabbed my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Thanks, Alice. I'm glad you told me about all this. I'm not sure what to think yet, but I appreciate your honesty." Then he turned and walked quickly back towards the town, pulling his cap down low over his eyes as he always did when perturbed or deep in thought. I watched him go, then I untied Nimbus and rode her over the mountain and back home.