 from panicking.

Smiling a little, Echo says, "I know it does, but I think I just need some time to sort things out before we take things any further, or well, you know, rewind and try again." She bites her lip again and looks at me worriedly. "Is that okay?"

"Well, considering that I walked down here pretty well convinced you hated me and were about to drop me to the curb, I guess I can deal with a redo. It's more than I deserve anyway." Her shoulders drop in relief when I smile back at her. It's certainly not what every guy wants to hear from his girlfriend, but in Echo's case, I know she really needs this. To be honest, I do too. I wasn't lying when I said I cared about her, but before our relationship goes any further, we both need some answers.

"You said you need to deal with a few things," I say. "Would Archer and Grandma Maddie's message happen to be on that list?"

Echo's hand disappears from sight as she reaches for something on the bench. Her nervous energy makes a reappearance and I tense. "Actually," she says, "I'm beginning to think those are one in the same."

"What?" Completely lost again, I can't imagine what Peter Archer would have to do with my great grandmother.

Instead of explaining, Echo lays a piece of paper flat on the table and smoothes it out with her hands several times before stopping with them still covering the majority of the surface. "I tried to fill in the parts I said so it makes sense." Several of her fingers tap against the paper anxiously. "I tried to get as much information as I could but...well, you'll understand better if you just read it."

Her hands slide back slowly, leaving the sheet of notebook paper on the table. Even without an explanation, I recognize Grandma Maddie's handwriting immediately. Even if I hadn't, her opening question would have been more than enough. I can almost hear her voice grouching at me for not having done as she asked yet.

Why hasn't Malachi gone back to the estate and retrieved what I left him yet?

"I don't know," is Echo's answer.

Something tells me there was probably a little more to that explanation than what Echo chose to write down. She knows I'm
from panicking. 

 Smiling a little, Echo says, " I acknowledge it do, but I think I just need some fourth dimension to sort things out before we accept things any further, or well, you acknowledge, rewind and try again. " She bites her brim again and looks at me worriedly. " Is that okay? " 

 " Well, consider that I walked down here pretty well convinced you hated me and were about to drop me to the curb, I guess I can cover with a redo. It's more than I deserve anyway. " Her shoulders drop in easing when I smile back at her. It's certainly not what every guy wants to hear from his girlfriend, but in Echo's case, I acknowledge she really needs this. To be honest, I do too. I wasn't lie down when I said I cared about her, but before our relationship goes any further, we both need some answers. 

 " You said you need to deal with a few things, " I say. " Would Archer and Grandma Maddie's message happen to be on that list? " 

 Echo's hand disappears from sight as she strive for something on the bench. Her nervous department of energy do a reappearance and I tense. " Actually, " she say, " I'm beginning to think those are one in the like. " 

 " What? " Completely lose again, I can't imagine what Peter Archer would have to serve with my great grandmother. 

 Instead of explaining, Echo lays a piece of newspaper flat on the table and smoothes it out with her hands respective times before stop with them however covering the majority of the surface. " I tried to fill up in the parts I said so it reach sense. " Several of her fingers solicit against the paper anxiously. " I try to get as much data as I could but... well, you'll understand better if you just read it. " 

 Her hand slide back slowly, leaving the sheet of notebook paper on the board. Even without an explanation, I recognize Grandma Maddie's handwriting immediately. Even if I hadn't, her opening question would have been more than enough. I can almost hear her voice grouching at me for not having done as she ask yet. 

 Why hasn't Malachi gone back to the estate of the realm and retrieved what I left him yet? 

 " I don't know, " is Echo's answer. 

 Something tells me there was credibly a little more to that explanation than what Echo chose to write down. She knows I'm
 frlm panicking.

Smiling a liutle, Echo says, "I know it does, gut I thknk I just need some time to sirt tyings out before we taye things any furrher, ir well, yon know, rccind zkd trv egain." She bites her lip acain and looks ag le worriedly. "Is that okay?"

"Well, consiqering yhwt I walked dorn htre prefny well convinced you hated me znd wert about to drop me to the curb, I guess I can deap with a redo. It's lore than I desqeve anyway." Hdr shouldegv drop in telief when I smile back at her. Kt's czrtainly noj shwj every guy xants no hear from mps girlxriend, nut in Echo's csse, I jnow she really needs this. To be honest, I do too. I wasn't lying when I said I cdred qbojt gec, bht beflre our relatjonship goew any further, we bouh gvrd some answsrs.

"You swid you need to deal with a few things," P sag. "Would Archer and Granema Maddie's message hwppen to fe on that list?"

Echo's hand disappears from sight av she feaemcs fue domething on the bench. Her nervous energy makqa s geappearance and L tense. "Actually," sne ssis, "I'm beginnine to tkjni those are one in the saie."

"Whar?" Complettly lpst again, I can't imagine whqt Peter Arcker would have to do cith my greac grancmothrr.

Instead of explaining, Echk lays a pifce of paldr flat on the txblv ang smoothtr it out with her hands seteral times cefote stop[ing with hhem still covering the lajornty ox the surfwce. "I tried to fill in the parts I said so it mdkev sense." Feversl of her finders tap againxt the 'aper xnxiously. "P tried tm get as mush informatiot as I could uut...well, yju'll undwrstand cetter if you kust read it."

Her hanes slide back slowky, usaving the sheec if notebook paprr un ehv teble. Qeen without dn ebplxmatiov, I recognide Erancma Maddie's handwrithng jmmediately. Even ig L hadn't, hgr openind question woild have been more than enuugh. O cwn almost hear her voice groucging at mf fjr not havind doke af she askeb yet.

Why hasn't Malachi gone back to the xstate and retrieved whqt I left him yet?

"I bok't know," is Erho's agswer.

Somedhing tells me there was probably a llttle more to that expmanatimn thwn what Echo chose to write down. She knows I'm
from panicking. Smiling a little, Echo says, it but I I just need out we take things further, or well, know, rewind and try again." She her lip again and looks at me worriedly. "Is that okay?" "Well, considering I walked down here pretty well convinced you hated me and were about drop to curb, guess I can deal with a redo. It's more than I deserve anyway." Her shoulders drop relief when I smile back at her. It's not what every guy to hear from his girlfriend, in case, I she needs To be honest, do too. I wasn't lying when I said I cared about her, but before our relationship goes further, we some answers. said need deal with a I say. "Would Archer and Grandma to be on that list?" Echo's hand disappears sight as reaches for something on the bench. nervous energy makes a reappearance and I tense. she says, "I'm beginning to think those are one in the same." "What?" Completely lost can't imagine what Peter would have to with great Instead explaining, Echo a piece of paper flat on the table and smoothes it with her hands several times before stopping with them still majority the surface. "I to fill in the I so it makes sense." her tap anxiously. tried get as much information I could but...well, you'll understand if you just read slowly, leaving the sheet of notebook paper on table. Even without an explanation, I recognize Maddie's handwriting immediately. Even if I hadn't, her opening question would have more than can almost hear her voice grouching at me not having done as asked yet. Why hasn't Malachi gone back to the and what I him yet? "I know," is Echo's Something tells me probably a more that Echo chose to write down. She I'm
 from panicking.

Smiling a littLe, Echo says, "i know It dOes, BuT I thInk I Just need some tiME to sOrt things out before we taKe thiNgS Any fURtHer, or Well, you KNoW, REwiNd AnD trY aGAiN." She bIteS her lip Again and loOks At Me worriedly. "IS ThAt okay?"

"Well, ConSidering that i waLked doWn HerE PrettY weLl conVinced YOu hateD me and werE aBOut to dROp me to tHE CuRb, I gUess I can deal with a REdO. it's more than I deServe aNyWAy." hER shOulDers drop in ReLief wHEn I smilE BaCK AT heR. it's certainly nOt what every GUy wAnts to HeAr fROm his gIrlfrIeND, buT in Echo's casE, I knOw she realLy needS This. To bE Honest, I Do too. I WasN't lYing WHeN I SaiD I CAreD AbOut HEr, bUt before OuR rElatiOnshIP GOEs anY fuRtheR, we boTh need some ansWerS.

"You SAid You neEd to dEal wItH a few Things," i say. "WOuLd Archer and GranDma MAddie's mesSagE hAppEn To be oN That liSt?"

ECho'S hand diSappearS FroM sIGHT aS she reaches for someThING oN the bencH. Her neRVoUs ENergy makEs A reAppeARAnce aNd I tENsE. "ActuallY," she saYS, "I'M bEginninG tO think ThOse Are One in THe saMe."

"What?" completeLy losT Again, I can't imagINe what Peter ArCHeR WOuLD havE to Do with my greAt grANdmoTher.

iNsTeaD Of expLainiNg, eChO Lays a piece of paper flAt On the tAble aNd smoothes it oUt with her hANDS several TimeS BeFOre stopping witH them Still coverINg the majOrity Of the surFace. "I trieD TO fill in tHe pArtS I sAid SO It Makes sense." SevERAl of HeR fingerS taP againsT thE paPer AnxIoUsly. "I trieD to get as MuCh InFoRmaTion aS i could buT...wEll, YoU'll UnderSTand beTter iF you JuSt REad It."

Her haNDs SLIde bAcK sLowlY, leAvIng thE sheET of NotebooK paper on tHe tABle. EVeN wIthout aN explanation, I ReCognize GraNdMa MAddie's HANdwritinG immediately. Even if I hadn'T, Her openIng QuestIon wOuld have bEen More thAn eNOugh. I cAn almoSt heaR hEr vOICe groUCHiNg aT mE for not havING doNe as sHe AskeD yet.

Why Hasn't Malachi gone baCK to The estate and rEtrIeveD WHaT I lEFt HIm yEt?

"i Don'T KNow," is Echo's answeR.

Something TeLLs Me there was PRobAbLy a littLe more tO that EXplanatIon than whAt Echo choSe To wrITE doWn. She knows i'm
 from panicking.

Smilinga little,Echosay s,"I  kno w it  does, but I t h inkI just need some timeto so rt thin g sout b efore w e  t a k e t hi ng s a ny fu rther , o r well,  you know,  re wi nd and try a g ai n." She bi tes  her lip aga inand lo ok s a t  me w orr iedly . "Ist hat ok ay?"

"We ll ,  consi d ering t h a tI wa lked down here pr e tt y  well convince d youha t ed m e a ndwere about  t o dro p  me tot he c u rb, I guess I can  deal witha  re do. It 's  mo r e than  I de se r veanyway." He r sh oulders d rop in reliefw hen I s mile b ack  at  her .  I t' s c er t ain l ynot wha t everygu ywants  toh e a r  fro m h is g irlfr iend, but inEch o'sc ase , I k now s he r ea lly n eeds t his.To  be honest, I d o to o. I wasn 'tly ing  w hen I said I  ca red  abouther, bu t  be fo r e ou r relationship goe sa n yfurther,  we bo t hne e d some a ns wer s.
" Y ou sa id y o uneed todeal w i th  a  few th in gs," I  s ay.  "W ouldA rche r andGrandmaMaddi e 's message hap p en to be on t h at l is t ?"
Ech o's hand di sapp e arsfrom si ght as sh e rea ch e sf or something on the  b ench.Her n ervous energy  makes a r e a p pearance  and It ense. "Actuall y," s he says, " I 'm begin ningto think  those ar e one in t hesam e." 

" W h at ?" Completely l ostag ain, Ican 't imag ine  wh atPet er  Archer w ould hav eto  d owit h myg reat gra nd mot he r.
Inst e ad ofexpla inin g,  E c holays ap ie c e  ofpa pe r fl aton  thetabl e  an d smoot hes it ou t w i th h er  h ands se veral times b ef ore stoppi ng  wi th the m still co vering the majority oft he surf ace . "Itrie d to fill  in  the p art s  I sai d so i t mak es  se n s e." S e v er alof  her finge r s  ta p aga in st t he pape r anxiously. "I tr i edto get as muc h i nfor m a ti ona sI  co ul d  bu t . ..well, you'llunderstand  b e tt er if youj ust  r ead it. "

Herhands slide b ack slowl y, leavin gthes h eet  of notebo ok paper  on the t a ble.E ve n wit hou t an e xp lan ation , I re c ogn ize G randma  M addie' s han dw riting i mmediately. Even if I h adn't,  herope ning ques tio n  wo uld havebeen  more than  en oug h. Ican almos t he a rher voice  gro u ching atm efor n ot  having don e a s s he as ked yet.
Whyhasn't Malachi go n e back to theesta t e  an d r e trie ve d what I lefthim  y e t ?

"I do n' t know," is  Echo'san s wer.
Somet hing t ells me t he r e wasprob abl y a littl e m or e  to tha tex p lanati on t ha n what  Echoc hose t o write down. Sh e kno w s  I'm
 from_panicking.

Smiling a_little, Echo says, "I_know it_does,_but I_think_I just need_some time to_sort things out before_we take things_any_further, or well, you know, rewind and try again." She bites her lip again_and_looks at_me_worriedly._"Is that okay?"

"Well, considering that_I walked down here pretty_well convinced_you hated me and were about to drop_me_to the curb,_I guess I can deal with a redo. It's_more than I deserve anyway." Her_shoulders drop in_relief_when_I smile back at_her. It's certainly not what every_guy wants to hear from his_girlfriend, but in Echo's case, I know_she really needs this. To be_honest, I do too. I_wasn't lying_when I said I cared_about her, but_before our_relationship goes any_further, we both need some answers.

"You_said you need_to deal with a few things,"_I_say. "Would Archer_and_Grandma_Maddie's message_happen to be_on_that list?"

Echo's_hand_disappears from sight as she reaches_for_something on the bench. Her nervous energy_makes a reappearance and_I_tense. "Actually," she says,_"I'm beginning to think those_are one in the same."

"What?" Completely_lost again,_I can't_imagine what Peter Archer would have to do with my great_grandmother.

Instead of explaining, Echo lays a_piece of paper flat_on the_table_and smoothes it_out_with her_hands several times before stopping with them_still covering_the majority of the surface. "I_tried to fill in_the_parts I said so it makes_sense." Several of her fingers tap_against the paper anxiously. "I_tried_to_get as much information as_I could but...well, you'll understand better_if you just_read it."

Her hands slide back slowly, leaving_the_sheet of notebook paper on the_table._Even without an explanation, I recognize_Grandma_Maddie's_handwriting immediately. Even if I_hadn't, her opening question would have_been more than enough. I can almost hear her_voice grouching at_me for not having done_as_she_asked yet.

Why hasn't Malachi gone back to the estate and_retrieved what_I left him_yet?

"I don't know," is Echo's answer.

Something tells me there was_probably a little more to that explanation_than what Echo chose to write down. She knows I'm