I feel a little guilty that Mom left in the middle of dinner with Orla’s uncle, but the truth is that once they were gone, my mood lightened. I was already feeling pretty good being here. Then to find out Orla was talking about me to her friends? It’s like the final string dropped off the net holding me back from pursuing her.

I eat pumpkin pie with whipped cream, trying to think of the most tactful way to get her out of here, when Orla’s dad and his ...