Because Art forgets to leave his keys in the car, Gay can’t drive me to the airport on Martha’s Vineyard.
Because Gay can’t drive me, we walk to the airport, a long shot to make the plane, but we can always get langoustines at the airport café.
Because we walk, a neighbor driving her daughter Beth to the same flight sees us and gives us a ride.
Because I meet Beth, we have a drink at the bar after hearing the announcement that the flight is delayed for mechanical difficulties.
Because when our flight is called two hours later, Beth asks a maintenance worker if they “really fixed the plane or just decided the hell with it” and the worker responds “Oh we fixed it—we only have two planes and can’t afford to lose one,” we laugh and Beth touches my arm.
Because Beth has touched my arm and we have a couple of complimentary drinks on the plane, I overcome my shyness and ask Beth for her phone number.
Because I am sober 99% of the time, I don’t call her.
Because I run into Beth on the street weeks later, she tells me “It is so gratuitous running into you,” and invites me to a party at her apartment.
Because I go to Beth’s party, I become infatuated with one of her roommates, Meredith, a singer from Traverse City, Michigan.
Because I get involved with Meredith (and that’s a whole other story) I go with her to Traverse City and she takes me to the Interlochen Academy campus. I see the showcase of visiting writers, and Meredith says, “Why don’t you get a job as visiting writer-in-residence here and we can live together for the term?”
Because Meredith said that, I apply for—and get—the job; with it comes a cabin with a fireplace.
Because Meredith and I break up, I find myself alone at Interlochen, and become friends with Clara, who soon moves to New York.
Because Clara moves to New York, we get together when I return home and she introduces me to her friend Jen, and Jen and I become friends.
Because Jen decides to go camping one Saturday, she calls me on Friday to cancel our date to the Village Vanguard later that night and, as an afterthought, perhaps so I won’t feel rejected, she asks me to join her at an early-evening Christmas-season party.
Because I go to the party, I am introduced to Erin who, it turns out, lives around the corner from me.
Because I am introduced to Erin, I find lasting love.