I make a face. “Meh. I’ve applied to a few jobs here and there, but haven’t found anything that sparks much.”
“I mean”—she pauses—“you do still have the education and capital to run your own business.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Yes, but doing what?”
She shrugs again. “I dunno. I suppose you can use the next few weeks to tap into your passion. We’ll brainstorm it on the flight.”
“Like you’re not going to be tipsy by the time we take off.”
“You’re the one who chose first class. Those complimentary drinks aren’t going to drink themselves.”
Booking the tickets was another painful prick, reminding me of Noah and how I told him he ruined me for flying commercial. I figured, though, first class might make up for the struggles of security and checking a bag.
“I did.”
“Oh hey,” she says. “Henrietta called me last night. She needs us to meet her at Nan’s on our way out of town. Something about a closet we missed in our clean up? She doesn’t want to get rid of anything without talking to you first.”
Right. Nan’s house is going up for sale next week. I considered keeping it, and even asked Kara if she’d want to move in there with me. But, our current house is bigger and buying out our lease so we could move was more money than either of us want to spend. The decision to sell wasn’t easy, but I figure another family could use the safe place to land.
“What on earth could we have missed? I walked through every room myself just the other day.”
Kara shrugs and pushes up from the table. “I don’t know but I’m going to shower. If we want to have time to stop, we’ll have to leave soon.”
With our bags packed into the trunk of Kara’s Honda, we maneuver towards Nan’s. I realize too late that she’s turned down the street with the diner.
I’m not exactly avoiding it, but I’m also notnotavoiding it. It might be the place that raised me, but it’s also the place where my world fell apart. Figuring it will be covered in plastic sheets and construction debris, I hold my breath and stare straight ahead.
However, as Kara passes the familiar red and white awning, not only is there no sign of renovations, the For Lease sign is back in the window. I slouch back against the seat, wondering if the construction delays are intentional or because of someother mishap. It shouldn’t matter, but it’s not like I want to see Flourish fail.
Kara turns onto Nan’s street and parks in front of the faded blue house. The white porch, sagging under the summer sun, pulls at the still raw spot in my chest. I spent almost every June sitting on this very porch with a glass of lemonade in one hand and a brownie in the other. We climb the stairs and push into the house, the empty rooms feeling vast.
“Henrietta?”
We fan out, the house only so big. Turning into the bright yellow kitchen, my heart stops, and then thumps erratic and wild as I absorb what I’m seeing.
Noah stands facing me with his back to the window above the sink.
“Wha—Kara!”
I spin around and she flashes a grin before ducking out of the front door. I’m considering marching out there and demanding an answer when his voice freezes me in place.
“Charlotte.”
I close my eyes against the barrage of emotion. He’s real. He’s here. I turn, taking a breath before opening my eyes again. Noah remains still, looking too tall for this little kitchen and filling the space with everything that makes him, him. Fighting against the painful comparison of both Nan and Noah standing in this spot, and knowing they won’t ever be here together, I chew on my cheek.
“What are you doing here?”
“Kara called me.”
“How did you get in?”
His lip quirks. “Henrietta.”
Those two. Still, his answers explain how he’s here, but not why. As if he can read the confusion, he continues.
“You weren’t returning my calls.”
“I blocked your number.”
