“The assets of the business, she said. Only there wasn’t much, was there?”
Not after he’d done the right thing by Maddie. Not after he’d paid off Brittany.
Anne’s eyes searched his. “When were you going to tell me?”
He didn’t like feeling like he was somehow in the wrong. His jaw set. “When were you going to tell me about the email from your boss? Or were you going to leave without saying anything?”
“I would never…” She dropped her gaze, twisting her hands together. “I haven’t answered her yet.”
The sudden flare of hope was painful. It wasn’t fair to ask for more than he was offering. But he couldn’t help trying to nail her down. “Why not?”
She glared. “Because I don’t want to leave Mom, you dummy. Or Daanis. Or you.”
Dummy.He folded his arms. “Then don’t.”
“It’s not that easy. I need a job. I’m not exactly making a living from my writing.”
“A minute ago, you were telling me to follow my dreams.”
“It’s not the same.”
Temper was more comfortable than this awful emptiness. “You’re right. Because I have responsibilities. People depending on me.”
Her face went white. “So do I. My students are counting on me to come back.”
“You, or a warm body to stand at the front of the class? It doesn’t make any difference to them.”
Her head jerked back. “That’s a terrible thing to say.”
Yep. Didn’t make him feel any better, either. “I’m just saying, anybody can be replaced.”
“I’m a good teacher. I have to be. If I’m not…” She swallowed. “What am I?”
She was Anne. That was enough for him. Why the hell wasn’t it enough for her?
He tucked his hands under his arms. “Guess you’re going back, then.”
“I don’t know. I haven’t decided.”
He looked at her, glowing with passion, full of dreams and drive. One foot already out the door. “Sure you have.”
Her face softened. “Joe…”
He moved around her to slot the board back in place. “Have a safe trip,” he said without looking at her.Have a nice life.
And listened to her leave.
The way everybody did.
26
Anne
“You used to bring mefudge when you were a student,” Beverly Powell said as we stood in her kitchen. “Usually you were either hoping for forgiveness or looking for advice. Since you haven’t done anything wrong, I assume this lovely box of candy means you want…”
“Advice. Yes, please,” I said.
I’d forgotten (or had only recently realized?) there was a certain relief in being home. In being known.
