"Yes, I got an email from Principal Stevens this morning." Paige fiddled with her fork. "He assured me he'd hold my job for me."
But he also wanted to know if she intended to return next school year. Paige had wanted to respond, telling him of course, she plannedto return, because she loved her job. But for some reason, she'd hesitated.
Was it because she still wasn't fully healed? Or because she'd enjoyed being close to family and didn't want to lose that? Returning to Seattle was one of the life choices she was currently questioning.
Something had been missing from her life ever since her cousin Riley moved back home to Providence last year. She'd thought it was because she was eager to get married and start a family. Something she'd hoped to do with Phillip.
Her grip on her fork tightened with the familiar twinge that seized her chest every time she thought about him. She forced thoughts of Phillip from her mind.
"I'm glad you still have a job to go back to after all these months," Mom said, "but I'll be sad to see you leave when school starts again. Seattle is just too far away."
"I know." Paige's gaze dropped to her plate.
Other than her job, there wasn't anything left for her in Seattle. Her hopes of marrying and starting a family with Phillip had been crushed.
Gah. Stop thinking about Phillip already.
Dad turned his attention to her mom. "And how was your day, dear?"
Grateful the conversation had shifted away from her, Paige tuned out while her mother, who was the high school principal, talked about how busy this time of year was and how she'd finally secured a guest speaker for graduation.
There's nothing waiting for me in Seattle except my job. But the only thing here for me is my family.
Would it be enough?With only one elementary school, she'd be hard pressed to find a job teaching in this sleepy little town.
I suppose I could try the Tri-Cities area.
She was still mulling around the idea of searching for a job closer to home when her parents shooed her from the kitchen while they cleaned up. Helpless and hopeless. That was her life now.
The front door opened as she settled on the couch. Her nieces,Kallie and Cassey, ran into the family room followed by their much-slower, little brother James whose toddling run looked like a drunk football player zigzagging toward the end zone.
"Aunt Paige!" Kallie, the outgoing one, ran full bore toward her.
"Kallie!" Paige's brother, Ben, darted forward to stop his daughter. "Remember you have to be careful around Aunt Paige."
Kallie skidded to a stop, and Cassey, who always followed her sister, ran into her. "Is she still broken?"
Paige's sister-in-law, Amy, crouched down by the four-year-old girls who weren't related by blood but could almost be twins with their blond hair and blue eyes. "She's not broken anymore, but she's still healing."
"Like my booboo?" Cassey asked, angling her elbow that sported a Band-Aid up in the air.
Paige laughed. "Exactly like your booboo, Cass."
"Do you need Mommy to kiss your booboo better?" Kallie asked. "My owies always feel better after Mommy kisses them."
Paige laughed. This was why she wanted to stay in Providence. She loved being surrounded by family.
An hour later,Paige was ready for a little less family and some fresh air. She heaved a sigh of relief when her phone chimed with a text from her cousin.
Riley:Want to go for a drive?
Paige:YES.
Paige loved her nieces, but they both kept insisting she help them color their picture. And Kallie's pointy, little elbow had been digging into her good thigh for the last fifteen minutes.
WhenRiley arrived, Paige hobbled outside and breathed in the fresh air.
Riley frowned, concern filling her face as she held the passenger door of her Jeep open for Paige. "Um…I didn't think about how we were going to get you up inside."
