There’s a timid knock on my door, and I know it’s Katherine. She comes in, grinning, and without saying anything, we pull each otherinto the biggest hug. It hasn’t been long since I saw her, but it feels like forever.
“I’m so nervous,” she whispers.
“You’re doing this for all the right reasons,” I say. “This is the best decision for you and Ed.”
“Mom’s not going to see it like that.”
I nod. There’s no denying it. Katherine is the golden child. I can’t imagine moving away is going to change that, but Mom’s not going to be happy.
“Are you going to tell her right away? Or leave it until you’re about to go home?”
Katherine bites the inside of her cheek. “I don’t know. Ed wants to get it over with. We just accepted an offer on our house. Someone came yesterday to see the place. We still had suitcases laid out in the laundry room, but they loved it and want to move as soon as possible. They want to close in thirty days.”
My eyes go wide. “Wow. Will the Somerville place be ready by then?”
“Yeah. It’s ready as soon as we’re ready.”
“I can’t wait for you to be on that side of the city. You know I’m going to be staying with you when I come into town. It will get me away from this god-awful wallpaper!”
Katherine gasps. “You don’t love these lighthouses? I was thinking about putting the exact same paper up in the guest bedroom.”
I narrow my eyes at her. “Liar.”
“You can help choose everything that’s going into the guest bedroom. I want you and Hunter to feel really comfortable in there.”
My heart twinges when she mentions Hunter, but I don’t say anything. Hunter and I have agreed not to make any big announcements about our relationship to Katherine and Ed. I hope things will feel a little better when our split is out in the open. Maybe it’s the lies that are taking up all the space in my chest and making my heart feel like it’s pushed into my ribs. I’m hoping then I’ll be able to sleep better,and I won’t constantly wonder what Hunter is doing, how he’s feeling, whether he’s thinking about me.
“Because you’re going to be coming up to see your nieces and nephews every other weekend, right? I’m counting on you babysitting. A lot.”
“I’d love to help you decorate. I bet Mom will too. When she’s had a chance to get used to the idea of you moving.”
Katherine squeals. “No way am I letting her help. I’ll end up with wallpaper like this.”
“Come on,” I say, scooping up her hand. “Ed’s right. You need to bite the bullet and get this over with.”
Katherine pulls in a long breath and we head downstairs.
“What are you two giggling about?” Mom says as we enter the sunny kitchen.
“Mom, we don’t giggle. We are fully grown adults,” I say.
“You were giggling. Your father and Ed are outside. Help me carry this tray, Lucy. If you had come this morning, I would have made us lunch. As it is, there are some snacks in the yard.”
“I was busy this morning,” I say.
“Busy!” she says as if it’s the most ludicrous thing she’s ever heard. “Have children and then tell me you’re busy.”
“So we have some news!” Ed says as the three of us enter the patio area. “Don’t we, Katherine?”
“Sure.” Katherine picks up her iced tea and takes a sip.
My mother’s eyes light up, and I realize she thinks Katherine is going to tell them she’s pregnant. “News?”
Katherine looks nervously at Ed.
“We’ve sold the house,” Ed says.
Mom looks confused.
