“I know you’re in there,” Cody’s deep voice calls from the other side of the door. “Open up, Jessie. It’s me.”
No more hiding, I guess.
I swing the door open.
His brows raise at my disheveled appearance. I’m in three-day-old sweats and my hair is a rat’s nest.
“What? You’re the one who showed up unannounced,” I snap.
He chuckles.
Rude.
“Glad to see that fire back.” He steps past me into the house.
I grumble about not having invited him in, but it doesn’t faze him. I shut the door as he pulls out a chair, taking a seat at the table. “Sit. Let’s have a talk.”
I plop into the chair across from him, resting my arms on the table. I’m being a brat, but I can’t bring myself to care. I’m miserable. I lost Gran,andI lost Trey. I think I have the right to mope for a few days.
“I wanted to check on you. You’ve been ignoring everyone’s calls and texts.”
“I needed a few days. Is that too much to ask?”
“No, it’s not. You lost the most important person in your life, Jessie. You need time to grieve, I understand that. But you have people who want to be here for you if you need them.”
I pick at my already-ripping cuticles. “I know. It’s just . . . It’s been hard. Gran’s gone. I can’t even think about going back to work and I miss . . .” I stop myself before I say Trey. “It’s been hard.”
Cody nods, sympathy and understanding in his eyes. “I’m sorry for everything you’ve been going through. Life is cruel. One minute they’re here, the next you’re standing in the silence they left behind.”
His words claw at my chest.
Silence. That’s exactly what this feels like. All the sound, the color, the joy in my life—gone in the blink of an eye.
“It took me a long time to work through my grief and start living my life again after we lost Kacey’s mom. Grief is different for everyone, but one thing I believe we all have in common is the need to be gentle with ourselves while we figure out how to breathe again.”
“I think I’m going to quit my job,” I blurt.
Cody’s brows raise, but he gives me space to talk it out.
“I’m burned out and can’t imagine going back there now. I don’t know what I’ll do next, but I can’t work there. Gran’s gone. Trey’s gone. One loss after another and I’m just . . . untethered. Drifting. Spinning. This doesn’t feel like a stumble. It feels like a free fall,” I confess.
He leans forward and pulls a white envelope out of his back pocket. “And that’s alright. It’s okay to not always be okay. Your gran knew when her time came, it wouldn’t be easy for you. No matter how it could have happened. She and I had a conversation the day she asked me to be the executor of her estate. She gave me this letter and asked me to give it to you if she didn’t get the chance to say goodbye.” He slides the envelope across the table.
I stare at it, afraid to open it.Gran left me a letter?She knew how hard this would be for me and planned ahead, always making sure I’m taken care of.
“When did she give you this?”
“A year ago.”
I nod. “Okay.”
“Can I do anything? Kacey is worried sick.”
“No. I’m sorry, I’ll text her back.”
“You don’t have to be sorry, Jessie. She just loves you. If you need anything, let us know. If you feel up to it, come to family dinner on Sunday.”
“Thanks, Cody.”
