Emma bit her lip as she bent for another small branch. “I, uh, I already did.”
Maddy straightened. “What? When? How’d it go?”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“There’s really nothing to say,” Emma said. “I—I didn’t exactly tell him outright. I just couldn’t. I tried to, but...” She covered her forehead. “I left it on his voicemail.”
“You what?” Nora said.
“I know, it was such a chicken thing to do. I wish I hadn’t. I was calling to tell him, but his voicemail kicked in, and it suddenly seemed like such an easy way to do it— Ugh! Terrible idea. That was this morning, and he hasn’t called me back. He probably hates me. He’s probably filing for divorce as we speak.” Her eyes filled with tears.
“He doesn’t hate you,” Nora said.
“I just... After worrying about Nora and almost losing Connor... I got to thinking about Ethan, and I had to tell him right away. None of us really knows how long we have, you know?”
Maddy winced. “But a voicemail...”
“I know, I know.” Emma knuckled the corner of her eye.
Next door, Tara carried a rug out onto the deck. She gave them a little wave, then started shaking out the rug. Dust mushroomed around her.
“Poor Connor.” Nora laughed. “Those sisters of his are a force.”
Maddy smiled. “He’s met his match, that’s for sure. I’m glad he has them, though. They’re taking good care of him.”
They’d been at the hospital nearly every moment. Maddy had also met Connor’s best friend, Lamont, who’d stopped by twice.
“He’s looking some better today,” Emma said. “And the two of you seem to be faring well.”
Maddy’s smile rose naturally. Even though she’d had no time alone with him in the hospital, the furtive glances they exchanged were encouraging. For the first time in a long time, she felt optimistic about her future. Hopeful. Which was funny, since she didn’t even have a job.
Though everything she’d learned about her dad and grandpa had been unsettling, it also made sense of things, like the last piece of a puzzle clicking into place.
“What do you think you’ll do next?” Emma asked her. “I mean, the house is finished, and apart from a little cleanup, our work here is done. Are you going to follow up on that job Nick told you about?”
Maddy shook her head. “He called last night on my way home from the hospital. I told him he could cross my name off the list.”
Nora snorted. “I hope you told him he could do more than that.”
Maddy hitched her shoulder. “I kind of feel sorry for him. He’s putting all his eggs in the wrong basket.”
“I feel something for him too,” Nora said. “But it’s not pity.”
Nick had tried to change her mind, but Maddy was firm. He didn’t even mention missing her this time. Must’ve heard the resolve in her tone and known he’d only be wasting his time.
“What are you going to do then?” Emma asked. “Have you heard back from any of the restaurants you’ve applied to?”
“I’ve gotten two emails requesting interviews. Both are great restaurants. Good opportunities. I’ll call them back this week and schedule them.” She thought of Connor and wondered how they were going to negotiate a long-distance relationship.
“What about you and Connor?” Nora asked. “You’re going to date long distance?”
“I don’t know. We haven’t had a chance to talk about it.”
“Maybe you should put in some applications around here just in case,” Emma said.
“It seems so quick, though,” Maddy said. “We haven’t even known each other two months. We’ve only had one date!”
Emma shrugged. “When you know, you know. I knew Ethan was the one for me on our third date.”
