“I think it’s time I go home and face my mess.”
“But what about... what about Levi?”
Mia gave her a wan smile. “We broke up last night.”
Molly gasped. “What? Are you okay?”
“I’ll be fine.” But judging by the tears swelling her throat she wondered if that were true. She thought of Levi. Of all his burdens and the flood on top of it all.
A wave of concern washed over her, crushing in its force. “Look out after your brother, okay? He’s got a lot on his plate.”
Molly looked a little sheepish. “Right. I will.”
“What time is it?” Grace grumbled. “And why are people talking?”
“Mia’s leaving,” Molly said. “You need to say good-bye.”
Grace squinted open an eye. “Seriously? You’re leaving now?”
“The rumor is true,” Mia said lightly. “And I want you both to know how much I appreciate your hospitality. It’s been...” She swallowed back the tears. “You’ve been great. I hope you’ll keep in touch.”
Molly came forward for a hug. “I don’t want you to leave. You’ve become a good friend.”
“Here come the waterworks.” Grace stood, tugging down her cow-print pajamas.
Mia leaned back to glimpse Molly’s face and saw that Grace was right. “I’ll miss you.”
“Me too,” Molly said. “Don’t be a stranger.”
Grace gave Mia a swift hug, minus the tears. “You’re not what I expected.”
A chuckle gurgled from Mia’s constricted throat. That was a compliment in Grace-speak. “You’re pretty great too.”
“Bye, guys,” Mia said as Grace disengaged from the hug.
Then she grabbed her things and left the room before she embarrassed herself. She breathed in. Breathed out. It was hard saying good-bye to her new friends. They didn’t feel like new friends. They felt like sisters of her heart.
And the hardest part was still ahead. One wimpy part of her hoped to sneak out without seeing Levi. He might still be in bed, after all.
But that wasn’t right. If she were going to get any closure at all it would have to be now. And despite the deep wound he’d inflicted, she knew he hadn’t wanted to end things. He just felt like he couldn’t manage a relationship with her on top of everything else he had going on.
Despite the hurt, she had to respect that. He saw his limitations and wanted to prioritize his life.
She just wasn’t a priority.
A vise tightened around her heart, squeezing until an ache bloomed in her chest. She closed her eyes against the pain as she worked her way down the stairs.
She could get through this with her dignity intact. Without causing additional harm to either of them. And she didn’t want to hurt Levi. Especially when she remembered the weary look on his face last night. The way he’d seemed to age ten years in one day. This wasn’t easy for him either.
She stopped at the bottom of the stairs, listening. Normally, Della would be making noises in the kitchen. Often Mia could hear clanking silverware and the chatter of guests enjoying breakfast in the dining room. And always she could smell the delicious aroma of baking muffins.
Not today though.
Then she honed in on the muted sound of Levi’s voice and caught sight of him on the porch. He was pacing, talking on the phone.
She exited the front door, her bags in tow, blinking against the beam of sunlight that hit her face.
Levi turned, his eyes catching on her, phone still held to his ear.
