Hustling up the steps, she arrived on the third floor in time to hear Willa speaking to someone.
“Really?” Willa said. “That’s fantastic. Thank you. I am so excited. I look forward to it very much.”
Frankie frowned, trying to figure out what her daughter was talking about. She peeked into the guest room where Willa was staying and saw her standing there, on the phone, her back to Frankie.
Willa nodded. “I’ll do that right away. Thanks again. See you soon.” She hung up and turned, jumping as she saw her mother. “You startled me. I thought you went to Lucas’s.”
“I did. Sorry. Who was that?”
Willa hesitated, then took a breath. She chewed the inside of her cheek for a second. “I was going to tell you and Aunt Harpertogether, but I guess I could tell you now.” A grin spread across her face. “I got a job teaching social sciences at Pelican Middle School. It’s not quite twenty minutes from here. I start at the beginning of the school year.”
Frankie’s jaw unhinged and she felt vaguely sick to her stomach. “What about your degree? Are you quitting school?”
“I’m not quitting, exactly. I’m going to keep working on my degree but I’m going to do it online. That’s been an option since the pandemic. It’ll take me longer, but this way I’m working and earning some money, and,” her smile got bigger. “I get to be here. With you and Aunt Harper. I’ll be able to see Grandpa Buck, too.”
Frankie didn’t quite know what to say.
Picking up on that, Willa’s smile faltered. “I know I should have talked to you about this, but there wasn’t any point until I knew I’d have a job. Aren’t you happy that I’m going to be here? That I’m staying?”
Frankie nodded. “I am. But this seems so sudden.”
Willa shrugged. “I know, but after talking to Kyle—”
“Mitch’s son?”
Willa crossed her arms. “Yes, Mitch’s son. He’s a really nice guy and we got to talking and a lot of what he said made so much sense. About how opportunities in life aren’t guaranteed and how sometimes you have to do things that scare you and it just got me thinking. When am I going to get a chance like this again?”
“What chance is that? The job, you mean? There will be all kinds of jobs.” Even more when she actually had her degree.
“No. I mean to live here, in a place like this, with you and Aunt Harper.”
“Willa…” Frankie shook her head. She had so much to say that she didn’t know where to start.
“I’ll contribute. You won’t have to pay as much that way.” She sighed. “I really thought you’d be happy.”
“I’m not unhappy.” Actually, Frankiewasunhappy. Willa was so close to getting her doctorate. But Frankie held that in. For now. “I’m mostly shocked. And I can’t help but think this all feels…hasty.”
Willa pursed her lips. “You mean the way you took all that time to decide about quitting your job?”
“It’s different for me.”
“How?”
“Because I’m older and have less life ahead of me than you do. And this was a change for the better.” Frankie took a breath and tried to stay calm. “I don’t know if the same can be said for you leaving school.”
“I’m going to finish my degree.”
“Have you asked your aunt if you can stay? This is still her house.”
“Not yet, but I’m sure she’ll be fine with it.” Frowning, Willa jammed her phone into her pocket. “I’m sorry you’re not happy for me. But I’m even sorrier that my mother doesn’t want me here.”
She stormed past Frankie.
“Willa.” Frankie spun around. “I never said that. I just think we could have talked about this.”
But Willa was gone, stomping down the steps.
Frankie rubbed her forehead and groaned softly. She exhaled and glanced at the ceiling. Lucas was waiting on her. She knew he’d understand once she explained why she’d been gone longer than ten minutes, but her desire to be with him outweighed her desire to continue arguing with Willa.
