They exchanged nervous glances.
“We don’t know,” Leon answered.
“Back to the motel to pack for his flight?” Aspen ventured.
“What?” The word came out strangled.
The boys noticed, and Phillip elbowed Aspen as if to scold him.
But he didn’t deny it was possible.
Shooting the other boys a glare that clearly saidBe helpful or shut up, please, Phillip patted me on the shoulder. It should’ve been comforting, but instead it felt more like he was offering me condolences.
“Disappearing’s just Jake’s thing,” Phillip explained. “We’ve kind of come to expect it.”
My palms were starting to feel clammy. “Without telling you where he’s going? Or that he’s even leaving?”
“Sometimes. I love my brother, but, uh...” Leon shifted uncomfortably. “Communicating’s not really his strong point.”
I’m so sorry, Lucy. Jake’s words replayed in my mind. Had that been him sayinggoodbye? His final text from four years ago flashed across my memory:
For whatever it’s worth, I’m sorry.
No. No, no, no, no,no.
This was my worst fear come to life.
I couldn’t do this.
Hot tears pricked at my eyes, threatening to spill over.
I needed to get away before everyone saw me lose it.
Turning, I strode down the hall toward Rumple’s room as fast as my feet could carry me.
I could feel today’s losses in every fiber of my body, like they were something physical.
Memories played through my mind. Jake’s fingers moving across the leg of his jeans, composing on invisible piano keys. Jake carefully cradling tiny Arpeggio in his arms. Jake across the dining table, looking for all the world like he wanted to take up Mom’s invitation to drop in anytime.
But the old Jake left me, and now the new Jake had too.
Except this time, it felt a hundred times worse.
Shutting my eyes, I sank down to the floor, hunching my knees up and burying my face in my hands as I curled in on myself. How could I handle losing the sanctuary of the caféandJake?
Something soft tickled my arm. Rumple sat beside me, peering worriedly at my face.
“Rumple,” I whispered. “I don’t know what to do.”
The Maine coon considered me for a moment, before getting up and walking out the door.
I stared after him, numb. Then I pressed the heels of my hands into the back of my eyes.
How am I going to get through this?
A sudden, soft meow sounded out, and I slid my hands off my face to see Mittens enter the room. She padded over quietly and pawed at my hand until I put my arm around her.I’m here, she seemed to say.I don’t understand why you’re sad, but I’m here.
Bunny came in next, hopping over and flanking my other side. Then slowly, one by one, as if Rumple was finding everyone and sending them in to me, more cats trickled into the room.
