Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 103050 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103050 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Poppy’s face lights up. “Really?” she asks.
My heart lifts like it’s on strings. It feels good to be wanted.
When I nod, she pulls me in for an awkward, handless hug, then places the cups down and hugs me again.
“This is great news,” Avril says again, as she jokingly pushes Poppy out of the way to hug me. “What changed?”
“Like you say, nothing’s really ever permanent. If I accept the job, I’m not committing my entire life to being in New York. I’m just saying this chapter’s going to be here.”
The next chapter. The next adventure. New York feels like the right place to be in the next part of my life.
I’ve spent so long at The Rookery that the thought of not going back felt almost impossible. But now even the thought of going back there doesn’t fit. Like a too-tight skirt. I’ve outgrown it somehow.
I survived the breakup with Deacon, albeit I’m still bleeding, but I’ll be okay. He was the best thing that had ever happened to me in so many ways. I don’t want that experience to chase me home. I want it to propel me forward. I want to experience some more of what the world has to offer. Going back to England would be reliving my history when my future is right out in front of me.
In New York.
Poppy lets out a sigh. “I’m so happy you’re staying.”
I nod enthusiastically. “Me too.”
“How can we properly celebrate?” Avril says.
“Snacks and a movie?” Poppy suggests.
“Absolutely not. Or at least, that can only be part of the celebrations. We need to put on some strappy sandals and a cute dress and paint this town a shade of tasteful peacock green.”
“Out out?” Poppy asks, incredulous.
“Out out,” Avril confirms, and I laugh.
“Can I invite Scarlett?” I ask. We’ve caught up a couple of times for lunch. It’s the only time I’ve really gotten to know her without Darcy being there, and I really like her. I want to add her to my expanding friendship group in this city.
“The more the merrier,” Avril says, very seriously, and then lets out a squeal. “This means I can really focus on Boston. We’ve got a lot to do and it feels so overwhelming. Knowing Hotel on Ninth Street is in safe hands is a weight off my shoulders.”
It’s so good to be really helping them. I feel like I’m more than an employee.
“And I’m definitely getting a junior finance person,” Poppy says. “Can we fit another desk in here?” she asks, looking around.
“Two more desks,” Avril corrects her. “We’re expanding. You never know, we might go full circle and end up opening a hotel in England at some point.”
“You never know. I might want to go back by then,” I say. But I don’t at the moment.
I can’t believe I almost didn’t take this job. I was so close to running back to England that I didn’t see what was right in front of my face. I just need to drop the bombshell on Darcy. My parents will be happy for me. But Darcy? She and I have been like sisters, living in each other’s pockets all our lives. It will be an adjustment for both of us.
I hope she can be happy for me. I hope she’ll understand that I need to live my own life, rather than be a spectator in hers.
FORTY
Deacon
It’s Wednesday evening, and after picking her up from Gabby and Ray’s house, Willow and I are sitting on the rug in her bedroom, doing her favorite jigsaw puzzle—a riverside picnic scene, full of anthropomorphic animals dressed in summer clothes, enjoying good food and sunshine-filled games.
Life’s good for these animals.
“I want to do the tree,” she says, pointing at the weeping willow on the box. Historically, it’s been the part of the picture I’ve done, because it’s the hardest bit. But things are changing. Willow groups the pieces with the tree together and starts fitting them into the puzzle like a pro. I busy myself doing some of the parts she doesn’t like doing. But she doesn’t need my help with any of it. I’m here for the company, not assistance.
Willow is growing up.
“How was it staying at Mommy and Ray’s house?” I ask.
“Good,” she replies, as she correctly fits another piece of the puzzle into the picture. “My bed there is big, isn’t it, Daddy?”
“It is a big bed,” I say. Maybe I should replace her bed here. I glance over at her frilly pink bedsheets that are covered in stuffed animals. It’s been the same for years now.
“And in the morning, Mommy came into my bed and snuggled.” She glances up at me. “Maybe I could have a big bed here?” she asks.
I pull in a breath. “Yeah. Maybe.”
“Maybe even…I could move into the green bedroom next door,” she says.