Page 6 of The Best Friend Power Play

I shake my head. "Uh, hello. This is Chester we're talking about."

"Yeah. The star quarterback," Beth counters. "He must be super popular at school, and everyone around town adores him. He'd get plenty of party invites."

"He does. But he's also a massive history nerd. He'd rather geek out at the Acropolis in Athens than get high in Amsterdam."

"You did such a good job with them," Evie says, clutching my forearm.

"I didn't do it alone."

"Sure, but after you graduated from high school, you became their full-time guardian. You deserve to be proud of how great those two turned out," she says.

My heart swells with pride. "Oh, I am. Believe me, I am."

They're both such awesome kids—well-adjusted, kind, resilient, and so smart. Katie was part of a team that made it all the way to the final in the USA Jump Rope National Championship and is heading to UCLA in the fall to study business management.

And Chester never let the stutter he developed in childhood defeat or define him as he got older. He didn't let the bullies win. He started playing sports and made friends, and now, like Beth said, everyone loves him because he's an awesome dude. A little too cocky at times, but generally awesome. He's off to Berkeley and wants to do a double major in anthropology and international relations.

"I'm going to miss them so much, you guys."

As soon as I get the words out, I'm crying.

Tears stream down my face as the exhaustion and stress finally catch up to me. Evie side-hugs me, and the others crouch down in front of the bench.

Amiel hands me a tissue.

"Thank you." I blow my nose. "I'm sorry."

"Hey. Don't apologize," Evie says. "You've been working super hard recently."

"And dealing with two teenagers graduating is a lot," Summer says. "Even if they're as great as Katie and Chester."

"Have you given any more thought to getting someone to help out at the flower shop?" Beth asks.

"Yes. I've given it plenty of thought, especially the part about how I can't afford to hire someone."

That's not entirely true.

I've been squirreling money away for years, but that's for Katie and Chester's college fund, not for me to hire help at the shop.

"Surely Fraser showering Evie with flowers has helped your bottom line," Summer says, half-joking, but she's not wrong.

He actually has.

The order for a thousand yellow roses he bought Evie helped cover the venue hire costs for Chester and Katie's graduation party. Our family has never been as well off as many other people in Comfort Bay, but I always made sure they never missed out on anything.

"It has helped." I fold the tissue into a small square. "It's just…everything. Years of worrying about their safety, their grades, ferrying them to and from after-school activities, keeping them well-fed, making sure the bills got paid, the house was clean." I stop to catch my breath.

"Just alllll the responsibilities."

"You took on a lot," Summer says. "And you handled it like a pro."

"Thanks. I think it's all just catching up to me, you know?" I sniff. "I feel like an empty nester at the age of twenty-five."

"That's because in a way you are," Evie says softly. "But think of it this way—now a new chapter of your life can begin."

"And at least you won't be alone for the summer," Beth points out.

Can't lie. Having Culver stay with me would make me happy anyway, but having him stay with me once the kids are gone is the lifeline I didn't know I needed. I won't be rattling around the house alone. I'll have him. His delicious home-cooked Italian food. The awesome foot rubs he treats me to. And our secret guilty pleasure—watching our favorite reality TV show together.

---