Page 60 of About Time

Hattie starts to tap her foot. “What would make him think you needed to be set up on a blind date?"

I shrug. "I honestly have no idea what that man thinks most of the time. I guess he thinks I'm lonely. Which is rich, considering the man refuses to move on from his ex-wife."

“Hmm,” she muses. "What would make him think you would be receptive to being set up is what I really want to know."

I can't help but feel like I am stepping into a trap, but the only option here is the truth. "I haven't told him about us."

She nods her head a few times like this is exactly what she expects me to say. She opens her mouth to respond, then closes it. After taking a deep breath, she exhales slowly. "That's what I thought. I don't see how we could ever work when you insist on hiding our relationship. What are you so afraid of?"

Now it's my turn to open and close my mouth in an impersonation of a fish out of water. The problem is, I can't think of what is holding me back. I know Martin would have been upset, but I don't think even he would have a problem with it now. It's not like she's a teenager anymore. I guess I just didn't want people to look at me like I'm doing something immoral. Worse, I don't want them to talk about her behind her back.

Now she holds up her hand and waves me off. "It doesn't matter. The fact is it will always be your instinct to keep me as your dirty secret."

Before I can argue any further, she opens the front door and closes it in my face. I hear the lock snick into place, and I know she is not going to answer it if I were to knock. I'll have to try and find a different way to talk to her.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Hattie Past- Age 26

"Who keeps calling you?Maybe you should just answer. They seem pretty determined," Wren comments, as I reject another call from Charlie.

I waive her off. "It's nobody don't worry about it." I set my phone down and take a seat at the table. With my foot, I push out the chair opposite me. “Wren, we need to talk. I know we've talked about me going back to Florida, but there are some things that need to be decided before I go. I've gone over the numbers and there is no way to keep the house unless we drain your parents insurance policies. I know that's not what they wanted them for. I'm sure they would much rather that money went to take care of you than to tie you to this house."

"What are you saying we need to do?" she asks me.

"I spoke to a realtor, and the market in Harriston is actually not very bad. I think you should sell the house, and combine the equity with the payout from their insurance policies. There are also some investments and a savings account that your father had started. It's not a lot of money, but it will help. This way you can get a nice apartment, and you won't have to work topay rent or your bills. You should be able to make it through college without having to work on the side. Since you got that scholarship to Central Valley, you can focus on your studies and not start your life out in debt."

She looks down at the table, and absentmindedly picks at a small scratch in the wood veneer. When she looks up at me, her green eyes are glassy with unshed tears. “You don't think they would be disappointed that I sold our home?"

I reach across the table and take her hands. “No, sweetie. I think they would be proud of you for making the adult decision at such a difficult time. I'm very sorry to be leaving you here alone. Are you sure you don't wanna come with me? "

"I'm sure. I don't want to leave Liam. This is the only home I've ever known. Are you upset?"

I shake my head. "No, I understand. Believe it or not I know what it's like to throw yourself into young love."

Wren points at my phone. "Is that who keeps calling you?"

Without thinking, I nod slightly. “yeah, but don't worry about it. It's long over. I don't really want to speak about him if you don't mind."

She squeezes my hands. “Just be happy. My mom would have wanted you to do what was best for yourself. Don't worry about me I will be fine."

"I am going to miss you," she says.

I feel a bit guilty because I already know I have no plans on coming back. “We will have to make plans for you to visit me. This town doesn't have good memories for me."

“Damn, I’ll have to go to Florida? Oh, no, whatever on earth shall I do?” Wren says sarcastically.

I roll my eyes at her. “I am going to miss you.”

She tries to give me a smile, but it wobbles. I can feel my own eyes swelling with tears. “Me too,” she says in a choked whisper. Wren clears her throat. “I know you don’t like to talk about yourpersonal life, but whatever puts that sad look on your face, I hope you take care of it. You deserve to be happy.”

Life speeds by at warp speed over the next week. Wren’s eighteenth birthday falls in the middle of the week, and by the end of the week she’s signed the agreement with the realtor to begin the process of selling the house.

Packing is proving more difficult than I anticipated. We got boxes, tape, and bubble wrap, but I didn’t think about the emotional toll of packing away the last reminders of Elisa and Martin.

I volunteer to go through their clothes while Wren tackles the photographs. Going into their room is hard. Neither of us have stepped foot in here since the day of the funeral. I know we should donate their clothes, and I do have a box set up for that purpose, but that’s not easy to do in practice.

When I open the closet the first thing that hits me is the smell. There’s a mingling of a floral scent with a spicier cologne. I grab a sweater from a hanger and bring it to my nose. I’m reminded of all the times that my sister wrapped her arms around me. The softness of the fabric and the smell of her perfume overwhelms me and my knees buckle.

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