Page 107 of Symphony of Salvation

A dorm room opened up. They offered it to me.

I sat back down, a flutter of anticipation sending my heart off rhythm.

Constance looked up.He didn’t tell you?

“No.”

He’s going to leave now. Mom’s out of rehab, so his obligation to her is over. The judge granted him indefinite full custody, so that’s settled. With a dorm available, he can return to Chicago early. It’s what he’s been waiting for.

Choosing my words carefully, I reached out and took Constance’s hand. “I don’t believe that’s going to happen. Not yet. He’s going to be sure you’re settled first. He won’t move you into the dorm and run. Plus, he’s been planning for the spring concert since he showed up. He’s not going to abandon that responsibility.”

Autumn, I’d told myself. August would stay until September. He couldn’t leave at the start of summer because school was out and Timber Creek closed its doors, including the dorm rooms. Constance would have nowhere to go. No. He would stay with her at the cottage until the start of the new school year.

He would stay with me because…

Because why?

He could easily jump ship early and abandon the concert. Abandon me. He could bring Constance to Chicago over the summer and forget the upheaval I’d caused in his life for good. He’d never made promises. He’d never admitted to falling in love.

For months, we’d pretended at a relationship, but I’d known all along it was temporary.

Constance looked as miserable as I felt. I didn’t know what to do, for her or for myself. A sick wash of shame turned the food in my stomach. I was a fool to have believed in anything more.

Constance wasn’t the only one waking up from an illusionary future.

“I say we forget about the dishes and go to the bookstore or the mall. I don’t know about you, but I need some retail therapy. My treat.”

A weak smile turned her mouth, and she nodded.

***

August returned in the late afternoon looking like a man beaten. He requested time alone with his daughter. “We have things to resolve. Do you think she’ll be open to having a conversation?”

He glanced down the hallway to Constance’s room, where the mellow tone of a sweet violin piece filled the air. Instead of a bookstore, we’d ended up browsing three different music stores in town. Constance had selected a few new compositions and had been eager to play when we got home.

“She was upset this morning, but she’s in better spirits. I may or may not have spent a fortune cheering her up today.”

August turned a smile in my direction. “Oh? Buying her affection, I see. I’ll never win at this rate.”

“It’s not a competition. Besides, shopping will cheer up any teen, provided you select the right store.”

He chuckled. “New music?”

“Yep. How did it go today?”

The smile faded, replaced by exhaustion. “As well as I expected.”

He offered no more information, so I let it go. His connection to Chloé was a sore spot, and he’d had an especially trying day. Iwanted to ask about the dorm room and his plans, but it wasn’t the time, nor was I ready to hear the answer.

I left August’s house and drove directly to Koa’s, my insides twisted and my head full of anxious thoughts.

Jersey answered the door, glass of wine in hand. The second he saw me, relief filled his face. “Oh, thank god. Here.” He shoved the wine in my hand and ushered me down the hall. “He’s in the kitchen and ranting about something… existential. It could be about a book. I’m not sure. Is satire a book?”

“Satire? Koa doesn’t gravitate to satire.”

“No, wait. Sartre? Is that right?”

“That makes more sense. Sartre is a philosopher and author. He wrote essays about existentialism and—”

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