Page 15 of One More Weekend

“I know, it’s almost like I planned this.” Winking, Sy leaned against the rail as she looked over to the copper statue, centuries oxidized by the salt water and rain.

To our side, Tyler continued his speech but Sy turned her attention back to me. “So, what’s next?”

Raising an eyebrow, I laughed. “That’s a little broad.”

“For you, if you’re not in New York, what does the next step look like?” Sy leaned back against the railing, her lean forearms tensing.

My eyes flicked back to Lady Liberty. All of my answers were unglamorous, something unremarkable. The reality was, if she went back west I’d work at my parents’ firm and live at home for a while.

Sy narrowed her eyes at me. “Be honest, there’s no shame. Trust me, I’m a twenty-something barista-bartender with no real prospects except a degree that’s collecting dust.”

“You have prospects, you just don’t write anymore.” I slapped her arm lightly. “Honestly, I don’t know. College has so much direction, it’s so obvious what you do. Four years of school, internships, then a real job, and then you ride that train until you die.”

“What a joy.” Sy chuckled as she looked at the bay and the waves lapping against the Statue of Liberty.

Shrugging, my shoulders dropped. “Yeah, but now my guide rails are gone and I have no fucking clue. Like I’m going to keep applying for shit but who knows if anything will come through.”

Hell, a part of me didn't want anything to. Hearing myself describe it felt like a shot in the chest. What was I even working toward?

Sy wrapped her long arm around me, squeezing me into her torso. “I know. But I’ve got you and I’ll help however I can. I’m a master budgeter at this point.”

“That’s true.” I let my head roll onto her shoulder, taking comfort in her familiarity as her musk mixed with the coffee on her breath. “But like… even Clay dumped me?”

“Clay’s an asshole.” Sy’s jaw tensed as she tried to hold back what she really wanted to say.

Nodding, I turned to face the Statue, which was slowly drifting behind the boat as we headed to Ellis Island. “Well, yeah. But what if no one wants to be with me? What if I'm unloveable?”

Faster than I expected, Sy gripped my shoulders and faced me head-on, disbelief on her face. “Jenna Chambers, take that back right now. You are the most loveable human I’ve ever seen.”

“Human?” I eyed her suspiciously.

“Well, I mean do you want to compete with every puppy, kitten, and animal on the planet?” With a wink, Sy got serious again. “I hear the concern. But Jen, you are genuinely too good of a person for this earth. These people don’t deserve you. Fuck, I’m not even sure I deserve to live in the same timeline as you.”

I rolled my eyes. “Cut it out.”

Recentering, Sy shook her head. “But I’m being serious. This is their loss, both SDO and Clay. What’s right for you is still waiting for you, I promise.”

I had no idea how she could be so certain, how she could know that. But goddamn it was hard not to believe her.

Before I could muster the courage to say anything else, Sy reached down and grabbed my hand. “We’re about to dock, let’s go downstairs.”

I couldn’t be sure what the rest of the day had in store for us, but I was willing to follow Sy anywhere she led me.

11

SY

The boat jostledinto the ferry slip as the engine ground to a halt. There, Jenna and I followed our tour guide Tyler – and the rest of our group – off the boat. We were one of the only ferries on Ellis Island on this quiet weekday.

“Over a century ago, if you’d come off a ship here, you’d be clutching your luggage and filing outward the main immigration building where we’ll start our tour. This would be the first land you’d stepped on in weeks and the hope of a new start fills your body.” Tyler smiled as he led us toward the entrance of the museum.

Immediately inside, a massive hall opened to us. Stacked in piles across the floor of the Baggage Room, suitcases and luggage from corresponding eras demonstrated what each person was allowed to bring.

I kept my eye on Jenna, watching her as she examined each pile. Still a student at heart, she barely looked up at our tour guide or anything but what was being discussed.

The corners of my lips rose to a smile as I watched her eyes light up. When Tyler led us into a new hallway, showingthe Journey of immigrants before Ellis Island, I turned to Jen. “What do you think?”

“It’s pretty amazing.” Jenna shrugged. “I know it’s all complicated and we can’t pretend like our history is clean but I can feel the hope in the room.”

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