Page 28 of One More Weekend

“Yeah, sorry. I was just out with Sy. What’s up?” Playing dumb was the best I could do. After everything Sy said about leaving at the gardens it was becoming hard to deny that I would have to move home in August.

Mom sighed. “I’m just thinking about you. Have you thought any more about coming home? Have you heard anything from your applications?”

Clearing my throat, I shook my head despite her not being able to see me. “Not much, but it’s only been a few weeks. It might take longer than that to hear back, hiring always slows down during the summer. But yes, I have thought more about your offer.”

“Dad really wants you home. Think of all the money you could save.” It felt like she was worried about it more than I was.

Of course, I was nervous, afraid that even finishing this lease was a huge mistake as I watched my savings drain to pay my share of the rent. But I couldn’t leave Sy high and dry… I wasn’t sure I could leave herat all.

“Yeah, I know. I just only want to come home if it’s my choice.”

“Sometimes we aren’t given a choice, Jenna.”

Swallowing hard, I bit the inside of my cheek. Time for a subject change. “Did you see the photos I sent you?”

Mom chuckled, sensing that I was done being serious. “I did, Nana looked so young.”

“Yeah, Sy made sure to get copies.” From the living room, I heard a movie playing on the TV. I knew that I’d likely find her spread out on the couch, passed out. Once the movie finished, I’d have to nudge her and tell her to go to bed which she would immediately resist, insisting she was still awake.

Then she’d stumble to bed and I’d clean the kitchen, making sure it was in nice shape for her when she woke up for her shift the next morning.

Sometimes I wished I could see her face when she woke up and saw it all clean, to know that she got some relief from it. But I was usually asleep or already at work.

Maybe I should get up early tomorrow to see her.

“I know, she’s a sweetie. How does she feel about you leaving? I’m sure she wants you to stay.” Mom interrupted my fantasies.

Nodding, I adjusted the fold of my sheets. “I think so. But she’s been very supportive and has done her best to not interfere with my decision. I think she knows I’ll only be happy if there aren’t any fingers on the scale and I get to make the call.”

I hoped Mom would take note of the last part, that pushing would only make this harder than it already was. But knowing her, she’d agree with me and then push from her end – happy that she wouldn’t meet resistance on Sy’s side.

We talked for a little while longer, Mom filling me in on my brother’s college lacrosse games before saying goodnight.

Once the line was dead, I took a deep breath and looked out my window. Skyscrapers and office lights blinked in the distance.

Shaking off the fear, I put my phone back in my pocket and walked out to the living room. Just as I predicted, Sy was on the couch, mouth hanging open asAlmost Famousplayed on the TV.

She couldn’t have been more than twenty minutes into it when she fell asleep like this. But by the time I rejoined her, the movie was just reaching its climax.

I slipped onto the couch, lifting her foot onto my lap and resting my head on the back cushion.

Stirring for a moment, Sy took in a sharp breath and spoke in a raspy voice, “All good?”

“Yep.” It wasn’t completely a lie, but she was too peaceful to bother right now. So instead, I looked at the TV where a bus was hurtling down the highway to the tune of Elton John’sTiny Dancer. One by one, the passengers – all members of a 70s rock band – start to sing along, including Penny Lane being played by Kate Hudson.

William Miller turns to Penny and says, “I have to go home.”

Turning to face him, Penny blows a light breath in his face and wiggles her fingers as if casting a spell. “You are home.”

The words made tears well in my eyes like they did every time we watched it. When Sy had come to college, she was adamant this was her favorite movie. Her list of Top 10s shifted more times than I could count. ButAlmost Famousalways held a spot near the top.

It was the first movie she’d shown me in her dorm room, on her old laptop screen as we perched up her twin XL bed while her roommate was out partying.

My eyes flicked from the screen to Sy’s sleeping face. I wasn’t sure how I would tell her that I was going to leave… that was if I could manage to hold on to that reality long enough to get the words out.

But for now, I nudged her feet and whispered, “Sylvia, time for bed.”

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