Page 34 of Flying

Shaking my head and wiping my nose on my hoodie sleeve, “No, I committed to the ski resort in the Denver area. I love it here. I want to stick out the season. Maybe in March?”

“That seems like good timing to have all the bones back in place since Scout and I did demo a few weeks back. March it is! I’ll make sure there’s a comfortable place for you to sleep, lots of water views, and we’ll even get a pole and runner set up so Petey can have freedom without fencing it all in. Just… think about it, please?”

I can’t say no to him, so I tentatively agree to consider moving in in March. He sounds so confident that we can fix this together. Only if I’m there. After everything I’ve been writing and feeling, I know it is time to reclaim my place. I’m just so thankful for River. Without his support, I don’t know if I will make it through the coming months.

twenty-four

River

“Shit,” I shout as the call disconnects. “Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit! What did I just do?”

Delia comes running to the office from downstairs, and I wave my hands in surrender. I can’t make my mouth say words, so I pull up my phone and wave it in her direction and start a new group text.

Group Chat: PS HS+ [River Hendrix, Nessa Rabin, Delia Shane, Seth Whitter, Lee Carter, Stef Santos Manolo]

River:

I’m an idiot

I told Lily to move into the cottage out back after her job in Denver ends til the wedding

I also said we can fix things with the town

Seth:

Total idiot. You calling Gemma and Alice now?

Or am I gonna watch you build an Ikea dresser and blow up an air mattress?

Lee:

[Baby walking, entering room and quickly turning around to leave GIF]

Stef:

Enough boys. Bride’s orders that you don’t ruin this. Understand me?

I love playing the bride card! Yay!! Let’s bring our girl home!!

Seth:

More like bridezilla

River:

If the town elders hear, it will be bad so

Delia participate I know you went back downstairs to roll silverware for tonight but are reading these

Delia:

I walk downstairsfrom the office to find Delia, as anticipated, phone out on the bar watching the conversation as she places a knife, spoon, fork, onto the napkin then rolls them with precision over and over. These mundane pieces of running a restaurant are my favorite tasks and I join her. Delia has been such an asset here over the years, I know this isn’t what she wants to do forever but I will keep her as long as I can. We’ve built a series of silent cues to keep things quiet before and after shifts, or communicate when the crowds make it too loud to hear. She signals me to talk, but I ignore it. Delia keeps eyeing me, clearing her throat every few wraps she finishes, and finally I can’t take it anymore.

“Spit it out, Cordelia! I know you have something on your mind, so out with it before this becomes some new form of torture the feds borrow for investigations.”

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