Page 79 of We Own Tonight
“I’m doing a little better eachday.”
Kristin smiles. “I don’t think we ever are any better, but we learn to accept it and find a newnormal.”
“That’s what I’m hoping to do. I probably should decide what to do about going back towork.”
“You have a lot of vacation days saved, maybe you should take some time for yourself. Go on a trip, do something fun for achange.”
I can’t remember the last time I went away. Maybe my honeymoon, but even then, we went to the Keys because Stephanie wasn’t mature enough to be trusted. Nicole was going to watch her, which meant they threw a party in myhouse.
“Maybe. I don’t know when Eli needs to be in New York. He was actually supposed to be there a week ago, but he didn’t want to leaveme.”
Kristin grins and takes my hand. “I really love you twotogether.”
“I told him I loved him,” I admit aloud for the firsttime.
“That’s big foryou.”
“I know.” I sigh. “It took me a year before I said it to Matt. And I wasn’t even really sure I loved him, but he said it, so I said it back. With Eli, I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I had to say the words or I’d explode. But I haven’t said it again and neither has he, maybe he didn’t actually meanit. . .”
Kristin giggles. “You’re such a freaking nutjob. You honestly think he doesn’t love you? Think about it, the guy blew off his job, has practically moved you into his house, has taken care of you, and took care of all the expenses fortoday—”
“What?” I jump up. “They were prepaid, he couldn’thave.”
“I’m pretty sure that man can do anything he wants. He said he had all the money refunded a few daysago.”
How could he do that? We took the money from the life insurance account that my parents left us. Stephanie didn’t want us to use all the money on her care and leave me trying to scrape togetherfunds.
I grab my phone and pull up my banking app. “Oh my God.” My hands fly to my mouth. “It’s allthere.”
My account is now ten thousand dollars heavier. He really did doit.
“A man doesn’t do that for a woman he doesn’t love. I see the way he looks at you.” Kristin takes my hand. “Scott used to look at me that way. It isn’t about what he says, Heather, it’s about how heacts.”
She’s right. Since the very beginning, he’s shown me how he feels. He doesn’t have to say the words, because they’ve been in every one of hisactions.
I’m such a fool to have beenworried.
“I’m sorry that he doesn’t see how wonderful you are.” One day, I pray Scott will either do a complete one-eighty or she’ll finally see her worth andleave.
“Don’t worry about me.” She taps my leg. “Tell me why you doubt your love atall?”
I tell Kristin about the park and the jogger. How I felt invisible and was worried that once we left our bubble, our love would pop. It was nothing he did. Even when he was performing, he touched my hand as if saying he saw me. I’m naturally a worrier, and Eli has an entire new can of worms that I can’tcontain.
“Well, my best advice is to talk to him. If anyone can navigate a public life, it’shim.”
Once again, Kristin proves I’m a fool. “Why am I sodense?”
“Because you’re emotional right now, babe. Stephanie might have been a sister to us, but she was almost a daughter to you. We expect to lose our parents and people older, but never anyoneyounger.”
She pulls me into her arms, and I’m reminded why I’m blessed beyond words. My sophomore year of high school, I met Kristin in study hall. She had broken her foot and she sat at my table because it was closest to the door. To anyone outside, we were the most unlikely friends. She was on the honor society, I was barely passing. I played sports, she was not athletically inclined. Yet, we clicked. Our friendship was instant and completely unbreakable. She introduced me to Danielle, and I brought in Nicole, from there, our group was indestructible. I couldn’t ask for better people thanthem.
“I love you,Kriss.”
“I love you. So, I came in here because I have to give you something.” Kristin fidgets. “About six months ago, Stephanie reached out to a few of us. She explained that she could feel changes happening in her, and that she was sure she wasn’t going to last anotheryear.”
My heart begins to race, and my chest aches. “Why didn’t you tellme?”
“She begged us not to. Nicole, Danni, and I listened to her, and she explained that she wanted us to help her. So, the three of us have letters—” Kristin’s voice cracks as a tear falls. I want to jump her and find the letter from my sister, but I restrain myself. She clears her throat and continues, “We have letters for you. Brody has one, too, I believe. I’m supposed to be the strong one, so I got today. Clearly, they all misjudged me.” She wipes her face before letting out a nervous laugh and pulling an envelope from her purse. “She asked that you read it after herservice.”
