Page 118 of One Small Spark
I blow out a breath. “I know. I will. In my own way.”
Maybe I’ll write a group email. Send them a voice note. Glue together words from the newspaper in a ransom-style letter.
She tries to smother a yawn with her hand. Things are busy over at The Painted Daisy this week, too. She’s always semi-comatose by the time Black Friday and Small Business Saturday are over.
“After this week, we need to sit down at Delish and talk, okay? You have to tell me everything.”
“Not everything,” I grumble. Some things are just for me. Like the way Shepherd whispersgoddessin my ear, and all my nerve endings whip out their pom-poms and cheer.
“Most things then. I really am happy for you.” Her earnestness threatens to get me choked up. My best friend who’s been baffled by my resistance to all things romantic must be doing a full-on dance party in her head.
“I’m happy for me, too.”
“I’m happy for you, too,” a male voice echoes.
I sigh. Jamie’s on thin ice.
The thing about dropping a chaos bomb is that you have to time it just right. If I had revealed my secrets at the beginning of Thanksgiving dinner, I would have left myself open to hours of interminable questions. Saving it until we’ve finished eating and are putting plates in the dishwasher was the only way.
Choosing which bomb to drop first was the hardest part of my plan.
“I found anapartment.”
The kitchen hushes at my blunt announcement. Ian and Daniel both have their hands in soapy dishwater, while Mom, Tess, and I are putting leftovers into glass containers. All four of them stare at me.
“It’s a really cute one-bedroom addition over a garage. Two women my age live in the main house. I only met one of them, but she’s really sweet.” I apparently can’t stop using that word. It fits Lucy, though. Who may or may not secretly write romance books. “I’m going to move in next Sunday.”
I pop a maraschino cherry out of the fruit salad and into my mouth. Its candy sweetness is a nice contrast to the sharp confusion on everyone’s faces.
“I didn’t know you were looking for a place.” Mom’s neutral voice reveals nothing. Typical.
Daniel dries his hands and steps closer. “I never meant to run you off.”
“You’re not.” I share a look with Tess. “I’ve been looking for a place since before you came along.”
Half-heartedly, but I have been looking a good long while now.
“Is it in a good neighborhood?” Ian asks. Aww. Protective big brother-in-law-to-be. When he gets his butt in gear and asks her.
“Yeah. It’s really nice.” I’m already making plans for how I can decorate my little garage apartment for the big holiday lights battle.
August steps out from behind Ian. “You’re not going to live with Nana anymore?”
Ugh. This little guy has had a lot of changes in living arrangements over the last few months. His sadness is understandable, but I work to reassure him.
I drop to one knee, and he rushes into my arms. “No, I’mgoing to have my own apartment. But there’s a park we can walk to with a big slide and swings and a merry-go-round.”
His grin eases most of my worries. “I like parks!”
I stand up again. “I know you do, buddy.”
“I still feel like we’re part of the problem,” Mom says.
“You are.” She sucks in a breath, but I laugh to soften the blow. “Mom. I’m twenty-nine. How long did you think this arrangement could last?”
She stands straighter, her mouth pert. “Well into your forties.”
I know she’s only mostly joking. She’s loved having us all under one roof, but even she must see it can’t go on forever. “Thankfully, we’re not testing that theory.”
