Page 80 of We Thought We Were Invincible
“You look like you could use it.”
She didn't argue, taking a long swig before looking at me again.
I sat across from her. “Now, what's wrong?”
“Not anything you should have to worry about.”
“Kat.”
“Callie.”
I leaned back in the chair, crossing my arms over my chest. If she wanted to be stubborn, so did I. “I have all night.”
“When did you get so grown up?” She laughed, brushing honeyed bangs out of her face.
“It's been quite the year.”
“Yes, it has.” Another sigh. “Maybe you do have a right to know.”
“Know what?” Colby appeared in the doorway.
“I might as well tell you both.” She gestured to an empty chair. “Sit down.”
“You're scaring me, Kat,” I said.
“When your mother died, she left everything to the two of you. I'm only the guardian. The will was written so that control goes to you the day you graduate high school. That's coming quickly.” She slid a paper across the table, and I scooted closer to Colby so we could both read it. Numbers were arranged in columns with dates along the side.
“I don't understand what this says.” Irritation was starting to get the better of me.
Colby picked it up to examine it closer. After a long moment, he looked up at Kat. “That bad?”
She nodded. “The diner has lost money every summer since it was opened by your mother. That's nothing new, but it's always been rectified once the snowbirds come to town. Winter carries us the rest of the year. The last two winters have seen more loss than profit.”
She pulled out another sheet from the pile in front of her. I jumped out of my chair to go look over her shoulder. Colby stood and laid a hand on Kat's shoulder.
“These are the projections for the rest of the spring and summer. I'm not sure there's enough to keep the doors open.”
She slammed her fist down on the table.
I stared down at her, words failing me. The diner. Our diner. Mom's diner. It was home. And now it too would be gone.
A tear rolled down my cheek. “How did this happen?”
Kat's shoulders shook under Colby's grasp. He grabbed my hand, connecting the three of us.
“I'm so sorry kiddos,” Kat choked out. “I've failed you. I've failed my sister.”
“No one believes that, Kat,” Colby said, his steadiness keeping us from falling apart. “Look at me, both of you.” We did as he asked. “We're a team, right? We'll get through this.”
Kat placed a hand over his and I nodded slowly.
“There will be some decisions to make,” Kat said. “But first, I need to go make a phone call.”
She left us standing there, the foundation on which we'd stood less stable than it was before.
* * *
A desperate calmovertook me and I donned my pajamas. A feeling of being out of control, but an acceptance that there was nothing to be done.
