Megan glanced up from her year-end accounting report to find her cousin striding into her office at Books & Bakery. It was Saturday morning, four days before New Year’s Eve. She laid her pencil on her desk. “It’s good to see you, too.” And she meant it. Girl talk was a powerful thing. It had healed a decaying family bond. It could probably forge a bridge to world peace.
Ramona settled into one of the dark blue visitor’s chairs in front of her desk. “I’ve already spoken with Doreen, but I wanted to talk with you about this myself.”
A sliver of unease grew in her gut. “About what?”
Ramona crossed her legs, smoothing her purple velvet maxiskirt over her thigh. “I’ve decided to withdraw from the mayoral race.”
Megan’s expression felt frozen. “What changed your mind about running?”
“I’ve thought about this a lot since Doreen announced her campaign.” Ramona wrapped her hands around the overstuffed arms of the guest chair. “I don’t really enjoy being mayor. I never have. But Doreen has a passion for that kind of responsibility. So I’ve decided to withdraw my candidacy and endorse her campaign.”
Megan’s eyebrows rose. “I’m sure she’s thrilled to have your support.”
Ramona waved a dismissive hand. “She deserves it. I told her I wished her every happiness and great success. And I meant it.”
Remarkable. Megan examined her cousin’s features and listened hard to her voice. She didn’t detect even an ounce of regret in Ramona’s expression or her tone.
“What are you going to do with all your spare time?” Do I really want to know the answer?
Ramona’s shoulders rose and fell in a movement that was almost theatrical. “Well, now that someone who actually wants to be mayor is running, I’m going to follow my own dream.”
“You’re moving to New York.” Megan answered her own question.
“I haven’t decided yet. I’d like to try a cosmopolitan city, but New York isn’t the only big city out there.” Her cousin’s eyes were bright with excitement.
Megan wished she could feel the same. “I’ve heard Philadelphia is nice.”
A faint blush filled Ramona’s cheeks. “I’ve heard that, too.”
Megan coughed, trying to dislodge the lump building in her throat. “I’ve known this day was coming. Now that it’s here, I don’t feel prepared.”
“It’s not as though I’m leaving next week or even next month.” Ramona offered her a smile that wasn’t quite steady around the edges. “It’ll take me a while to figure out where I’m going and what I’m going to do once I get there.”
“Why are you leaving?” Megan’s voice faded at the end of her question.
“I need a bigger playground, Megan.” Ramona’s response lacked conviction. “I need more excitement. I wasn’t up for the challenge before, but my experiences over the past six years have given me more confidence. You’ve become more confident, too.”
Megan nodded, buying herself time to clear the burning mass from her throat. She looked away, blinking rapidly. She wouldn’t cry. That would be too ridiculous. “I just feel as though, now that we’re growing closer, you’re moving away.”
“Something tells me you’ll be too preoccupied to even miss me.” Ramona’s voice was thick with amusement—and a hint of sorrow.
Megan couldn’t hold back the tears. She swiped them angrily away. “I don’t know about that. Ean and I haven’t seen or even talked to each other since the night you announced the center’s sale.”
“That was five days ago.”
“I know.”
“You didn’t even speak on Christmas Day?” It was Ramona’s turn to gape at Megan. “Why are you giving each other the silent treatment over such a small misunderstanding?”
“It’s not that small. He doesn’t think I trust him.” Megan pulled a tissue from the box on her desk and wiped her nose.
“Because you wanted to know why he was meeting with his former bosses?”
“And because I didn’t want to move in with him.”
“Oh, Megan.” Ramona sighed. “Does this have anything to do with your fear that he’s not going to stay in Trinity Falls?”
Megan nodded. “But now I really do believe that he’s going to stay.”