San Angelo was two hours away. I knew it wasn’t impossible to see Kim if she moved there, not like Mom and Dad. It was just too far to pop over to her house anytime I wanted to. I felt the tears in my eyes.
She wrapped an arm around me.
“It will be okay, Rebecca. Don’t give up yet, okay?” Kim sniffled as she turned the chicken again.
I set up the pot to steam the vegetables and distracted myself with that so I wouldn’t turn into a blubbering idiot before dinner. It was hard enough admitting to Austin what I wanted from him eleven years ago, but the idea of Kim moving away would break me. I loved North Reed, but it would be nothing without my sister.
We finished dinner and poured generous glasses of wine before settling on the couch.
Kim found a show. I found myself thinking about the situation as we ate. Kim told me that her boss Mark was looking into every possibility to stay open, and I knew that to be true. His family built the library, and he was as passionate about keeping it open as anybody else was. The budget was just a mess.
“Maybe something good will happen for Christmas,” I said. “A miracle, like everyone always talks about. It’s the time of year to feel hopeful about that stuff, isn’t it?”
She smiled at me. “Yes, it is,” she agreed, and we toasted, clinking our glasses together.
Our parents were planning to come see us, knowing that we both had jobs to worry about. Dad liked to check on the house and his girls, anyway. I knew that he couldn’t single-handedly save the library, but it would be nice to be together as a family again.
We talked about their arrival two days before Christmas and what needed to be done. Mom loved a fresh tree, and we planned to go out for one that we could all decorate together.
“Would Austin help us?” Kim teased me.
I shook my head and shot her a dark look. “Ask Brad to help,” I told her. We both laughed.
“I don’t want to start over in a new place,” Kim said softly. “I’m scared, Rebecca.”
“I know. I am, too,” I admitted.
Yesterday, I wasn’t worried about any of this stuff. We snuggled together to watch the season finale of one of our favorite shows, crying because of the show, as well as our own fears. Kim asked me if I wanted more wine, knowing that I’d stay the night if I agreed. We were both lightweights when it came to wine, and I nodded with a sniffle as I grabbed the box of tissues. “Yeah. I want another bottle after that show.”
We cleaned up together and grabbed some cookies from the pantry before we finished off the bottle of wine in the fridge. I didn’t work the following day and could sleep in her guest room. I’d be here to take her to work if Brad didn’t get the new battery.
I might not get that chance in another few months.
We finished a movie and headed to bed, which was when I checked my phone. It had been in my purse the entire time since the person who contacted me most was by my side. I washed my face and brushed my teeth with a new toothbrush she left, in the hallway bathroom before checking my phone in the dark room. I frowned when I saw that Austin’s mom called me two hours ago.
What was going on?
Chapter Eleven
Austin
Mom set a plate of bacon and eggs in front of me. I thanked her and turned my attention back to an email Preston had forwarded to me. My brow furrowed. Things were getting complicated with the Singapore deal. They were pushing for a meeting with our lawyers to hammer out the details. Preston had been working his ass off, but sometimes I had to drop everything and get personally involved with a deal.
That time might be coming soon.
Mom sat down across from me with her own plate, looking worriedly into my face. “Is everything okay?”
“It’s fine, Mom.”
I switched over to read some of the texts from early this morning between Preston and me, trying to see what he thought about all of this. He leaned toward the same option. I set the phone down and reached for my mug of strong coffee. I needed a pot of this. I hadn’t been sleeping well. Thoughts about Rebecca and this deal whirled through my brain, not letting me rest.
I forced myself to focus on the present. It was just Mom and I at the table. Mom’s face was lined with worry. “What about you?” I asked. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, sweetie.” She sipped her own coffee with a thoughtful look on her face.
“Is Dad okay?”
She frowned. My already small appetite faded away. I pushed back from the table to get another cup of coffee.