Before Everett heard from his ex.
Brie leaned against the counter beside me. “You know,” she says carefully, “you don’t have to help if it’s too weird. Maddie or I can go in your spot.”
“It’s not weird, I said I would.”
Maddie crosses her arms.
“That’s not the same as wanting to.”
I stare down at my coffee. “I do want to.”
That part is true. Everett had poured his heart into that theater. The whole town can see it. And if there is one thing Lavender Creek loves, it is cheering for its own.
Brie studies me for a moment.
“So, how are you feeling since you’ve had a couple of days to process things?”
I take a breath. “Like I’m standing at the edge of something big and I don’t know whether to jump or walk away.”
Maddie softens. “That’s terrifying.”
“Exactly.”
Brie gives a small smile. “You know what I think?”
“What?”
“I think the fact that you’re even considering jumping says a lot.”
I rest my elbows on the counter and sigh. What surprises me most about the entire situation isn’t the possibility of a child. It is how much I’ve missed him always being around me.
Before last week, Everett had quietly woven himself into my daily routine in ways I hadn’t fully noticed until they scaled back.
The texts throughout the days turned into simple good morning and good night texts, sometimes a little simple conversation mid day, but nothing like before.
He used to always stop by the café just to lean against the counter and talk for a few minutes before heading back to the theater. Those moments are few and far between.
I pull my phone from my back pocket, finding our text conversation. I open it and start to type.
Me:
Hey, just checking in, the grand opening is soon! I wanted to go over final plans for the coffee stand. I will have coffee and hot chocolate and the Lavender Latte special which will include a Lavender cookie. I was thinking of also having some chocolate chip cookies as well, what do you think?
I start putting my phone back in my pocket thinking I won’t hear from him for a bit, but a ding catches my attention.
Everett:
Hey! That sounds great! As long as you save me a couple cookies :)
Me:
I’ll make sure I save you some!
Friday night dinners are a rule in our family. Tonight, with the theater opening and my parents knowing I am helping, we bumped it up a few days.
Mom sets down the bowl of roasted vegetables while Dad pours wine.
Rose, Daphne, and Lily are already seated. They all know what is coming.
