Page 64 of Just Like the Brontë Sisters

Slowly I pivoted in my seat so I could face him. “Where is that?” I asked.

“There are branches all over but I’m going to the one in Chicago.”

“Why?”

“Because I want to be somewhere with good job possibilities after I’m done with school. Chicago is perfect.”

I picked up my coffee cup like I was going to take a sip, but really, I was just warming my hands. “So, this has been in the works for a while. Why didn’t you tell me you were applying?”

“You didn’t ask.”

“Oh, Gavin.” All at once, tears escaped and coursed down my cheeks and I couldn’t explain why. I hadn’t even cried yet over Jo Beth, so why was I crying now? “You would leave me?”

The moment he saw that he’d upset me, Gavin rushed over and captured me in a hug. I let him hold me, though I wasn’t sure if I was sobbing about him or about everything else that had gone so terribly wrong.

He waited until I quieted down. I’m not sure how many minutes had passed, but finally he said softly into my hair, “You could come with me.”

I pulled away. “To Chicago?”

“Yeah. There are tons of good universities there. I was thinking we could do some research, find out where the best literature programs are, and you could apply.”

I wiped my face with the back of my hand and tried to get a grip. “But it’s the Midwest. Where would I ski?”

Gavin attempted to laugh but it came out forced and distorted. “Maybe you could take up a different sport.” With a pensive sigh, he leaned in, kissed my forehead, and then stood up. Looking out the window, he said, “I see a customer coming. We’ll talk later?”

I nodded as the bell over the bakery door rang and somebody entered in from outside.