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“Okay, should I walk you through it one more time?” I asked.
Tessi looked up at me with a blank expression on her face.
“What?” I asked with a laugh. “It’s not as bad as it seems.”
“I went from ten weddings this summer to eighteen, Nora. It’s terrifying.”
“You’re not going to do them all on your own. We’re bringing someone else on full-time to handle the bulk of the work. She’ll take the twelve other weddings that I had on my docket and assist you with the eight larger weddings.”
“Right. Right,” Tessi said with wide eyes.
“I’m still going to be here,” I reminded her. “I have six weddings on my plate.”
Just not the twenty-six weddings I’d had on my plate from now until October. Which was absurd anyway now that I looked at it. But it had been my job, and I was the best at it.
“I know,” she said on a long exhale. “And I’m happy for you. You deserve it. Just nervous. I was only brought on full-time last month.”
“You can do this. I’m always a phone call away, Tes.”
I wasn’t sure that I’d helped her anxiety about what was happening, but I couldn’t fix it all either. I’d stay on for the bigger ones that Tessi needed help with. Lubbock was still home, and it was my brother’s winery after all. But I was excited to head to New York and work on bigger and bolder weddings. Making all my dreams come true.
“I’m glad you’re not leaving full-time. Because I am not you, Nora Abbey,” Tessi said with a laugh.
“You’re not me. But you’re Tessi, and you’re going to do magical things. I believe in you.”
Tessi beamed. “Thanks.”
A knock sounded at my door, and I looked up to find Hollin standing in the doorway. “Hey, can I borrow you a minute?”
“Sure.” I handed Tessi another file. “Look over all this and let me know if you have any questions.”
I strode out of the office and followed Hollin through the cellars.
“What’s going on? Not reconsidering taking my two-week notice, are you?”
Hollin rolled his eyes. “Definitely not. You’re staying as long as you want. If you become big and famous like Campbell, then we’ll talk about it again.”
I snorted. “No one is as famous as Campbell.”
“Good. Then, it’s settled.”
I rolled my eyes. Typical.
We headed up from the cellars toward the barn. It was a beautiful May afternoon. Not a cloud in the sky. Hardly even any wind, and in Lubbock, that was a feat. It made me want to ride with the windows down and the music blasting. It made me want to live again.
Except none of it was the same since West had left. I was trying to be myself again. It had only been about three weeks. So, I gave myself grace to feel sad. The new job had definitely helped. But it didn’t make it all go away. Living without him was harder than it ever should have been.
I still hadn’t figured out what to do about the plants. I didn’t have my own place, and so I’d gone over every few days to water. Only bringing over the most delicate plants to my dad’s house. He’d side-eyed me but let it go. Hollin must have spoken to him because he’d given me my space since then.
Mostly, I just missed West.
I missed having him to come home to every day.
