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Finally, I step out. “What’re you—”
I stop in my tracks, shoe horn held aloft.
“Mom?!”
She whips around in her chair at the kitchen table. “Ethan! What’re you doing here?” She frowns. “What’s with the shoe horn?”
I lower my arm sheepishly. “I thought… Well, I heard noises.”
Mom swipes at her cheek. “And you thought the solution was to grab the shoe horn?”
“Yeah? I thought you were sleeping. I figured I’d have to protect you.”
“Oh, my boy.” Mom chuckles, but the sound is tired. “What would I do without you?”
I frown, now realizing that Mom’s nose is red and her eyes are glassy. Is that mascara streaking down her cheek? “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she says too quickly. Puts on a bright smile. “Everything’s fine. I couldn’t sleep.”
I pause, take in the way she’s avoiding my eyes, the way she brushes at her cheeks again. “Mom, what’s going on?”
She holds her breath, seems to consider her options. I keep my gaze patiently, levelly focused on her. Finally, she deflates. “I got some news today. Some great news.”
Her demeanor does not scream “good news!” It screams “oh hey, life sucks,” but I decide not to contradict her. “What kind of great news?”
“I got a job. A really, really good job.” Now, the corners of her mouth tip up in a genuine smile. Relief floods her features. “It’s Head of Security, and I’ll have a much more flexible schedule. No more night shifts.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “That’s amazing!”
“It is. But…” She swallows thickly. “The job’s in Montana.”
The world comes to an abrupt halt.
“I’m sorry, what?” I ask.
“It’s in Aston Falls. Montana.” Mom looks miserable again. “I applied months ago, knew it was a long shot that I’d even get an interview. But then, I got the interview, and I figured it was an even longer shot that I’d get the job. But here we are…” Her mouth purses. “I’m the new Head of Security at the Aston Falls Medical Center. It’s a fantastic opportunity.”
“Wow…” I force myself to breathe. In, out, hold it for a second. Try not to freak out. “So, what does this mean?”
“The job starts in a couple weeks. Which means that I only have a short period of time to pack up and move.” Mom’s frown deepens again. “I… I want to leave it up to you whether you come with me. You’re an adult now. Val, your school, your entire life is here. You can make the choice to come with me to Aston Falls, or to stay here with Pops and Nana.”
“I’ll go with you,” I say automatically. Because despite the shock of this revelation, I already know in my gut that I’m not leaving Mom. She needs me as much as I need her.
“Are you sure? You should think about it.”
“I don’t have to think about it.” I shake my head, the movement jerky. “I’m going with you.”
My mind is already fifteen steps ahead, considering how on earth I’m going to tell my friends, how my grandparents will feel. And of course… How am I ever going to leave Val?
I can’t wrap my head around that last part right now, so I clear my throat. “What about Gerry?”
Mom has been dating Gerry for a little over a year. He’s a nice guy; he helps out sometimes when things are hectic. Now, she swallows with difficulty. “I just told him. He… ended it. Said he loved me, but he didn’t think it was enough to make it work with the distance. He thinks we’re better off apart.”
Her voice barely conceals a sob, and my heart splits in two. My grandparents and I thought that Mom and Gerry were serious. The fact that he broke things off at this hurdle… well, it’s shocking. On top of every other shock of the last two minutes.
“I’m so sorry, Mom,” I say, striding over to give her a hug.
“It’s okay, I’m okay. Better that I know now than attempt a long distance relationship that was doomed to fail.”
