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“Go for it. I’m all ears.”
I took a deep breath and stared at my hands, focusing all my energy on my pink nail polish - courtesy of Emily, of course. It was chipping on the thumb and suddenly became the most interesting thing in the world as I tried to avoid the conversation I was about to have.
“Anna?”
“Well, I had the interview for the Animal Reserve, and it went really, really well. There’s a good chance I’ll be going to Tanzania for a few weeks for the last stage of the process and, well, I’m not sure what this will mean for Levi and me if I get this.”
Emily finished her croissants and shook off the crumbs from her dress. She frowned, deep lines appearing on her forehead that I’d never noticed on her before.
“Well, Anna, you need to consider what’s most important to you. What do you want?”
It surprised me that Emily would actually encourage me to leave Sunville. She stared at me with a serious look.
“I know I need to do what’s right for me.”
“You do,” Emily said, speaking slowly. “And you need to think long and hard about what is best for you. It may not be the most obvious choice.”
I nodded. “I know.”
“I know you’ve worked hard for this, Anna. I just want you to be happy.”
“Thank you, Emily.”
Tears stung at my eyes, and before I knew what was happening, Emily pulled me into a hug. I held back the tears, but I cherished that hug. I loved my sister. I loved all my family, and I would miss them so much if I were to leave. Yes, they drove me crazy sometimes, but I would miss them so much.
Grace spoke up from somewhere, “Hey! No sisterly hugs without me!”
Before I knew it, I was being squashed in a group hug. “God, I’m going to miss you two so much.”
And it wasn’t just them. It was my mom. My dad. My nieces and nephews. I’d likely miss the birth of Emily’s baby. I’d miss Christmases and birthdays and celebrations.
“Mommy!” Madeline ran over to us with tears in her eyes. “I got owwie!”
We broke up the hug as Grace tended to her daughter’s scraped knee.
“I think people are looking for you outside,” Grace said. “Don’t worry. I’ll be back out soon. I can handle this.”
Emily walked with me outside into the garden, and my eyes scanned the crowd. I wasn’t even sure who I was looking for until I found him. Levi was off to the side, and at first, I thought he was by himself. He threw a ball into the distance and my nephew, Nicholas, caught it.
“Good catch!” Levi called out.
I stopped nearby and watched, smiling as Levi played ball with my nephew.
It wasn’t just the big events that I would miss out on by moving.
It was moments like this.
Just a simple game with my nephew.
Levi caught me watching them and waved at me with a big, genuine smile on his face. He really was the perfect man, and he’d make an amazing father one day.
My heart fell as I reminded myself - he’d be doing that with another woman.
Not me.
Because I was leaving.
Chapter 18
