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Hailey’s heart skipped a beat, and she swallowed before she said, “What is it?”
“The position is in Texas.”
Hailey gasped quietly, and she pulled her hands from him as they flew to her mouth. “You’re moving?” The words echoed painfully in her soul.
Landon was silent for a few moments as they sat on the couch.
“You’re moving to Texas,” she repeated, trying to keep her voice down so the kids wouldn’t hear from their rooms.
He sighed and shook his head. “I don’t know what to do. That’s what they want me to do. It’s a promotion that I’ve been working toward for a long time. Ever since I started working there, really.”
Hailey stood and walked to the kitchen. She couldn’t sit there and listen to this. Tears stung at her eyes. Could he really leave now? After everything they’d been through? She had tried to keep from getting her feelings involved, but now it was too late. Reaching in the cabinet, she grabbed a glass and filled it with water. Drinking it gave her time to think, but before she was finished, Landon was at her side.
“I didn’t want to tell you. I wish I could pretend like it didn’t happen. I’m happy here, and I would be happy staying here and working in my current position.” When she didn’t turn to face him, he leaned on the counter and put one hand over his face. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what to say.”
“What are we going to do?”
Landon looked up when she said “We.” For a second he looked hopeful, but then his face fell. “I’ve always known it was possible that if I moved up in the company it would require a move. It always seemed exciting, and I thought I would enjoy moving and trying out a new city.” He reached for her hand again. “But I’ve never been a part of a ‘we’ before, and now I don’t know what to do.”
“Do you want to go?” Hailey asked as she bit her lip.
Landon shook his head. “I don’t know.”
“But you do want the promotion?”
He lowered his eyes. “Yes, I do.”
Hailey summoned all the courage she could find. “It’s okay, Landon.”
He looked up at her, and his eyes held a touch of hope. “Really?”
“I know you’ve wanted this and worked so hard to get here. You’re good at your job, and you spent a long time focusing on your career.” She paused and swallowed to push down the emotion. “You don’t have to worry about us. I know you promised Kyle you would help us and look out for us. You’ve been so helpful the last few months, and now I see that I can make it after all. You’ve given me time to find joy again, and I will always be grateful for that. But you have your career to think about. We will be okay.”
“Hailey,” Landon started, but she held up her hand.
“No, let’s not do this. You were right to take things slowly and be careful. Now we don’t have to have any regrets. You can go, Landon. It’s what you’ve worked for, and now you’ve earned it. I’m so happy for you, truly. I know you’ll do great. But please, make it easier on both of us, and let’s just let it go.”
“That’s not what I want,” he said with desperation in his voice.
“Do you want to give up your job?”
Landon met her gaze, and his eyes pleaded with her not to ask him that. But in the end, he shrugged.
“I know you don’t. And that means the only option is to go. The kids and I have our lives here, and now your life is taking you somewhere else. I don’t like it, but I think the only thing to do right now is let it go.” She set the glass in the sink and turned and walked to the living room. “I’m tired, and I don’t want either of us to get emotional and say something we don’t mean. Let’s just say goodnight and see you later.”
Landon opened his mouth as if he wanted to argue, but then he sighed, resigned that she was right. “See you later, Hailey.”
“See you later, Landon.”
She watched him turn and walk out the door, like he had so many times over the last few months. As she sank onto the couch, she pictured the first time he had come to the house and said he wanted to help her out. It was the night he had taken Carter to soccer practice, and the two of them had come back into the house like fast friends.
Landon had brought life back into their house, and she would be forever grateful for that.
But as she realized she wouldn’t see him walking back in that door, the tears came. Tears of sadness for everything they would miss. As she thought about the kids, new waves of sorrow rolled over her, and she covered her mouth to keep the sob in her throat from bursting out.
Hailey let the tears roll down her cheeks, thinking of the memories they had made. Months ago, she was just relieved to have a second set of hands to help. Now she felt like her heart was being ripped from her chest for the second time in her life.
“God,” she whispered through her tears. “Help me. I know You used Landon to show me that I could still live life. Give me strength now. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Give me the peace to see that this was for a season, and help me to walk with You even when he’s gone.”
