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“The position’s in San Diego.”
“That’s…” Hard to say quite what. I was nearing forty—I couldn’t tell my best friend of twenty years I didn’t want her to move away.
Even if I was really, really thinking it.
“I know,” she said, hearing everything I hadn’t said.
“When do you move?”
“In a month.”
Harlow left the ensuite, flashed a little wave my way, and ducked out of the room, but I barely registered it. A month. And I would be here in Scotland for another week of that precious time. After that, it’d be nothing but packing and scrambling to get everything ready. And with a newborn? I couldn’t imagine all the work in front of her.
“I’m sorry, I know it sucks,” she said.
That woke me up. I wouldnotrain on their parade. I loved them and only wanted the best for them. I could still do that from a distance, even if I would be a little sad about the change.
“No, it doesn’t.” I would not be someone whose friends felt the need to apologize for the good things in their lives. “I’m happy for you guys. This is what you’ve been hoping for.”
“Yeah, we just hoped it would be here. We’ve only been in our house two years.”
“Hey, think about how much it’s appreciated since then.” Seattle housing prices had climbed to slasher-movie levels scary. My very generous landlady had kept the rent on my little house modest for the neighborhood, but the dollar figure still made me wince every month.
“San Diego isn’t much better. I’ve already started looking at house listings and—oof. I’m emailing you some of the houses so I can get your color commentary.”
“I guess you can be grateful his position isn’t in Mountain View.”
“I’d have to sell a kidney for a house in Mountain View.” She laughed, but it died out. “It’s going to be hard to leave, but this is a really good opportunity for us.”
“I know. He’s going to kill it down there, and you’re going to become a perfect granola mom.”
“I doubt it, I’ve already switched from cotton to disposable diapers. Granola moms would eat me alive.”
Her high hopes of doing everythingnaturallydiminished with every natural thing she did, starting with childbirth.
“When I get back, we’re doing brunch and girls nights whenever you need a break, and I’ll help you pack whatever you want.”
“You’d better. And hey, you overcame your fear of flying right on time.”
My distress twisted into mild panic. I would need to make my peace with flying pretty quick or lose out on seeing my best friend.
“You only think that because you didn’t see me on the flights. I didn’t overcome my fears, I just didn’t faint this time.”
“You overcame your fears!”
I laughed, imagining her with her arms raised in victory. “I love you, you loon.”
“Love you, too. Now go out there and let that kilted god woo you!”
We hung up on the heels of that tempting advice. I clicked over to my email to see what kinds of crazy-expensive houses Jill had in consideration but found a new email from Lincoln. I opened it up, and all my hopes for a good day turned to dust. He’d sent an update letting me know he’d had to reschedule yesterday’s design meeting.
I’d missed the kayak trip for nothing.
What was the Gaelic phrase for wanting to rip your boss a new one?
* * *
I really wanted some salted caramel anything to help me eat my feelings about my best friend moving away, but muesli would be just as good.
