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“No.” She plucks at a string on her jeans. “Sometimes I think I should find a small town somewhere, where it’s quiet and slower paced, and I can just be, you know?”
“There are a lot of small towns in Washington.”
“Notin Washington.” She shakes her head. “Somewhere new and different. I don’t know where that is, but I think it’s out there, and I just have to find it. In the meantime, I’m spinning my wheels. I have a business degree that I don’t give a shit about.”
“Why did you major in business if you hate it?”
“Because I didn’t know what I wanted.”
“Well, whatdoyou want?”
“I don’t know!” She covers her face with her hands. “I’m almost twenty-five, Drew, and I have no idea what I want or who I am. I work full time as a barista. Sure, the tips are good, but I’m not going to make pumpkin spice lattes for the rest of my life.”
“Probably not. But if you did, I’d still be proud of you.”
She bites her lip as she gazes over at me, those pretty green eyes filling with tears again. “It feels like everyone in our family has their shit together, you know? They know what they want to be, or they’re doing what they’re passionate about. They’re figuring it out. Our parents have given us awesome opportunities that a lot of kids don’t get—to be who we want to be.”
“Sweetheart, I don’t think you sound ungrateful. If that’s what you’re worried about, you need to stop that. Yes, we’re privileged. It’s the luck of the draw with birth. It doesn’t make us bad people. And it doesn’t make you a bad person to be a little lost right now.”
“Yeah, that’s how it feels. Like I’m justlost.And I know it won’t last forever, but I don’t like it right now.”
“You’ll figure it out. I have all the faith in the world that you’ll discover what’s best for you, E. Just remember, your path isyours.Not any of the parents’ or the other cousins’. You’re your own person, and I think it’s easy to forget that in this family because we all get so swept up in the amazing things that everyone is doing. I mean, look at us. Liv is an Academy Award-winning costume designer, and she married a movie star. We have athletes and music sensations, and hell, Keaton’s building a car for Garth Brooks as we speak.”
“It’s nuts,” Erin replies simply. “But I’m so fucking proud of all of you. You’re the youngest quarterback coach in the entire league, Drew. That’s freaking amazing.”
“And you’re going to find what makes you happy, too. But you’re amazingnow.You don’t need to be a celebrity or work a job that gives you lots of publicity, or even a lot of money. Find what makesyouhappy.”
“Thanks.” She smiles softly. “Thank you for that. I think I needed the reminder.”
She takes a deep breath and looks around the new she shed.
“Do you really hate this? We worked hard on it.”
“I don’t hate it. I don’t want to use it, but I don’t hate it.”
“Fair enough.”
Chapter2
London
“Why is it,” I demand as I stomp up the steps to the second floor, speaking loudly, “that during the summer, you’re up before the birds and demanding breakfast, but during the school year, you fight me like crazy every single morning?”
I stomp into my son’s bedroom and press the button on the wall that opens his curtains, letting the dim November light into the room.
“Come on, Caleb Rome Ambrose, you need to get up and get ready for school. We’re already going to be late.”
“Tired.”
My gorgeous ten-year-old rolls over and pulls the covers over his head.
“Too bad.” I rip the covers off him, grab a foot, and start to tickle him.
“No! Stop! I don’t want to go to school!”
“You have to go to school.” I release the ankle and then pull him to his feet, giving him a squeeze. “Go on. Get dressed. You’ll have to eat breakfast in the car.”
“Why can’t it be Saturday?” he groans as he stomps into the bathroom and slams the door.
