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“JENNA, TELL ME HONESTLY, what do you think of this one?” Emily looked around, crooking her head to the side and taking in the panoramic view of the combined dining, sitting and kitchen area. The apartment was in a nicer part of Middleton than she had lived before, but with the money she had saved working at the hospital and living rent-free with Travis, she could afford it. She would need to go see about her old job at the nursing home as soon as she had decided on a place to live. She loved her current job, but knew that it wasn’t feasible now to stay with Travis after everything that happened. With Tony and his family out of the picture, it was time to start rebuilding, and moving forward.
“I think it’s nice,” she said with a sigh.
“But?”
“Are you sure about this move back to Middleton? I mean the judge’s revised decision frees you to live anywhere ... say, with my brother,” she grinned in Emily’s direction.
“That was never meant to be a permanent solution,” Emily said, turning so Jenna couldn’t pick up on her mood. “Besides, Travis might actually like to date or have a life again, and with me and the twins there we are cramping his style.”
“I think he’s good with the arrangement—he might even be open to upgrading the living situation and allowing you to share his bedroom,” Jenna teased.
“Jenna!” she laughed, turning to swat her friend. “It’s not like that with Travis and I, we are friends and roommates, nothing more.”
“Emily, look at me and tell me with a straight face, staring into my eyes, that you are not in love with my brother.”
Lying had never been a skill that Emily mastered, and so she was not about to get caught up in trying now.
“Jenna, we are from different worlds, and I appreciate everything he did for me. It’s time for us all to go back to the lives we had before this detour, and I need to get it done sooner rather than later.”
“You do realize you completely misdirected on that question, right? Emily, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but Travis loves you and doesn’t care about your past. I think you could both be spectacular together, if only one of you would call uncle first.”
“That is sweet of you to say,” Emily tried to sound nonchalant around the butterflies that had taken flight when Jenna spoke. If only someone like Travis could see her as his future, but she didn’t see that as a possibility. She needed to keep her feet firmly planted and moving ahead with her plans. That was the mantra she recited in her head.
“We have one more to look at and then you need to head back,” Jenna said as Emily caught her checking her cellphone.
“Let’s do this,” she moved past the agent that had remained quietly at the door. “I need an application please,” she said to the kind-looking woman.
The apartments had a pool, playground and lots of space in a gated community. She had made do in a lot worse, and it was just the beginning of their new life, she vowed. Someday she hoped that they would all have a small house to call their own. At least that is what she told herself, as she continued to brace for “the conversation” she would have to have with Travis.
***
TRAVIS WAITED AT THE bottom of the stairs. Emily had come in just after dinner, having made good time back from Middleton. Sarah and Sam had met her at the door to give details of their afternoon. The camp program she had enrolled them in for two weeks until she found housing in Middleton had been a huge hit. The two of them chattered happily about all their activities, and it hadn’t stopped through bath-time. Finally she had them in bed and Travis stood just outside their door, listening to Emily’s robust telling of their favorite story. He headed downstairs as she gave final hugs and kisses.
They had decided that after the children were in bed this evening, they would have a “conversation.” She had broached the move to Middleton, and he the conversation part. He needed to understand her determination to make this move happen.
He sat on the couch, mulling the words. He had been worthless for much of the day, anticipating this moment and the impact to his future those words would wreak. Hearing her footprints on the staircase, he braced himself. As she turned the corner and found his gaze, neither said a word.
“Well, they are both asleep,” she shattered the silence with the mundane.
“It’s been an eventful couple of weeks for them.”
“Yeah, it’s going to be hard for them to readjust. Also, explaining Tony’s ... well you know,” she sighed and looked down. “I could use a hot drink,” she started for the kitchen.
“Emily, we need to talk.”
“No, we don’t. I just think it’s better that we let things be. This is hard enough having to go home to Middleton ... and the kids ... but I need to take care of my stuff there, and with them starting full day kindergarten in the Fall, we need to get settled someplace and put this chapter behind us,” she finished what was obviously a well-thought-out speech and moved a step forward.
“Why, can’t you do that here?”
She stopped, but didn’t turn toward him, “I ... Travis, I appreciate all you have done for me, but staying here confuses the twins, and ... I ... we just need to move on as a family and let you get on with your life. I can stand on my own and know that I’m okay now,” she finished, exiting the room.
He needed her to give him one solid, absolute as to why she needed to uproot them all again. Tony’s demise had been a godsend, and it seemed like she could use a fresh start. He walked into the kitchen, where she was prepping coffee for the two of them—a nightly routine of late.
“I got the cups,” he said, reaching above her head where she was struggling to reach the big cups he had put away.
“Thanks,” she said, with a grin at him.
Turning suddenly, she wrapped her arms around his middle. “I’m really going to miss you, and want you to know someday I’m going to pay Jenna and your kindness forward.”
“I know you will,” he wrapped his arms around her. “I hope you know you are a wonderful mom and a hard act to follow. I am going to miss you horribly. I truly wish you would reconsider this move.”
He felt her snuggle in tightly for a moment before her arms dropped back to her side. He resolved to let her go. As with Ellen, he had lots of great memories—and tough ones—to keep him warm. He also had hope that his heart worked, and maybe someday he would have that family he so desired. In the meantime, he was grateful for the interruption Emily, Sarah and Sam had wrought on his stationary life. He was definitely moving forward and feeling again.
