Page 109 of Where You're Planted

Marianne came around the table to throw her arms around Tansy’s shoulders. Kai joined in on her other side. Then Irma, who said, “It was a damn fun ride while it lasted.”

—

Later, after indulging in alittle too much cake and alcohol, Tansy switched to water and set about cleaning up the kitchen. Briar was reading about bearded dragons in the living room with the others. Kai hiccupped as they came in to help Tansy, saying, “Did we really just get trashed on peppermint schnapps? Irma’s literally passed out in there.”

Tansy sighed, smiling.

After a few silent minutes of them working around each other, Kai said, “We’re all going to be all right, you know.”

Tansy dropped paper plates into a trash bag. “I just thought I could do more, I guess.”

“We thought this was all over back in December. These last few months were like a bonus round.”

“And if I’d accepted it then, you’d all probably be settled in somewhere by now instead of looking at more upheaval.”

Kai toed the tile floor. “I wouldn’t have met Ian.”

Tansy paused before taking the cake server and forks tothe sink. “I hadn’t thought of that. Ugh, I’m sorry you have to transfer away.”

Kai laughed. “You have got to stop apologizing. We’re not breaking up, regardless of where I go.”

“Well, that’s good. I’m glad for you.”

“What about you and Jack?”

Tansy leaned back against the counter and shook her head slowly. “I guess you all know about me and him, too.”

“Oh, yeah,” Kai said, smiling. “We had bets going over spring break. Believe it or not, it was sweet, innocent Marianne who took the pot on whether you’d get a ride into work with him.”

Tansy felt her cheeks heat. “Forget transferring to another branch. You should all go work for the FBI.”

“The only bet we couldn’t settle was when you fell for him. Marianne thought it was the day you sprained your ankle. Irma said it didn’t happen until last week, some random moment when she saw you two looking at each other across the courtyard. They thought I was crazy for my answer.”

Tansy swallowed. “What was yours?”

“That day he watched Briar and y’all went down into the creek. You were different when you came back. Lighter. Just…not stressed for the first time in forever.”

“That was before the festival. Before we even kissed.”

“I know.”

Shehadfelt calmer coming back from the creek that day. Cleansed, even.

But months before that, a light had cut through the downpour like a beacon, bobbing toward her flooded porch, and suddenly, her load no longer rested entirely on her own exhausted shoulders.

“I think,” Tansy said, sniffling back sudden tears, “it waswhen he showed up in his boat.” She closed her eyes, sending two fat teardrops sliding down her cheeks.

Kai put a comforting hand on Tansy’s arm. “Then why aren’t you with him?”

“Because I’m afraid I’ll get too comfortable. I’ll let him cook me meals and fix my house and literally carry me. And do my laundry at his house so I don’t have to sit at the Laundromat. I’ll let himin, and I’ll get used to all the ways he makes everything easier, and then—”

“And then he’ll let you down,” Kai finished for her. “And you’re not sure if you’ll be able to do it all on your own again.”

Tansy clung to Kai’s arm, letting out a sob.

“I just don’t think that’s going to happen,” Kai whispered. “I really don’t. But if it does— Look at me.”

Tansy wiped her eyes.