Page 63 of Break the Barrier

“She’s watching you, man,” I say, giving into my sentimental side for my friend’s sake. “She’s up there right now, watching this all unfold exactly as she planned it to.”

He smirks a little. “Probably so.”

“And hey, you’re doing the right thing,” I say, then, just to poke. “Finally.”

He reaches over and slams his fist into my arm. “Thanks a lot.”

I rub my arm, my mouth open slightly. “Sheesh, your gratitude is overwhelming.”

“Yeah, well.” He shrugs again and leans back in his chair.

We sit and watch our family laugh. Dani eventually wanders over and sits in his lap, and we talk about whatever comes to mind.

But I can’t help but think that something was missing from the day, and I know exactly who it was.

23

thea

The rustlingof the couch makes me smile, and I look over from the barstool I’m sitting on at my breakfast counter. “Good morning, sunshine.”

Her head pops up off the couch, and in true Ophelia style, her light-brown hair is all over the place from her tossing and turning. She was always a restless sleeper.

“Morning.” She yawns around the word, stretching her arms up high and then swinging her feet over the side of the couch before making her way over to me.

“How did you sleep?”

Ophelia heads to the other side of the breakfast counter, where the coffee pot is alive and well.

“Okay, I guess.”

I eye her over my open computer, my coffee mug held in one hand, always anticipating that next sip of caffeinated goodness.

“Are you sure you slept okay?”

She runs her hands over her head, shrugging her shouldersbefore letting out a deep sigh. Her green eyes connect with mine. “I don’t know. I guess I’m a little restless.”

“That’s understandable,” I say, nodding my head toward the little ceramic cow that holds the sugar. She mouths a thank you and fixes up her cup. “You’ve made a big life decision. That wasn’t an easy choice to make.”

Pouring her cup, she rounds the counter and gracefully climbs onto the barstool next to me, taking a long sip of her coffee.

“It wasn’t, and honestly, there is something like regret swirling in my gut. But I can’t regret leaving people behind that weren’t treating me well. Right?” Ophelia’s gaze meets mine, and I can see how conflicted she is. It’s been her lifelong dream to move to New York and be a big city fashion designer, to have her designs walk across those runways at fashion week.

I wasn’t sure what the right answer is, but something told me she would be the only one who could truly figure it out.

“Do they do this internship more than once?”

Her eyes squint, and she nods. “Yeah, it’s every summer.”

I shrug. “Then maybe it wasn’t your time yet. Maybe you can go back next summer, take this one and the next school year to grow and become a little more confident, and then you’ll be ready.”

She shakes her head. “I highly doubt after dropping out that I could apply for that again.”

I smile at her. What I wouldn’t give to tell her that you never know what could happen. I didn’t know I’d be putting my life—physically, mentally, and financially—into the hands of someone else, yet here I was.

“I’m sure you can figure it out.” I take a breath, tapping my finger on the counter. “For now, though, you’re here, and youdon’t have an internship to worry about. So, let’s just enjoy that, okay?”

She smiles at me and nods. “You’re right. Time to work for you guys and just have some fun this summer.”