Page 117 of Things I Read About

“Yeah, we traded posts. Extra motivation for us to finish this job, before Shep and Nate kill each other.”

“You mean before Nate kills Shep,” I say, distracted. “Shep wouldn’t stand a chance.”

Dean laughs out loud. “That’s true, but let’s not tell your brother-in-law that.”

I didn’t think about what this would mean for Nate, I only felt my own pain and fear. I grab Dean’s forearm.

“Dean. This won’t affect his job, will it, his promotion to partner?”

“Nah, he told us at the beginning that you all… had a history. This is really on Fergus.”

I nod, equally relieved and hurt. I don’t know why. I shouldn’t be surprised that Nate didn’t want to be around me from the start. It makes sense, he was angry the second he saw me.

He’s probably thrilled about this change. He didn’t say goodbye before he left. Didn’t wait for me to come down to wish me well or say he’s sorry about breaking my heart over and over. Not even a text. Nope, just out the door to Los Angeles. He’ll be in the breeze, surrounded by actresses and models and—

“So, we’ll see you at the Gala, next week?” Sadie asks, grabbing my shoulders.

“Yup.” I hug her.

Next week. I’ll see him next week. The relief and excitement of that, that he’s not gone forever, thrills me.

No, Sally! He is gone. He made his choice. And it wasn’t you.

And I have my own choices to make.

As the cars pull away, I get out my phone and pull up the document I saved.

I copy and paste everything over into a new, unshared document. Then I add my own notes. Starting with exactly when and where these symphony auditions will be.

30

Sally: I would really love it if you would do this for me.

Sally: You know who else would hate it?

Sally: Your Dad.

Kat: ughhhhhhh

Kat: The Other Canton would hate me being there…

Kat: Fine.

Kat: But you’re footing the bill.

I smile.1500’s.To foot up.Back then it meant to add up the figures on a document and come to a total at the bottom, or foot, of the bill. By the early 1800s, it came to mean pay for the sum, like it does today.

Bringing up her dad was low, but it worked. He runs a small multi-million dollar business that is not part of the exceedingly more successful Canton International umbrella. To say our fathers are not close would be an understatement.

Kat: And I’m buying a new dress and new shoes.

Kat: And I’m flying first class.

Sally: Done.

Kat: IF my mom will watch Lucy for me.

Sally: Of course she will.