Page 117 of Van Cort

“Well,” she encourages.

“We can wait for Dad.” I smother the air of excitement with my words.

“Oh, it’s serious then.”

“It’s good news. Nothing to worry about.” I force a smile and try to swallow my own words. This should be good news.

It’s an opportunity I’d have jumped at a few weeks ago, and while my first response was scepticism, now I’ve simmered, and confirmed that I have earned this on my own merit, there’s no reason I shouldn’t be accepting this.

Except for one Everett-sized reason.

***

“So, come on, come on.” Mom hurries as she serves the tuna casserole.

“Well,” I pick up my fork and consider how to rip the plaster off. “I had a job offer today.”

“Oh, sweetie, that’s fantastic news. Are you excited? Where is it? Is it a promotion?”

“Calm down, Mom, I’m not even sure I want to take it yet.”

Mom places Dad’s dinner down and looks at me. “Why not?” She straightens, serving spoon still grasped in her hand.

I open my mouth, but I’m not sure what to say first. “Come on, sit. Eat,” I encourage. Mom’s face is shadowed in worry, though. “Look, it’s only for a year. And it’s in New York.”

Mom finally sits, and a silence drops over the table.

My fork scrapes against my plate as I take another bite. “And I’ve been seeing someone. And, it’s going…”Well, fine, great?No. None of those words can be used to describe me and Everett.

“Yes?” Mom’s face is alight with expectancy.

I smile, imagining Everett meeting her. His charming exterior and knight-in-armour routine would surely win her over in a matter of moments.

“He is a businessman, very successful, and we’ve been seeing each other for a couple of months now.” As I start, I realise I want to keep talking, sharing this part of my life with them, but I start running out of things to say because, outside of the obvious, I’m not sure how much I know about Everett. In some ways, I know it’s more than almost anyone, but there are times when I don’t recognise him. “He’s intense, and can be single-minded beyond belief, but then he’ll surprise me with…” I think of our dates, and the mystery trips and turning up unannounced, and can’t find the words to finish the sentence. But I know he lights something inside of me. “And he’s nothing I thought I wanted, yet he is…” My cheeks hurt as I fail to contain the smile showing when I talk about him, despite all my reservations.

“Oh, honey, you sound like you’re pretty smitten with him.” Her smile is wide and beams with happiness, which calls to something in my heart.

“I am. Although smitten doesn’t feel quite…”

“Enough?” she offers.

“No.” I shift in my seat. “It doesn’t fit with Everett. You’ll understand when you meet him.” The words slip out, and the smile on Mom’s face eclipses the one from a moment ago.

“It sounds like you have some thinking to do,” Dad finally says.

“But you guys are here. New York is on the other side of the country.”

“Oh, no. Don’t put this on us,” Mom says. “We might love that you’re in our lives so close, but we will never hold you back.” She wields her fork at me. “If this is what you want, what you’ve worked so hard for, then you grab it and don’t let go. I thought we taught you that already.” I sit back, a little shocked at the intent in her voice. “If you’re looking for excuses because of another reason you might not want to move all that way, then you need to think about that on your own.”

“It’s time for you to shine, darling.” Dad never says much. He doesn’t have to.

“Thank you.”

The rest of dinner is comfortable and makes me think of how simple life could be. Only, the knot at the pit of my stomach hasn’t lessened, even with speaking to my parents.

Everett is the puzzle I need to work out. My feelings for him and all the associated questions and fears. And that’s before I throw in the New York curveball.

CHAPTER THIRTY - NINE