Page 4

chapter four

home is wherever they are

T he townhouse smelled like home in a way that only a lived-in place can.

When I walked through the door, the faint scent of Daisy’s lavender incenseand a hint of Goldie’s vanilla candles greeted me, wrapping around me like a soft blanket. Cora was singing Lily Allen songs in the kitchen, making me smile as I took off my shoes, resting them on the rack by the front door that I fell in love with every time I saw it.

It was pink.

The house technically belonged to Cora’s sister, but somehow, it belonged to allof us now.

Seeing as though we were no longerrequired to live in the dorms, none of ushesitated to find a place together. And when Cora mentioned that her sister’s place was sitting empty and that she was looking to rent it out, we jumped at the chance.

It also didn’t hurt that Flo’s, the bakery I’d worked at since my senior year of high school, was only one stop away on the subway when I needed to head in for my shifts .

I slipped my keys on my designated hook before dumping my bag on the stairs and wandering further into the house to find the girls. I passed the sitting room and made a beeline for the kitchen, smells from all kinds of herbs and spices wafting out and washing over me, ones that told me Cora was making her pasta dish that we’d all deemed our favourite.

“Alright, Ror?” She asked over hershoulder as I walked in, her black bob swishingas she smiled. “Will you round up the others? Tea’s almost ready.”

"Uh huh." I mumbled, pulling out my phone, thumbs fumblingover the message as I let Daisy and Goldie know that dinner was ready. As soon as I hit send, I set the phone down and sank into my usual chair at the little round table against the wall. A sigh slipped out of me, harsher than I meant it to, and I looked down at my hands, tracing the faint lines on my palms.

All day, I’d been waiting to come backhere, like holding my breath underwater, waiting to break the surface. After the run-in with Finn and a day of classes that only reminded me how law was the most soul-sucking degree to exist, I’d spent the rest of my day just thinking of this place, the only place that felt steady.

In Honeywood, everyone was careful around me, like I was wrapped in yellow ‘fragile’ tape. And to be honest I was so tired of everyone seeing me as that Rory. Rory, who’d lost her dad. Rory, who had to be watched. Rory, who they were all a little afraid might break.

I wasn’t ignoring what had happened. It was always there, lingering at theedges of my mind like a messy room. But I just wanted one space where I could feel like myself again, without anyone worrying about what I could or couldn’t handle. Without worrying that when those random spurts of grief would hit, I wouldn’t be treated like a paper doll.

And luckily that place was here.

“God, I’m starving.” Goldie’s voice was a warm burst of life as she strolled in, eyes lighting up when she saw me. She slipped around the table and pulled meinto a tight hug, her arms firm and grounding. “Missed you today,” she murmured against my shoulder.

I blinked, swallowing the prickling feeling in my throat, and hugged her back.“Missed you, too,” I managed to whisper, the words almost getting stuck on their way out.

Daisy had made her way into the kitchentoo and was hovering by the counter, holding two bowls. Her brows lifted as shelooked at me, her dimples deepening. “Hey, how was your day?”

“Good,” I said, giving a quick nod, as if that would make it real. “It was good.”

It was far from good, and even though I knew that I could be honest around thistable, sometimes I just didn’t have it in me to be.

She just smiled, the big, warm smile that always made me feel like she sawthrough every shield I tried to hold up. Without a word, she handed me a bowl and went back to help Cora with the rest.

Dinner with filled with stories about how everyone's days had gone. I stayed silent, for most of it, only letting a giggle slip when Cora confessed how she's spent half the day getting lost now that her classes were on the opposite side of the campus.

“Anyone run into the guys yet?” Daisy asksed, setting her fork down and leaningback with a sigh of satisfaction.

Goldie lit up, rinsing her bowl at the sink. “I met up with Tristan for lunch,”she said, her voice all breathy and delighted, like she was trying not to squeal.

Cora raised an eyebrow, grinning. “Wait, I’m sorry—correct me if I’m wrong,but are you… happy he’s here?” She stood, taking her bowl to the sink with a playful nudge.

“So happy. So happy that your sarcasmdoesn’t bother me.” Goldie sighed, her cheeks as bright as the candle light. “Now that the tour’s over, he’sback to songwriting and coming to classes, and… God, it’s just so good to see him actually enjoying himself.”

Cora chuckled, rolling her eyes. “I’d bepretty thrilled too if I had half a millionmonthly listeners.”

Daisy laughed. “Oh yeah, totally.” Her tonewas full of mock jealousy. “Good for Tristan and his shiny record deal. Meanwhile, I’m lucky if seven people listen to my stuff. And those seven are you three, the guys, and my grandpa.”

I reached over, squeezing her hand. “Hey,you’ll get there, Dais.”

Goldie sank back down into her chair,crossing her legs as she smiled over atDaisy. “Any luck finding band members?”

Her sigh said everything before she'd even let her cupids bow pop. “Not really. I met a guy who might’ve worked as a drummer, but his vibes were off. And apparently, no one within ten miles knows how to play guitar or isn’t already tied up in a band.”

Cora was voice like warm honey. “These things take time, sweetpea.You’ll find your people. Just wait.” Then she got up with a stretch, before wandering to the counter and pulling out a small stack of envelopes. “Oh, and we got mail today.”

Goldie sighed dramatically, slumping over the table. “Great. Nothinglike coming home to bills. I wanna be five again.”

I laughed, but quickly flicked my eyes to Cora once I felt her staring at me, holdingone of the envelopes. “This one’s for you, Ror.”

I frowned, reaching for it. “For me?” I lookedup, meeting her gaze as she nodded. “Oh… okay.”

It was probably how regal it looked thatwas the cause of the nerves that beganto bubble in my stomach. I took the navy blue slip from her hand and turned over to make sure it said my name. It did, and I glided my finger over the top just to be sure. But all that did was make my skin tickle and what felt like fingers made of icicles claw down the back of my neck.

While the others were distracted, Igently peeled back the seal until it wascompletely off, before pulling out the paper and unfolding it in my lap. The corner was stamped with a stack of names and the weighing scales symbol.

This came from a lawyer. With a New York City address. And immediately Iknew what was coming.

For the attention of Miss Aurora Greene (The Inheritor and Executor of the Will and Estate of Mr. Arnold Greene )

My stomach fell ten stories.

We appreciate that this is a difficult time and please accept our deepest condolences regarding the death of your father.

I forced my eyes closed, expecting theswell that always showed up whenever mydad was mentioned. But I didn't feel it. Which threw me.

Why wasn't I getting upset? I’d been sadall day.

I shook it off and carried on reading.

However, we are writing to discuss the remainder of Mr Greenes’ estate and what has been left to you. With your copy of the will, we’re sure that you are aware that everything was inherited by yourself, and that includes his properties.

Properties? As in, plural?

Listed below are the addresses of these properties.

22 Newark St

Sunnyside

New York

11104

United State s

514 Cotton Drive

Honeywood

MT

59482

United States

My eyes skipped over the New York address. That was my home. Instead, I put all my attention on the Honeywood address.

Dad still owned that house? He told me he sold it to pay for the house in thecity. How was this possible?

I felt my breath grow heavy as I carried on reading.

With the property in Honeywood sitting with no remaining mortgage, that house is solely yours to do with what you please. However, the New York address would need to be sold in order to clear the mortgage. This would require clearing the house of all possessions you wish to keep and putting the house on the market as soon as possible.

We must reiterate that we understand the depth and emotion of the situation, and we understand if this takes time to process. But do keep in mind, Miss Greene, that the bank that is waiting for mortgage payments will not be so lenient.

The dread I felt eat up my stomach when I woke up was returning, lulling meinto the dark.

Please do contact us when the house is clear and we can help with the sale in any way that the team at Hudson, Florian, and Swift.

I read the last sentence once, my heart sinking. Then, again, my pulsethrobbing louder with each pass, like some warning bell trying to shake me awake from this dream that was far too real. The paper felt heavy in my hand, almost like I was holding a piece of him. But he wasn’t there, and I couldn’t look away from the emptiness of it all—what the letter was asking me to do. I lifted my head, meeting the stares of all three of my best friends.

“What’s wrong?” Goldie asked immediately.

I set the paper down and swallowed, butit felt like my throat was closing, trapping everything I wanted to say. “I…” A humourless laugh fell from my lips. “Um… apparently I am now a homeowner, of two properties… and I’ve… I’ve got to clear out my home in New York to sell it.”

The silence that followed was almostunbearable, pressing down on me, fillingevery inch of the room that had lost all of its warmth. I glanced down at the letter, the black text blurring as my mind filled with images—fractured pieces of memories I hadn’t touched since the funeral .

The swell I’d expected before had madeits fashionably late appearance, and Isank my head, the weight of everything I’d just read crashing down on me like a tsunami wave.

“Oh, Rory,” Cora said into the crown of myhead, as all of their hands around me grew tight. Warm.

The letter crumbled as my body foldedforward, but it wasn't long before the girlsscooted over and held me up in every way they could.

Boy, this day was really testing me, wasn't it?

First, I got to class this morning andrealised that being here was the last place Iwanted to be. Then, I ran into Finn, and was reminded of the other reason I didn't want to come back this year. And now this? I had to sell a house? How do you sell a house? I’d planned a funeral , and now I had to do this?

No, I needed time. I needed a break. Ineeded help. I needed my parents .

“I don’t know if I’m ready for this,” Iwhispered, feeling the words drag out ofme, raw and jagged. They felt like an admission, some truth I hadn’t let myself face until now.

I looked up, and like I already knew it, all I saw from the girls was understanding. Genuine, steady, unwavering smiles that told me better than words that they knew sympathy and pity wasn't what I wanted.

Goldie squeezed my hand, her gaze steady, not a flicker of doubt. “Then we’lldo it together,” she said softly, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Like, of course I didn’t have to do this alone. “I don't know why you always forget that you’re not alone inthis, Rory. "

Daisy's voice broke in. "Whenever you’re ready… we’ll be there.”

Leaning forward, Cora's dark eyessoftened, a faint smile tugging at her lips.“She’s right. Never, ever think you have to get through this part of your life without help.” She squeezed my hand. “We’ll always be here for each other. That’s a promise.”

Her voice was quieter than usual, gentle,but there was a fierceness in her expression that almost surprised me. Meeting her at the end of high school, working with her at Flo’s and living with her all of last year, I’d seen her at her truest; bold and brazen and unafraid to speak her mind. But this was different. There was a protectiveness there, something that felt solid and real, like she would carry all of this weight if she could.

And hearing that, the undeniable truth that I’d somehow found the right peopleto trust with such vulnerable parts of me, was the final thing I needed to force a sob out of me, and their holds grew tighter.

The thought of going back to that housefelt impossible, like trying to dig up something long buried and tangled in the dirt. But here, with them, maybe it was something I didn’t have to do alone.

Not anymore.