Page 33 of Yours, For Good

Javier: Many years. Far too long. Say hi to Mrs. Semple from

me.

Her response came a few minutes later, and it included a picture of Nora with Lizzie. There were many new lines on the older woman's face and her hair had lost most of its blonde luster. Nora smiled and, even through the picture, I could see her eyes shining bright.

Nora: She says hi back! She's telling me stories about you, now. I think her opinion of me has increased exponentially, for the mere fact that I have your phone number.

I leaned back on my chair and smiled. I started a reply, but another message of hers came through.

Nora: She wants me to tell you that it's been too long and that you should come soon; that you'd be welcome to stay any time.

Javier: I don't want to impose.

Nora: You said it's been too long, just two minutes ago. You'd like to come, wouldn't you?

Crap.

I pursed my lips. I may hide things, but I didn't lie.

Javier: Yes

Nora: Then check your calendar! Let's not disappoint Mrs. Semple!

I didn't need to check my calendar. In two days I left for the lake house to spend Christmas with my friends and Gabe's parents, like every year. The original plan was to stay there until very early January, but Max and Eva planned to go back to Laguna Island for a New Year's community event. Maybe I could take the opportunity to do my own thing for the night, too…

Javier: I could come for NYE

I bit the inside of my lips. The suggestion had escaped me without much consideration, but it was easy to rationalize. Nora and Lizzie were inviting me and I couldn't reject them. Nora had said she hadn't wanted to admit to Sally or anyone else she had planned to spend the holidays alone. I had promised I would keep an eye out on the times when she needed the extra friendly support. If I forgot about Mr. B., Javier would have been happy to spend time with a casual friend and reconnecting with Lizzie.

Dancing dots appeared on the screen. I held my breath as I waited for her response.

Nora: Mrs. Semple says we can fit you in on the 29th, if you're okay with not getting one of the fancy rooms

Javier: I assure you I can manage

Nora: Mrs. Semple says you should email her. She still has the same email address, she said.

Javier: I will, that way we're not using you as a messenger

Nora: I don't mind :) but yeah, email her! It'll be fun

Welp. I would spend New Year's Eve with Nora. Make the friendship label we'd agreed on real… and yet, it wouldn't last.

With my glasses on once more and with blue ink on paper, I wrote about my destiny in all of this: to let her go. One day, she'd be done with the program and she'd be on her way to everything she'd dreamed of. With time, she'd meet people who'd be happy to be her friends, and this guy she met while at the sponsorship would fade into the background. He may have danced with her one time and spent New Year's with her, but he never took the initiative. He even gave off weird vibes, once in a while.

I would have to let it happen. This could never be about what I wanted. Not when it would mean taking things from her she might have not wanted to share, had she known the truth.

She had every reason to hate my guts if she discovered the whole of it. I would do well to remember that.

Chapter 17

Nora

THE BED AND BREAKFAST was quieter than I thought it would be, with its old creaking wood and rooms full of guests. I had been alone up in the attic until that night, when Javier was supposed to arrive. He had texted me earlier in the day to say he'd be in late, and that we could catch up the next morning. Still, the anticipation didn't let me sleep, and little noises from the hallway announced his arrival.

According to my conversations with Mrs. Semple, the renovated rooms in the attic, where servants of centuries past had slept, worked well for overflow guests; people like Javier and I. A simple dresser, a bed tucked to the wall, a tiny desk by the window, and floral wallpaper gave it a sense of old and new at the same time. With its view of the ocean in the distance, the only other place that made me feel this comfortable was Mr. Beanpole's San Francisco condo.

I sat in my bed, my lights off, and paid attention to the faint conversation I could hear happening outside.