Chapter 30
The week of the Starlight Gala, Stewart has to go to San Francisco for the Kramer project.
While he’s away I miss him a dangerous amount.
We text as we’re falling asleep and as soon as we wake up.
He texts me photos of the view from his San Francisco office and says he wishes I was there.
I slide my phone into my back pocket and smile what I know is a ridiculously radiant smile to the next customer.
“How can I help you? The wild salmon just came in.”
On Thursday night we’re eating chicken cutlets in the kitchen, the four of us. Stewart’s going to be home tomorrow.
“Crazy at the store today,” my dad says.
“It was nuts,” I say.
“What’s going to be nuts is the Starlight Gala on Saturday,” he says. “Last time we did this we needed six people to help us get everything there. We’ve got you plus two friends?” he asks Gus.
“Yep, my crew’s in,” Gus says. His crew. Everything about this summer has been great for him. Both the comfort of people who have known him his whole life and the excitement of new friends.
Christopher forks his entire cutlet and takes a bite in the way that’s infuriated me for decades. He gives me a smile that tells me he might have done it on purpose.
All this, and Stewart’s coming home tomorrow. Stewart, who wants to take us to a ball game in the fall.