Chapter 29
Chapter
I’ve never taken the Long Island Rail Road by myself, but I guess it’s time I start learning how to do things on my own.
When my cab pulls up in front of Adam’s childhood home, there’s an ache in my chest. Before I even get to the front steps, the door swings wide open and Sarah greets me with a big smile on her face. I swear she’s getting taller and more beautiful by the day.
“Hi! I heard the car,” she says.
“How’s it going?” I hug her back and her long arms wrap around me. “How was school?”
“Aced my chemistry test.”
“Hell yeah you did.” I give her a high five as I step inside. “What about that history paper?”
“B-plus.” She shrugs.
“Sarah, that’s still great. You’re too hard on yourself,” I say. I know neither Ford nor Adam puts any pressure on her. Sarah’s just naturally a star student.
“I know, I just don’t want to screw up my chances of getting into Yale or Harvard.” She sighs.
“The fact that those schools are even a possibility for you is a huge deal in itself.” I take my coat off and sit at the kitchen table. “Also, where’s your dad?”
“He’s got his bowling league tonight.” Sarah sits across from me. “He should be home in a few hours.”
“Oh, that’s okay, I can’t stay long,” I say, shaking my head. “I just wanted to make sure I see you before Wednesday.”
“What’s happening on Wednesday?” she asks.
“Well…” I conceal a smile. “I got a small part in a TV show…so I’m going to LA to film.”
“ What?! ” Sarah’s eyes widen. “June!”
“I know,” I say. “It’s crazy, but I wanted to let you know.”
“That’s so badass!” Sarah reaches over to give another hug. “What’s the part?”
“It’s for this really small part in Warriors, ” I say. “It’s only like two lines. Not a big deal.”
“That’s the show your boyfriend’s on, right?” Sarah asks.
“Yeah,” I say with a nod. I’m not going to pretend that Liam isn’t the reason I got this opportunity.
“Wouldn’t it be crazy if you became like a Hollywood actress?” Sarah’s eyes widen. “Like how wild would that be?”
Here it is. The point in the conversation I’ve been anticipating. The reason why I came out here without Adam. Stabilizing myself, I take a deep breathin.
“Well, that’s sort of what I wanted to talk to you about,” I start. “I have other things lined up when I’m there, so I might be gone longer than I anticipate.” It’s not the entire truth. I don’t have other things lined up, but that doesn’t mean I won’t try.
“Like how long?” Sarah asks.
“I don’t know,” I answer honestly. “But I want you to know that no matter what happens, I love you. I really do, and I’m so excited to see what you do with your life, because you’re incredibly smart, passionate, and beautiful on the inside and out.”
“June, you’re talking like we’ll never see each other again.” Sarah frowns. I don’t acknowledge her remark and look out the window to the maple tree in the backyard.
“Did you know I grew up never feeling like I had a family?” I ask, knowing I’ve never told Sarah any of this.
“My dad left when I was a child, and my mom…well, she never wanted to be a mom. I have no siblings and my grandparents passed away before I graduated high school. It wasn’t until I met you, and your parents, and Adam that I finally knew what it felt like to be a part of a family.
And for that, I’ll forever be grateful.”
“June…” Sarah hesitates. “You’re not coming back, are you?”
“I don’t know.” I wipe a tear in the corner of my eye. I know I shouldn’t be unloading all of this on Sarah, but she’s always been far more mature and intuitive than the average person her age. “But I need to see what else is out there,” I say.
Sarah nods, and reaches for my hand. For a split second it’s reminiscent of how Audrey would always take my hand and reassureme.
“Adam doesn’t know, does he?” Sarah says. There’s no hiding my tears anymore. The question alone causes me to break. I simply shake my head, not wanting to say the words out loud. “June…”
“He’ll be okay.” I sniff, and nod reassuringly. “He’ll be okay.”
“And you’ll be okay too, right?” Sarah says.
“We’ll see.” I let out a weak laugh.
“You will be,” she says matter-of-factly.
“If there’s one thing my mom taught me, it’s that we’re only given what we can handle…
and if we can’t handle it, then…” Sarah’s smile falters.
“I would want nothing more than for you to marry my brother and stay here with us forever. But no matter what happens, June, you will always be family.”