Page 69 of Luke

Kaitlyn's eyes watered, and she felt her own eyes tearing up, but she'd finally been given a chance to talk to Kaitlyn, and she had a few more things to say. "I want the same thing for you," she continued. "I feel this incredibly strong protective instinct toward you, and I know I'm just your aunt, but I want to make sure that every dream your mom ever had for you comes true. And I know those dreams were for you to live a happy, loving life. So that's what we're going to do, okay?"

"I just miss her so much. And my dad, too. It didn't feel right that I was alive and they weren't."

"It isn't right, but it's life, and we have to keep going. We're not going to forget them. We're going to remember all the little details and celebrate their lives every chance we can. I think that will be good for both of us, don’t you?"

Kaitlyn nodded. "It was her birthday today."

"I know. And I think we gave her a good present."

"What's that?" Kaitlyn asked in surprise.

"We're talking—you and me. She'd want that more than anything."

"Yeah, she would," Kaitlyn admitted.

"You should sleep now. We'll keep talking tomorrow, right?"

"I have a feeling you won't shut up," Kaitlyn said with a hint of her old sarcasm, but there was love behind the words now.

She laughed. "That's probably true." She got up and walked to the door.

"Aunt Liz?"

"Yes?"

"Is Luke leaving?"

She drew in a quick breath. "I don't know when, but I think in the end he will leave."

"You should ask him to stay."

"I can't. He has to make that choice on his own."

"You're going to be sad."

She would be sad, but she wasn't going to show it. "I think we've both had enough sadness for a while. Whatever happens, I'm going to be happy for Luke, happy that he's doing what he wants to do."

"If you didn't have me, you could go with him," Kaitlyn suggested. "Or you could play the piano again."

"I can play the piano here."

"Not if Luke sells the place. The new owner might not let us stay."

"I don't want you to worry. We are going to be fine. You and I are survivors. We will bloom wherever we land." She smiled. "Your mom used to say that to me when our mom used to move us around a lot, when things were tough. And she was right. Life is meant to be lived. You take whatever is thrown at you, and you do your best and you make it good. We are going to have an amazing life together no matter what."

As she left the room, her own words rang through her head. She just hoped she could live up to the promise she'd just made Kaitlyn.

* * *

Luke's phone buzzed as he got out of the shower early Saturday morning.

It was a text from Knox. When are you coming back? Got tickets to the Dodgers tomorrow night.

He sighed, not sure how to answer even that simple question.

While he was thinking, his phone buzzed again, a text this time from his friend and business partner Pete Ramsay. Got lucky. Studio time opened up for Tuesday morning. You in?

He stared at the text, feeling paralyzed in a way he'd never experienced. His life was calling. Why wasn't he answering?

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