Page 158 of The Apple Tree

Eve and Clifford came around the corner, and my heart forgot for a few seconds that we were leaving, and Eve wouldn’t be in our lives anymore. All my heart knew was Eve made it beat stronger, and the room always got a little brighter with her in it.

She smiled, curling her hair behind one ear. “Merry Christmas.”

I tucked my hands in my back pockets to keep them from reaching for her as they liked to do on instinct. “Merry Christmas.”

“Dad, look!” Josh yelled, ripping open his present from Eve. “It’s a race track.” He climbed to his feet and hugged Eve. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Eve kissed his head.

“Uh, have a seat.” I nodded to the sofa. “Can I offer anyone something to eat or drink?”

“We’re good,” Gabby said. “Eve and Grandma made a huge breakfast.”

“Of course they did.” I chuckled.

Eve glanced up from the edge of the sofa where she sat to pet Clifford. Her cheeks turned pink when she smiled.

“We’re going to Colorado.” Josh beamed.

“I heard,” Eve said to him.

“You want to come too?Pleasecome too!”

I. Fucking. Died.

She exchanged a look with her sisters before returning her attention to Josh. “I can’t. I’m moving to Nashville with my sister Sarah. She plays music, and there’s really fun stuff to do there. But thanks for inviting me.”

Eve didn’t look at me because I was the asshole who didn’t ask her to come with us. But she was moving to Nashville. So maybe I wasn’t an asshole after all.

You are.

Josh frowned. “Don’t go. I’m going to miss you.”

The knife dug a little deeper into my chest.

Eve pressed her hands to his cheeks. “I’m going to …” She swallowed hard and cleared her throat. “I’m going to miss you too.”

“Are you sure I can’t get you something to drink?” I looked at Gabby and Sarah, feeling desperate for any reason to leave the room.

“We’re fine. Thank you,” Sarah smiled.

“This is for you.” Eve leaned forward and handed me a small present.

“You shouldn’t have gotten me anything.”

“Open it, Dad.”

I untied the gold ribbon and unwrapped the green and red striped paper. It was a recipe box.

“They’re all of Josh’s favorite recipes,” Eve said as I opened it. “Hope you live near an apple orchard at your new home.”

I slowly nodded, giving my emotions a chance to settle so I could speak past the lump in my throat. “Thank you,” I managed.

“Well, we said this was going to be a quick trip,” Sarah said, standing from the sofa.

Gabby jumped up. “Yup. That’s right. Come on, Eve.”

Eve ignored them, staring at me with an unreadable expression.

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