Page 57 of Poinsettia Lane

“I want to be there for you now, like a big sister should be.”

“I want that too. From now on, we will always be there for each other, pinky promise.” Addison gifts her a watery smile, and Everly does her best to return it. The guilt and remorse are still there; the regret and hurt aren’t gone, but she senses the burden lightening.

“Thank you," Addison says, after a few beats of quiet. “I wish I could give you a hug.”

Everly sobs a half snort, her emotions an absolute mess, and thankfully her nose was already covered by a tissue or she’d have snot on her keyboard.

“I wish I could hug you too," she says. “My therapist says we get some happy chemicals from hugging ourselves. Maybe if I give me a hug, and you give you a hug, we can still kind of be hugging each other?”

“Yes,” Addison says, “I like that.” She wraps her arms around herself and Everly follows suit, squeezing tightlyand rocking herself back and forth.

When they let go, they both grab fresh tissues and swipe under their eyes.

“We are a mess.” Addison laughs, pointing out some mascara that has somehow made it onto Everly’s chin. They clean up as best they can through the video.

“I’ll have your room ready. It probably needs a clean," Everly says.

“Sounds good.” Addison is smiling again. “Can’t wait to see you in person again.”

They hang up and Everly heaves a sigh to rule all sighs, tipping her head back against her chair and closing her eyes. She takes a moment to try to sort through her feelings, not having anticipated that emotional rollercoaster when she got up today. Letting out the emotions and thoughts that had been festering for the last eight years hurt, but it was also cathartic. She feels lighter, and with a pang of worry, she wonders how much lighter she can feel before she dissipates entirely.

Everly pushes that bizarre thought aside. Feeling lighter must be a good thing. She’s heard it’s a good thing, anyways, but figures this is another anxious thought to add to her list for Carrie. Between Addison and Asim, her emotions have been completely foreign the last few weeks, and although that’s scary, it also feels good. She likes herself for the first time in years, and she’s happy with the choices she’s making with those around her.

Opening her eyes again, she checks her phone to see a message from Asim.

Asim: Hey, what would you like to do for the ground cover on the terracing? I have mulch, if that’s what you want, but personally I think river rocks or even pea gravel would look nicer. Here are a couple examples.

Everly scans her eyes down and sees that he has attached a few images from landscaping websites and her heart swells, grateful for his thoughtfulness to include them so she doesn’t have to google river rock or pea gravel. Sheswipes through the sample photos he linked before replying.

Everly: I think you’re right, I like how the river rocks look. Would it be possible to do a couple bigger ones too? Like accent boulders?

Asim: Yes, great idea. I’ll reach out to my supplier and see what we can do.

Everly sends him a quick thanks and closes the text thread, knowing he’s at work and not wanting to distract him further. She’s taken up enough of his time lately. She stands and stretches, rotating her shoulders and craning her neck to release some of the tension from her body before getting back to work on the stack of papers that has somehow grown bigger in the last few hours she’s been there.

To her surprise, she gets another text from Asim about an hour later.

Asim: Good news - he has plenty in stock and can deliver it later this week. I asked him to bring some guys with him and get it laid out for you when they deliver. Our work is done!

Everly: Wow, that’s awesome! Thanks! How should we celebrate?

Asim: I think we both know the answer to that… I’ll confirm delivery for Friday then?

Everly: Sounds good. Thank you!

Asim: Happy to help, Ever. Talk to you soon *winking emoji*

Everly bites her lip, then her eyes crinkle, and then herwhole face smiles. She’s really proud of the work they’ve done together. Once the rocks are delivered, she wants to have him over for a proper dinner date on the patio so they can enjoy the fruits of their labor and take in the beautiful new terracing—without being covered in dirt.

Instead of getting back to work, Everly sets to planning.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

THE DELIVERY GUYS—or rather, individuals, as there was also a well-muscled woman who lugged a boulder with surprising ease—have come and gone. The decorative rocks have been unloaded and spread evenly across both terraces, and Everly proudly snapped a picture of the finished project to send to Asim as soon as it was done, eager to share her joy with him.

That was two days ago.

She glances down at her phone for the hundredth time to see if Asim has replied yet. She’s barely heard from him since they texted about the delivery, only a couple short replies here and there, and it’s been radio silence for the last two days since she sent that picture. She assumes he’s busy, but he hasn’t even replied to the silly photo of the accent rock that reminds her of Moose, if you squint and tilt your head just right. She thought for sure that would get a reaction out of him.

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