Page 28 of Here's to Yesterday

“Do you think it’s unusual for a person to be insanely talented and push away all the offers they get to take that talent and share it with the world?” Iask.

She observes at me thoughtfully, clearly thinking hard about it. Then she shakes her head and says, “No.”

My shoulders deflate a bit because I was hoping for more. “Care toelaborate?”

She sets her lunch box down and leans against the counter, giving me her full attentionnow.

“People don’t always have to have fame to know they’regood.”

True. “But what if theywantfame?”

Because I think Tucker may. Well, not necessarily fame, but I think he does want to be doing this everyday.

“Sometimes people want things so much that they push them away because they’re afraid of failure. Do you think that’s the case with this particular person?” shequestions.

Is it?“I think so. Maybe. I don’t know. All I know is that I want to help him. I want him to realize how incredible he is. I want the world to appreciate how incredible he is. He says he can’t right now, but I honestly don’t understand why. Everything in his life seems so simple andstraightforward.”

Kassi doesn’t say anything as she smashes her sandwich together and loads up her lunch box or as she fills her coffee cup. She doesn’t even say anything as she hoists her bags on her shoulders and grabs her car keys off thecounter.

Then, finally, she turns and pins me with her dark blue stare. “Things aren’t always what they appear to be, Maura. You know that better thananyone.”

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