Page 10 of Unless It's You
Date:05 July 2024
Subject:Re: Brief Approval
Message:
Got it. I’m on a train now. Will read and get you feedback shortly.
-Ethan
A train? Where’s he going?
None of my business, that’s where.
And at the bottom of the email is his mobile number. Does Tessa reallywant me to be in a texting-level relationship with Ethan? Of course she does, and I often am with clients. It’s usually the easiest way to get in touch. Damn. I tap his number into my contacts and press save, shivering a little as I do. Myfinger hovers oversend message, but... I cannot text him. I just can’t. Maybe in a bit.
I read the message that buzzed me out of my desk-nap. It’s from Izzy, my mentee, and she’s responding to a link I sent her earlier this week about a university scholarship competition I found on the still-functional charity website. Applicants must be high school kids involved in one of a list of charities, including Mentor Me. Their challenge is to come up with a launch plan for a new organic makeup line, sponsored by the corporation that owns the brand.
Izzy
OMG, this is amazing! I already have ideas. Thank you!!!!!!!!
Good for her. I type back a quick response, suggesting she dump her ideas into a Google Doc so I can look them over. Izzy responds with a serious of emojis and then a GIF with a girl jumping up and down.
There are also several new messages in the text chain with Reese and Maddie. I scroll through to catch up on the chat with my sisters, then pause on the last three.
Reese
Did you guys see the video call invite from the lawyer for Monday?
Maddie
Stuffy Richard? Yeah
Reese
The message was weird
Before responding, I check my personal email and yup, there it is, the expected invitation for Monday at one o’clock my time for Evelyn’s will reading. But after reading the text of the invite, I scrunch my face.
Please join me for a reading of Evelyn Reynolds’s last will and testament. Evelyn had some creative and very prescriptive conditions that need to be met before the contents of her estate are distributed amongst her great-nieces. I will reveal all the details on Monday.
What’s that about? I immediately click back to the text chain, which has new messages.
Maddie
I loved her so much, but Aunt Evelyn was kind of nuts
Reese
Stella, your brain is most like hers. What do you think?
Evelyn was a unique person. She didn’t ever do things the way the world seemed to demand, and that’s one of the reasons she and I connected so much. No marriage, no kids. Freedom. I swallow the lump in my throat.
Me
I have no idea, but I don’t love the sound of it
When Ben started casually bringing up kids after dating for nine months, I shut down the conversation gently at first, especially when he looked so crestfallen. I think that’s what really made me clam up with Ben. I should’ve ended it then.
