Page 109 of Protect My Heart
I get out my phone and show her the texts confirming all the applications I submitted. ‘I haven’t heard back from any of them yet, but I’m hoping I will soon.’
‘Why didn’t you tell me you’d applied for jobs?’
‘I was waiting until I had an interview. I didn’t want to get your hopes up for something that may not happen. Mia, I’m sorry I’ve been putting off talking about this. I was being stupid, thinking something would change and we wouldn’t have to move. But it’s time we stop waiting and just do this. Your parents need us and it’ll be easier for us to find jobs if we’re already out there.’
Mia’s face lights up with that beautiful smile that drew me to her the moment I met her. ‘You’re really doing this?’
‘WE’RE doing this.’ I kiss her, then take her hand and we go back inside.
Mom walks up to us. ‘You two can go. There’s no reason to stay. He’s resting and will probably be asleep soon.’
‘Can I go see him?’ I ask.
‘Yes. Go ahead.’
‘I need you to come too. I need to talk to both of you.’
She looks at me with concern. ‘What’s this about?’
‘I’ll tell you when we’re with Dad.’ I turn to Mia. ‘I’ll be right back.’
She nods.
Mom and I go into Dad’s room. He hears us coming in and his eyes flutter open.
‘Martha, what are the boys doing here?’ he says, sounding annoyed. ‘I told you I’m fine. Even the doctor said so.’
‘Jason has something he wants to tell us,’ Mom says.
I walk up to Dad. ‘I’m going to be moving to Boston with Mia.’
‘Yeah. So what do you want to tell us?’
‘What I just said. That I’m moving.’
‘Honey, we already knew that,’ Mom says.
‘How? I told you I hadn’t decided.’
Dad shakes his head. ‘You decided the moment that girl showed up in town. We all saw it. Your brothers. Your mom and me.’
‘Saw what? What are you talking about?’
Mom sits on the bed next to Dad. ‘You’ve been fighting against being with Mia for months now. Telling yourself and usand anyone who would listen that she wasn’t the girl for you. You didn’t want it to be true because admitting it meant having to leave us. Leave your home. Leave Haydon Falls.’
‘We could’ve saved you some time and heartache and just told you to go,’ Dad says. ‘But we thought it’d be better if you came to that decision yourself.
‘Wait—so you’re okay with this?’
‘We’ll miss you,’ Mom says, ‘but you need to do what’s best for you and Mia, and right now, that’s moving to Boston.’
‘I never expected you boys to stick around,’ Dad says. ‘I wasn’t surprised when Nick left. I thought Sawyer would leave too. You and Brody were the only two I thought might stay, but I knew the right girl could convince you to leave. And now you’ve found her.’
Mom smiles. ‘And we’re very happy for you.’ She looks at Dad. ‘We’ll be making a lot of trips to Boston to see our grandson.’
‘And your son,’ I remind her.
She laughs. ‘Well, yes, of course.’
