Page 58 of Until Now
Maxen
“Don’t forget to pack your trunks. You left them in the laundry room.”
Kim looks as bad as I feel. Sad. She sits on top of the bed while I clear out the closet and pack my bags.
“I talked to David. He’s leaving around ten tomorrow, so that puts him here by Tuesday night. I’ll be taking off Wednesday morning.”
I didn’t expect the tears that threaten to spill out of her eyes. Taking a seat, I wrap my arm around her.
“Hey, what’s this about? It’s going to be good for you to have some new company.”
“I know. I love David, and it’s going to be great having him here. But …”
“But what?”
“I think you’re making a mistake, Maxen.”
Her meaning is clear.
“There’s no other choice. Believe me, Dominique and I are going to make this long-distance thing work. I love her.”
There’s a little smile.
“Has she said she loves you too?”
I smile. “Yeah.”
She takes my hand. “She’s a lucky woman.”
“I don’t know about that, but being together is something we need to have time to figure out.”
“Do you believe love is the greatest blessing?”
Kim’s own story has shaped her set-in-stone beliefs.
“Of course. For sure.”
A big smile lifts the corners of her mouth.
“Then know at some point you’re going to have to prove it. Stand with it. Either you or Dominique is going to be making the bigger sacrifice. That’s how it works sometimes.”
I take in my sister’s words.
“I just don’t want things to slip away because you underestimated this critical moment in your relationship.”
How my sister got so smart, I don’t know. But she’s wiser about love than any of her brothers. All three of us have made mistakes.
“Did Hunter tell you when they were going to be back? I told him to call when they were on their way,” she says, changing topics.
“No. I didn’t talk to him.”
She looks at her Fitbit. “I’m starting to worry. They have to get ready for the dance and set up their instruments.”
“You know boys. They’re going to slide into home at the last minute.”
“I do know boys. That’s why I’m worried.”
“They’ll be fine.
