“I’m not crying!” At least not all the way. “And I’m not mad. I’m . . . touched. Because it is wow and amazing. You’re wow and amazing.”

“I know,” he said, making her let out a soggy laugh. “So what’s the problem?”

“Gavin . . . we know nothing about running a B and B.”

“Yeah, but why should that stop us? Not knowing how to be not a drug addict didn’t stop me. Not knowing how to be a mom isn’t going to stop Winnie. Is not knowing how to be a physician assistant going to stop you?”

She sighed. “Yes.” But not for the reason he thought. If they did this, that would stop her.

He looked at her and understanding dawned. “You think this will cost you your dream.”

“I’m not sure how else to get tuition, and you and Winnie enough money to live on here while I’m gone. Plus this place is expensive to run, there’s a lot of maintenance and utilities . . .”

“We’d succeed at the B and B, Piper.”

“Okay, and while I do believe that, I don’t see it happening as fast as selling.”

“Maybe it’d work out better, you ever think of that?”

“We don’t have a lot of experience with better.”

He nodded, set down the tablet, and turned to go.

“Wait. Gavin—”

“You’ve made enough sacrifices for us.” He turned back. “From when we came here until . . . well, even now you’re sacrificing for us, staying when I know you want out because Mom and Dad are gone and you’re all we’ve got. It’s our turn to sacrifice.”

“How are you going to do that?”

“I don’t know yet.” He paused and looked at her, really looked at her as if he wanted to see inside. “Please tell me you think about them.”

Her chest went tight and she couldn’t speak. She thought about them all the time. But what was the use of telling him? She didn’t want him to hurt. “Gavin—”

“Never mind.” He shook his head. “I can’t really even picture them anymore. I try, but it’s hard. And . . .”

She closed her eyes. Because what was hard was seeing his pain. “And what?”

“Do you think they’d have been okay with me?”

“Oh, Gavin.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him in for a hard hug. “They would’ve loved you,” she said fiercely.

“Even the gay part?”

“Yes, they would’ve loved every part, I promise.”

He let her hug him for longer than he normally would before pulling back with a nod. “Thanks,” he said quietly and headed to the door.

“Where are you going?”

“To meet up with my sponsor.”

She blinked. “You have a sponsor?”