But of course, that was wishful thinking. As soon as I open my software and look at the landscape I haven’t worked on enough in the past weeks, the only thing I can think of is the fact that I’ll need to quit this job I love soon.

Just as I let my forehead fall to the desk, a knock comes from my office’s door.

“Yes?” Please not Ma. I can’t with her psychoanalysis right now.

Instead, Callie walks inside, a shirt I’m ninety-nine percent sure I saw on Wren at some point on her back. It wouldn’t surprise me that Callie asked her if she could have it. She’s a sneaky little creature, and Wren is someone who’d give the shirt off her back if someone asked. Literally.

“I saw Wren leave,” Callie says.

“Yeah, she had to go home. She’s done here.”

“So when will we see her and the dogs again?” my little sister asks like it’s evident they’ll come back to us at some point.

“I don’t know, Callie. I don’t know.”

Chapter 19

CHAPTER 19

Wren

The deep red of my nail polish glints in the white tree lights as I spin an ornament hanging from a branch.

I’m pathetic.

Truly, extraordinarily pathetic.

Ever since I got back from the Evermore farm ten days ago, I’ve been unable to stop looking at my tiny tree. It fits perfectly next to my couch between the two windows showing me a starlit Boston. As if it’d been tailored to my place.

I wasn’t lying to Aaron; I’d never put a Christmas tree up in here before. With my mother, when she was still herself, we would decorate for the holidays, but ever since I’ve been alone, I haven’t seen the point.

But the moment I came upstairs with my small tree, I put it on a makeshift stand, and the next morning, I went to buy ornaments and tinsel garlands to make sure I did it justice. As if having it in my apartment would let me keep a small part of the farm with me.

As I said, pathetic.

But the worst part was what came after that.

After driving away from Evermore, this painful lump had taken residence in my stomach. I wouldn’t see them again. I wouldn’t see him again. I’d kept my distance, just like I’d planned. Every time he’d had the opportunity to approach me, I took a step aside. It was the best thing I could do for him.

That didn’t mean I didn’t feel like crap leaving that place.

After I’d come back and decorated the tree, I stared at it for a long while. It looked so pretty in here. Made me feel so special. I even drank a glass of wine while staring at it.