my chest. I turn around, and my brother looks up at me.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, slowly standing.
“Katie just spoke.”
“What?” Karyn shrieks. She struggles to stand quickly, but I just want to get home. I just want to ask my daughter a million questions.
Jess, don’t frighten her.
Then I remember Emily.
I spin to face her. Her expression mirrors the mix of all my emotions. Elation. Concern. Fear.
“I need to get home.” I don’t know why that’s what I say.
“Of course. You need to go.” Emily pushes at my arm, and then Tom adds, “We got this stuff. Go.”
I walk away with Katie’s legs looped around my waist and her arms around my neck. Her leg kicks out, and I feel a tug to her body. I crane my neck around and realize Emily’s behind us, her hand on Katie’s outstretched ankle.
“Hold on to me so we don’t lose you,” I say. I stretch out my hand to hers, entwine our fingers, and lead us through the jumbled maze of bodies all trying to exit the marina area now that the fireworks have finished.
Eventually, we snake our way through the surge of bodies and walk the final street to my mom’s house. Mom, Tricia, and Pam sit in the front yard with bottles of wine standing on the grass between them.
“What’s wrong?” Mom says before I’ve crossed the lawn.
“Katie just spoke.” My voice should hold excitement, but I’m still too stunned.
“Praise Jesus,” Mom says, rising up from her yard chair and coming to me. I set Katie on the ground before me, and Mom squats before her. “Can you say something to Grandma?”
“Hello,” Katie says. It’s the sweetest sound, the prettiest word. A key has been turned in the lock on my heart, and a million pieces of light have been set free inside me. Mom holds out her arms, and Katie walks into them, knowing she’s safe in the trusted, loving embrace of my mother. Tricia and Pam hover, and it’s a beautiful moment for my family.
And then I turn.
Emily stands at the edge of the yard. The miracle worker. The fairy queen.
Oh my God, I’m a sap.
How did she do it?
Why did she do it?
What did I say to her before it happened?
Shut up, Emily.
I step toward her, but she steps back. Her feet move from the grass to the street.
“You take this moment, Jess.”
I’m overflowing with gratitude, but I can’t find the words to express it. Most of all, I owe her an apology, but I’m speechless and can only manage to mouth two words. “Thank you.”
She covers her heart with both her hands, nods once, and turns to the street, walking away from me.
Rule 20
Sometimes, we only hear what we want to hear
because we aren’t fully listening.
[Emily]
What happens when the spell is broken? They live happily ever after.
That’s how the story goes. Only, it’s not my story, and I’m not a part of theirs. I’m so happy for Jess. I’m so happy for Katie. There is still recovery to come. More questions to be answered. More special moments to live, but I will not be a part of it.
Tears blur my vision as I walk the remainder of the distance back to Nana’s.
It’s a miracle, it truly is, but I’m left with a huge sense of loss and an ache in my chest.
You did good here. I can almost hear Nana’s voice in my head, but I’m hit with a wave of grief, and the tears fall.
I take out my phone, ready to call my sister when I see I have a message from my boss—several, actually. It’s late on a Saturday, but he’s called three times.
“Doug,” I say into the phone when I return his call. “I’m sorry it’s so late. Is everything okay?”
“Wonderful news, Emily. Frank Simmons quit on Friday, and we’d like to offer you his column.”
Frank has been writing a book review column for years. His interests are stodgy and outdated, and I know I could really do something amazing with this section of the paper. It’s not exactly what I’d wanted, but I realize I hadn’t actually known what I wanted until it was offered to me. Finally.
“That’s wonderful,” I say. Despite the good news, my tears of loss still clog my throat.
“You don’t sound very excited. I thought this was what you wanted.” His tone turns stern, demeaning even.
“Just things going on here. I’m very excited. Thank you so much for this opportunity.”
Doug hesitates a moment before speaking. “Emily, you aren’t going to