wasn’t sure how to afford it. The tuition and fees were over seventeen thousand dollars a year, and the program was full-time. So how exactly was she supposed to pay for it and support herself?
Another option was through USC’s online program. That would allow her to work a few hours a week while studying for her teaching certificate. The Los Angeles Unified School District had an internship program for people with a four-year degree. That program focused on doing, with prospective teachers learning as a teaching intern.
Each path had up-and downsides. She needed to decide which she liked best and which made sense given her limited resources. Or she could forget the whole thing for the evening and rewatch The Crown.
No, she told herself. She had to make a decision because the alternative to that was working in retail and living with her mother, and neither option would make her happy. A plan meant forward movement and feeling better about herself. No plan meant letting life happen, and hadn’t she already done enough of that?
If only things weren’t going so well, she thought, aware of the ridiculousness of that statement. Even so, she couldn’t shake her sense of unease, as if disaster was right around the corner. She’d never been especially lucky and she’d always screwed up, even when she knew better. While she wanted this time to be different, she just wasn’t sure that was possible.
As if offering a distraction, her phone buzzed with a text from Cassidy.
Can you come by the house? I need to ask you something. It’s no big deal. Well, it’s a little big, but not big-big. Crap! Just come over. Please.
Sage laughed, then grabbed her bag and started for the door.
Traffic was light. She made it to the house in less than twenty minutes. She found Cassidy in the family room, with a confused-looking Daisy.
“She wouldn’t say what this was about,” Daisy told her. “It’s all very strange and ominous.”
Cassidy wrinkled her nose. “I didn’t want to have to say it twice. I just...” She twisted her hands together. “I need help.”
“I’ll say,” Sage murmured.
Daisy grinned at her, then raised her hand for a high five.
“I’m serious,” Cassidy told them, her lower lip trembling. “I need you two to fly to Miami. I’m going to close up my apartment and I can’t do it myself.”
Sage looked at Daisy, who seemed as shocked as she felt.
“You’re moving?” Daisy asked. “Why?”
“I can’t stay there. It doesn’t matter where I live—I just need to be close to a major airport. LA has that. So does San Francisco or Atlanta. I might even decide on New York.”
“Okay,” Sage said slowly. “But not Miami?”
“Desean owns my townhouse complex. That’s how we met. I can’t stay there. It’ll hurt too much to see him again.”
Sage thought about pointing out that if seeing Desean would cause pain, then maybe Cassidy had been a bit too quick to break up with him, but knew that wouldn’t help.
“I’ve hired movers to take care of the big stuff, but I need you to get my place ready for them and to bring back some personal things. I’ve made a list of exactly what needs to be done. It should only take a day or two. I’ll pay for the flights and everything else.”
“I’m sure if you talked to your doctor, she would say you’re all right to travel,” Daisy offered.
“I don’t want to risk it.” A single tear fell down Cassidy’s cheek. “I just can’t. Please. I need your help.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to face him?” Daisy asked. “To confront your fears head-on? Once that’s done, you can get on with your life. Hiding doesn’t make anything better.”
Sage knew Daisy was trying to help, but doubted that was what Cassidy needed to hear right now.
“I’ll do it,” she said quickly. “Daisy, come with me. Your dad’s here to watch over the kids. Esmerelda will be around to pick up the slack. You could use a few days away. We’ll stay at a nice hotel, clean out Cassidy’s apartment, have a fancy dinner and a couple of spa treatments, and come home.” She added, “I’ll pay for my own spa treatments.”
Daisy looked stunned. “You mean fly to Miami, just like that?”
Sage hid a smile. “Shocking, but yes. That is what I mean.”
“I have to work.”
“You have vacation days. Use a few for this. I’ll be asking for time off myself. It’s what people do.” She glanced at Cassidy. “Our baby sister needs us. Besides, Cassidy’s