Charlotte waved a hand in front of her face and coughed. “When was the last time someone cleaned in here?”
Savannah brushed past her and glanced around the room. “Why? You going to lecture them about what they’re doing with their life too?”
Charlotte sighed. “Sav, you know I didn’t mean it like that.”
Savannah set the box down, and it kicked up some more dust. She coughed and took a step back. “You always say you never mean it.”
And she didn’t.
On the days when Charlotte’s mouth was one step ahead of her brain, she ended up regretting it. The last thing she wanted was to hurt her sister’s feelings and drive a wedge between them, especially during such a critical stage in Savannah’s life. In a few short months, her little sister was meant to go off into the world and forge a new path for herself.
Charlotte didn’t want to be left behind.
Ignoring the knots in her stomach, Charlotte took a step forward and placed a hand on Savannah’s arm. “I just think that med school is a really good choice for you. I’ll admit I had my reservations when you first told me, but now I can see it.”
Savannah had a big enough heart to be able to help people.
All she had to do was stand still long enough to see that.
Please, let me get through to her. Please, let me help her see that.
Savannah glanced from her hand to her face. “Are you just saying that to smooth things over, or do you actually believe that?”
Charlotte cleared her throat. “I do believe that. I can’t believe my little sister is going off to Harvard Med School in the fall.You’re going to be living in Boston, and you’re going to have a wonderful life there, and you’re going to forget all about us.”
Savannah snorted and shrugged her hand off. “You know that’s not going to happen.”
A lump rose in the back of Charlotte’s throat. “It better not, or I’ll hunt you down and drag you back here myself.”
Every time she tried to imagine Savannah all by herself in a dorm room, it filled her stomach with tight and anxious knots. Not only did she hate the thought she wasn’t going to be there to look out for her, but she also hated what it might do to their relationship.
Was being away going to make Savannah realize how small and limited her sister was?
Was it going to make her pity Charlotte for never making it out?
Savannah patted Charlotte’s hand. “You’re not going to get all weird on me, are you? Please don’t pull a Mom and start getting all emotional. Summer isn’t over, and I’m not gone yet.”
But you will be soon.
After giving her sister a small smile, the two of them stepped out into the hallway. In the kitchen, they found Jack standing next to their mom, the two of them whispering furiously. He flicked flour onto her nose, and she giggled and threw a handful at his blue shirt.
Jack took a step back and pointed a finger at her. “You’re playing dirty now.”
Emily threw her head back and laughed. “Don’t dish it if you can’t take it.”
Jack picked up the nearest bowl and narrowed his gaze. “Oh, you’ve done it now, Em.”
He was about to sprinkle some flour when he saw them. Immediately, Jack lowered the bowl and cleared his throat. “Hello, ladies. I didn’t see you there.”
“Hi, Jack.” Charlotte offered him a smile and a wave. “How are you? How’s work going?”
Jack set down the bowl and clapped his hands together. “Oh, you know how teaching is. Are you getting ready for the new school year?”
Charlotte nodded. “Yeah, I actually miss the kids when they’re away. It’s too quiet without them.”
“Yeah, I know what you mean. It’s hard to get used to warm coffee and uninterrupted bathroom breaks.”
Charlotte chuckled and glanced over at Savannah, who was staring at her hands. “Savannah and I were just talking about fall plans. You’re excited to go off to school, aren’t you, Sav?”
