Page 103 of A Cup of Autumn
Margot threw her hands into the air. “Start what? I don’t see anything here that needs fixing. You’re where you’re meant to be. Doing what you’re meant to do.”
Raine nodded. She was, but her life didn’t feel complete. Someone was missing in her life. And she hated that.
Chapter Nineteen
One week beforeThanksgiving, Keaton sat in a rental car at a stoplight. He’d left his car at Callie’s house, so he’d rented a sub-compact to get to and from Seattle, where he’d flown into. If only Silver Falls or Summit Ridge had an airport.
Cars driving through the intersection, the rain, and the windshield wipers were the only noises. He hadn’t turned on the radio. His heart pounded loud enough to count as a bass line and the thoughts in his head provided the lyrics. Comments from his family made up the chorus.
A depressing tune.
One composed of his decisions that he planned—hoped—to rewrite. If onlyBragi, the Norse god of poetry and music existed and could provide inspiration and guidance.
Keaton needed some.
Impatient for the light to turn green, he tapped his thumbs against the steering wheel. Not that anything would get him to his destination any faster.
Come on.
He’d been saying that each quarter mile he inched. This wasn’t the worst of the traffic. Backups and two fender benders had slowed him down all day.
If only he had more time…
Keaton glanced at the dashboard clock. Grimaced.
The clock was ticking, literally.
He wanted to make the most of every minute—second.
An incoming call rang on his mobile phone. Their family Zoom call had been canceled because his parents and Garrett had plans. Callie, being Callie, suggested a video chat with Keaton and Flynn. Now, two days later, Keaton wished he’d begged off.
Still, it was Callie, and he doubted the call would go long.
Keaton connected hands-free without glancing from the road. He stayed focused on the red brake lights ahead of him.
“Hey Keaton.” Flynn yawned.
“You need to sleep, or you’ll wind up a patient in the hospital.”
“I’m fine, but it sure is light outside. Is there some weird weather anomaly happening in Boston?”
Keaton gripped the steering wheel. He wasn’t where they expected him to be, but he hadn’t considered the time difference between the west and east coasts. “Not that I know about.”
That was the truth. Withholding information wasn’t lying.
The truck ahead of him rolled forward and accelerated.
Finally.
Callie gasped. “You’re not in Boston, are you?”
Flynn scoffed. “What do you mean? Where else would he be? Boston is his dream.”
Keaton had thought that. He loved the university and teaching his classes there, but something had changed within him. He wasn’t sure when it had happened, but hearing the words from his oldest brother clarified things.
“That’s what I thought too,” Keaton admitted.
“About Boston?” Callie asked.
