Page 48 (1/2)

“You were going to move to New York City, weren’t you?”

“Right, but that was different I waswith someone I kneouldn’t know anyone in Rhode Island”

“I have no doubt you’d ift”

I rolled my eyes “Stop”

“I mean it, Win Your teachers always used to remark on how friendly you were to everyone They always put the new kids in the desk next to yours because they knew you’d be kind and welco And remember the Buddy Bench at ele for athem to play”

“Yeah” I smiled at the o sit there alone”

“Because you’re a people person You likepeople happy—and that draws people to you It’s what makes you such a natural in this industry too”

“So you think I should tell her I’m interested, huh?”

“I think you should make your own decision and not be afraid” He held up his hands “And even though I’dyou toyou were meant to do If that takes you away from home, so be it”

“Don’t tell her yet, okay? I just want to catch my breath and think” My eyes scanned the shelves behind hi books and vacation souvenirs and other little things iven him over the years I spotted a framed picture of my older sisters and o I was sitting on his shoulders, and Millie and Felicity each hung off his biceps It rehed a little “God, that picture is so old”

My dad glanced behind hi about “I’ray hair then And I was in such good shape”

“You’re still in good shape, Dad” It was true—even in his mid-fifties, my dad still worked out almost every day “I bet you could still put me up on your shoulders”

“But I wouldn’t get very far”

I laughed “Was that at a Cloverleigh Farms staff picnic?”

“I think so I’m pretty sure Mom took that before ere married”

“When you were sneaking around and hiding in closets?”

“Probably”

I shook uys were so obvious Millie and I were just talking about it earlier today”

He chuckled “Yeah”