“For who?” she said.
“Miss Serife Twanda. Do you know her?”
She closed her eyes. “Yes I do.” Krista sat up, pulling the sheet up around her. “Did something happen?”
Connor sat up and placed an arm around her shoulder.
“I’m sorry to inform you, that she passed away about an hour ago. She went peacefully.”
It was a call she was expecting, but still dreading. “And her daughter?”
“She has been placed in a home waiting for foster placement or adoption.”
“Thank you so much for calling me.”
“Dr. Chinto, there is something else. She wrote a letter that has your name on it. No one has opened it.”
Krista couldn’t speak her language so even if she had it, it wouldn’t matter right now. “Could you please mail it to me?”
“I could, but Miss Twanda asked if you could come to New York. There will be someone here to translate it for you,” he said.
“Okay. I’ll come. When do you need me there?” she asked.
“Today. I can send you my information and you can come to my office.”
“Are you in Vermont?” she asked, knowing that was a stupid question.
“New York.”
Of course you would be.A woman just lost her life, how could Krista not go. “Please send me the information and I’ll be there.” She ended the call and turned to Connor. “She’s…gone. I can’t believe how quick she went. I thought…I hoped, she’d have more time.”
Connor said softly, “No matter how much time a person has, it never is enough.”
This time with Connor was a prime example of that. It was over long before it should be. “I’m sorry. I have to go and pack. I guess she left a note for me and I need to be in New York to read it.”
“Did you want me to go with you?” he asked.
She wanted to say yes so badly, but he was leaving tomorrow anyway. Maybe this was a sign that they should part ways now. It’d be easier. Because the longer they were together, the harder it was going to be. And if he went with her to New York, she’d be leaning on him for support. But what about next week when she needed him again, and he wasn’t there? What then? No. She needed to do this on her own.
Just like I’ve always done. Until you popped in my life. Now it’s time you pop back out.
“No. I want to do this alone.” She got up and headed for the shower. Ripping the Band-aid off quickly was supposed to make it less painful. That was bull shit. This hurt like hell. And if she was right, it was going to get a lot worse before it got better.
When she came out of the bathroom he was waiting for her in the living room. “I rented a car to take me back to Boston.”
“Why would you do that?” she asked.
“It’ll be easier for you to use the Henderson chopper than trying to catch a flight right now.”
That might be true, but it also meant he was still trying to take care of her. “I already made arrangements. But thank you anyway.”
Connor walked over and asked, “Krista, is something wrong?”
“Miss Twanda died,” she said flatly.
“Yes. I know. I’m sorry. But I mean besides that? You seem…angry. I know I suck at this stuff, so I’m asking for some help here. What did I do wrong?” Connor asked.
Nothing and that’s the problem.
“Connor, what’s the difference? You had to leave tomorrow. It’s just moved up one day,” she replied. Her heart felt like it was breaking in a million pieces and she was the one with the hammer smashing it.
“You’re right. I just thought…” He walked over and picked up his jacket. “I guess it doesn’t matter what I thought.” He leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “You know how to find me if you need me.”
“I thought you said you’d be traveling out of the country for a while,” she reminded him.
“Yes, but I’ll have my phone.”
As he walked out her door, she just stood there unable to move. When she knew he was gone, only then did she allow herself to cry. The tears flowed for what seemed like forever. For the first time ever, she felt…alone
Donnie walked over and sat at her feet whining. She dropped down to her knees and hugged him. “I know. I’m going to miss him too.”