Leaving Amy (Amy #2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

be easy to just leave. Your mom and dad are here, Mark. What about them?”
    “There are planes for that sort of thing. They can visit whenever they want. And we can come back when you want, when you feel homesick. But trust me, after a few months, you’ll forget about it here. Amy, there’s nothing tying you to this place. Even your sister lives in another state.”
    “There’s Tom. I can’t imagine moving away from him. We’ve gotten to be so close. He’d be devastated.”
    He dropped his hands and walked away. “Oh, lest we forget the precious Tom McTavish. As far as I’m concerned, good riddance, Mr. McTavish.”
    “I know you and Tom don’t get along, but he is my best friend, Mark.”
    “Well, if you ask me—”
    “I never ask you when it comes to Tom. He’s my friend, not yours.” I stood a little straighter as I laid down that fact.
    “Well, I would like to go on record as saying I think our relationship could only get better without that guy’s nose in the middle of it.”
    I did one of those deep breaths when you’re warning someone to tread lightly. When it came to Tom, I made sure to never let it interfere with Mark. I moved our weekly TV nights to ones that Mark worked late at the hospital. And the charity events I still went to with him were always on weekends when Mark and I had no plans. It didn’t interfere with anything. I was still coaching Tom to find his special someone. It was just taking time to do so. Mark would’ve never minded my time spent with a girlfriend; why did Tom work him up so much?
    “I don’t know.”
    “You don’t know what?”
    “What would the hospital do without you? You just got into your position there.”
    “I talked to Dr. Willis and he said he’d manage. He knows what an opportunity this would be for me.”
    My eyes enlarged. “You talked about it to Dr. Willis before me?” I stopped my rant abruptly. Was I sounding like a whining girlfriend? “Not that I realize I count too much. I’m just your girlfriend, after all. The one moving in with you. The one who just purposely didn’t sign an extension on her lease because you said not to.”
    He pulled me back from walking out of the room. “Amy, you know you mean more to me than just a girlfriend. You are my world. That’s why I want to begin this phase of my life with you by my side.”
    He hugged me. I could still smell hints of the aftershave he’d put on that morning. “Let’s not ruin dinner with talk about this now. I was mistaken that you would feel the same way about it as I do. Give it some time to sink in. It’s not like they’ve offered it to me. I don’t want this to strain our relationship on a mere interview. Anything could happen. Let’s eat our dinner and talk about our week to come.” He walked over to the sink and washed off his hands.
    As he pulled off another precious paper towel, he turned to look at me. “Mom is really excited about Thursday. Michael’s family is going to be flying in from Florida. She’s happy we’re going to be there for her. She’s feeling a little outnumbered by the amount of children he has. And some are bringing their spouses. Do you think you could make a few dishes? She asked and I told her I’d relay the message. Maybe you could make that cake you made last month. The one with the caramel icing.”
    It was my turn to be the heel in the room. I was certain my news would not go over well with him, at all. I pulled the containers of food out of the bag and reached in a box by the counter marked silverware.
    “Something’s actually come up and I won’t be able to go.”
    I tucked my chin into my chest and waited for the pounding of questions and accusations.
    “Won’t be able to go? What are you talking about? Amy, it’s Thanksgiving, for crying out loud. We’ve had this planned.”
    I handed him a Styrofoam box and fork. “I have to do a favor for someone.”
    His forehead wrinkled. “Favor? Does this have anything to do with what