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

on his table in the kitchen nook. I’d refused to eat the entire day with all of my depression and whatnot, and now I was starving. I suppose that was a good sign. Like maybe the fever of all that was spiraling out of control was breaking. But how could it if I refused to return Mark’s calls or texts?
    “Tom, you didn’t have to do all of this.” I looked at him and batted my eyes. “But I’m so happy you did.”
    He came around the table and pulled out my chair for me to take a seat. Older guy charm — gotta love it! I grabbed a tissue from my bag to wipe my running nose. It’d been doing it all day, since I spent almost the entire night crying. I was doing a marathon in my mind of what’s-wrong-with-my-life?
    “Amy, no offense, but you look like a—”
    “I know; you don’t have to say it.” I smiled politely and shoved the tissue underneath my plate.
    Tom handed me a plate of moo goo gai pan with steamed rice. For dessert he had bought a chocolate cake with white icing from the bakery downtown. He no doubt got grief from the lady in the white apron to buy the chocolate one with chocolate frosting. I swear, doesn’t anyone eat white icing anymore? And people wondered why he was my bestie! When I called him this morning, he said to come here right after work. I had avoided Mark’s calls, not wanting him to tell me not to come here. Here is where I needed to be. I needed to know that I wasn’t crazy for being upset about the Chicago thing. No matter what, I could depend on Tom for being my sound of reason.
    He spooned rice on to his plate and interrogated me at the same time. Attorney multitasking. “So you said very little this morning, but I could tell it was serious. Tell me, what’s this about Mark and you not going in the same direction?”
    I finished chewing before I answered. The snap peas were stringier than usual and I fought to get it down my throat. “He’s moving to Chicago and he assumed I’d be all right with it.”
    “Alone? Is he moving there alone?” His bushy eyebrows raised almost into his hairline.
    “Well, he asked me to accompany him, but I can’t, Tom. You know I have my whole life here. This is where I grew up…where I wanted my children, if I ever have any, to grow up and go to the same schools I did. This is the only place I know. Mom and Dad are buried here and I really just don’t want to go.”
    “Nor should you have to.” He sat down and looked over his glasses at me. He usually only wore them for reading. “What about your apartment? Are you still out of your lease? Where will you go? You know you can always move back in here.” He was on a roll with all the questions and suggestions.
    I’d managed to slip in a few more bites waiting for him to finish his one-sided conversation. I wiped my mouth and tried to remember his questions.
    “Yes, the landlord still has someone moving into my place the first of December. I’m almost completely packed. The problem is that I don’t have anywhere to send my things. This is all just too much for me to handle right now. And I appreciate your offer, Tom. I don’t know what I’m going to do. He might not even get the job. All this worry might be for nothing.” I rested my forehead in my hand and stared at my plate.
    “It’s just that I want to get your opinion if I’m being stupid about this. I don’t want to seem childish or selfish of Mark’s opportunities in life. We’ve only been dating for a few months. Hardly enough time for me to put my foot down and demand he chooses me over something else. This is pretty big, you know. He’s says he can get published in medical journals.” I picked up my fork and scooted some food around on my plate. “I never want to be that girl; you know what I mean? But he’s known about it for two weeks, for goodness’ sakes. He even discussed it with Dr. Willis!”
    I looked across the table at Tom, who was still forking food from the carton onto his plate. I felt like a