Chapter 7: Kelsey

All Thursday I heard Bruce say it: "I would have asked you sooner."

He had left before I came down, and the only thing on the kitchen table was a note that said "Coffee's made."

I did not text him to ask sooner than what.

That afternoon, Kelsey was waiting by the bus loop.

She wore jeans and a gray sweatshirt, and she had her arms wrapped around a flat wooden box.

I knew the box before I could read the carving on the lid.

It was my grandmother's recipe box.

She had burned the cherry blossoms into the lid herself.

I had left it at Travis's apartment in September, when we were supposed to be moving in together.

"I didn't know where else to take it," Kelsey said.

Her eyes were red. She had clearly been crying in the car.

"Kelsey."

"I'm so sorry." The words came out in a rush.

"I didn't know it was going to be like that. I swear I didn't."

"You hugged her."

"I know."

"You walked past me."

"I know." She pressed the box against her chest.

"Dolores told me Whitney was in town and wanted to wish you both well. I thought it would be sweet."

"You said she was going to be your sister-in-law."

"Because that's what everyone always said," Kelsey said, and her face crumpled.

"Since I was twelve. She was supposed to be."

I looked at her for a long minute.

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