Depends on how fast we can move through the legal system. What do you need? Nothing. Just She hesitated. Can you tell Emma I’m not leaving forever? That I’m coming back? Of course. She’s going to think I’m running out on her. I’ll make sure she knows better. Amelia nodded, already pulling up plane schedules on her phone.
I should pack. She was upstairs for an hour. Lucas could hear her moving around, the sound of drawers opening and closing. When she came back down, she was wearing her New York armor, the expensive suit, the severe hair, the expression that said she was ready for war. Emma was at school. Mason was napping. The house felt too quiet.
When do you leave? Lucas asked. There’s a flight at 3:00. I’ll drive to the city, leave the truck at the airport. I could drive you. No. You need to stay with the kids. She set her bag down, looked at him directly. Lucas, I need to ask you something. Okay. If this goes badly, if I lose the company, if I can’t come back, will you be okay? That’s not going to happen.
But if it does then you come back anyway. You rebuild. You figure out what’s next. He stepped closer. You don’t disappear on us just because you lose a fight. I might not have a choice. There’s always a choice. Amelia looked like she wanted to argue. Instead, she just nodded. I’ll call when I land. She picked up her bag and headed for the door.
Lucas followed her outside watching as she threw her stuff in the truck. Amelia, he called as she opened the driver’s door. She turned. Yeah? Win or lose, you’ve got a place here. Remember that. Her expression cracked slightly. I will. Then she was gone, the truck disappearing down the driveway in a cloud of dust.
Lucas stood there long after she’d vanished feeling like he’d just made a promise he didn’t know how to keep. Emma took the news badly. She left? Her voice went high and panicked. She just left? She had to go back to New York for work. She’ll be back in a few days. That’s what adults always say when they’re not coming back.
Emma Mom said she’d be right back and then she died. Mason’s mom said she’d think about it and then she disappeared. Everyone leaves. She was crying now, big hiccuping sobs. Why does everyone always leave? Lucas pulled her into a hug, his own chest tight. Amelia’s not leaving forever. She promised. How do you know? Because she told me and I believe her.
What if you’re wrong? Then we’ll deal with it, but I don’t think I’m wrong. Emma cried herself out against his shoulder, then pulled back wiping her eyes. She better come back. She will. She has to help me with my science fair project. We’re doing the second trial this weekend. I’m sure she’ll be back by then.
But Lucas wasn’t sure of anything. He spent the rest of the week in a strange limbo, going through the motions of farm work and parenting while his mind stayed focused on New York. Amelia called every night, brief updates about lawyers and judges and motions filed. She sounded tired, stretched thin.
Like the armor she’d put back on was cutting into her skin. How’s Emma? She asked Thursday night. Worried you’re not coming back. I am. I promise. I know. She’s having trouble believing it. Can I talk to her? Lucas handed the phone to Emma who’d been hovering nearby pretending not to listen. She took it hesitantly. Hello? Whatever Amelia said made Emma’s face relax slightly.
Okay. Yeah, I recorded everything. The beans grew the fastest. A pause. Really? You promise? Another pause and Emma actually smiled. Okay. I’ll wait. But you have to be back by Saturday because that’s when we present. She handed the phone back to Lucas. She’s really coming back. I told you. Yeah, but now she told me too.
That’s different. Lucas took the phone back. Amelia? Hey. You okay? No, but I’m winning, so that’s something. She sighed. The hearing is tomorrow. Patricia thinks we have a strong case. If the judge rules in our favor, the injunction gets thrown out and I can counter sue for damages. And if they don’t rule in your favor? Then I lose everything and have to start over.
She was quiet for a moment. Lucas, there’s something I need to tell you. What? If I lose tomorrow, if this whole thing falls apart I’m still coming back. At least for a few days to say goodbye properly, to help Emma with her project, to She stopped. To see you. Lucas felt something tighten in his chest. You don’t have to justify coming back.
I know. But I wanted you to know it wasn’t about having nowhere else to go. It’s about wanting to be there. Amelia I should go. Big day tomorrow. I’ll call when it’s over. She hung up before Lucas could respond. He stood in the kitchen, phone in hand, trying to figure out when exactly Amelia Sterling had stopped being a stranger and started being someone he couldn’t imagine losing.
Friday dragged on forever. Lucas threw himself into farm work, fixing things that didn’t need fixing, organizing things that were fine disorganized. Emma was a wreck, snapping at Mason and picking fights over nothing. By evening, they were all wound tight waiting for a call that felt like it would never come. The phone finally rang at 8:00.
We won! Amelia said without preamble. She sounded exhausted and exhilarated in equal measure. The judge threw out the injunction. Called it a transparent attempt at corporate intimidation. We’re filing counter motions on Monday. That’s incredible. It’s not over. They’ll appeal, drag this out as long as possible, but we won the first round.
She laughed, slightly manic. I actually won. I told you that you would. You believed in me more than I believed in myself. Someone had to. Emma was tugging on his sleeve. Is that Amelia? Did she win? Is she coming home? Lucas handed over the phone. Emma grabbed it like a lifeline. You won! I knew you would. Are you coming back? When? Tomorrow? She listened, face breaking into a huge smile. Okay.
