Perfect Song (Mason Creek Book 2) by Lauren Runow (christmas read aloud .txt) 📕

We sit in silence like neither one of us knows what to say.

My heart pounds uncontrollably, but I know I need to ask, “Why did you leave like that?”

I hear his sigh into the phone, and I hope I didn’t just ruin everything—if there was anything left to ruin.

“I’m sorry. I just … you have your life there, and you don’t need to be taking care of me.”

“But what if I want to take care of you? Shouldn’t that be my choice?”

“No, Justine. I’m sorry, but it’s not. You don’t understand how hard this is on me. I’ve been independent for a while. And you’re so much younger. You’ll want to live your thirties and forties doing things, living a carefree life, not taking care of a sick, old man.”

“Oh, so now, the tables have turned? Fifteen years didn’t seem that big of a deal when we first met.”

“Things are different now. You know that.”

“No. I know I met someone I’m crazy about, and he’s crazy about me too. Your diagnosis changes nothing.”

“You can’t say it doesn’t. And you might think that now, but in a few years, it will be a big deal. I’m just not one to burden other people.”

“You’re not a burden, Tucker. This is a flare-up. You’re in a really bad headspace right now. It could be months until you have another episode. What happened when you were here was only from the medication. Once you figure out what works, you’ll be fine.”

“Yeah, but what about when they’re more often or stronger? The disease only progresses.”

“We’ll face it then. Together. I’m here for you.”

He sighs, and I wait with bated breath for him to say something.

“Look, I just can’t, okay? I’m sorry, but I hope you can understand that.”

We sit in another bout of silence—me in shock, fighting back tears, and him not saying another word.

After a minute, he speaks up, “I’m sorry, Justine. Take care of yourself.”

He hangs up the phone, and I drop my head back against my pillow, letting the tears flow harder than they have before.

Chapter Thirty-One

Tucker

I’m at work when a familiar voice catches my attention at the front counter.

I drop my head in both frustration and disbelief.

“Sure, he’s in the back. Go right ahead,” my boss, Henry, says.

I stand up from under the hood of the car and wipe my hands on the rag, getting ready for this little reunion, which would normally be a pleasant one but I get the feeling she’s here for other reasons.

“Well, if it isn’t my big sister here in Mason Creek,” I say when she comes around the corner.

She opens her arms out wide. “Tucker.”

We hug, and I have to admit, her embrace warms my heart. I’ve always been close with my sister even though I don’t get to see her enough.

“Hey, Linda. How come you didn’t tell me you were coming to town?”

“Because I knew you’d try to stop me.” She pulls back and gives me an I’m right, aren’t I expression.

I sigh and go back to work. Then, I remember something, and I point at her with my tool. “Matthew doesn’t know, and I’d appreciate you keeping it that way. I don’t want him to worry. He needs to go to college, and if he knows, he’ll change his plans and stay closer.”

She leans against the car I’m working on. “That I can understand, and when the time is right, we will tell him together. For now, why don’t you tell me why you’re here and Justine is in New York?”

“Because I have a job. Here. In Mason Creek. Remember?” I stand up to see her clearly when I ask, “Did she call you?”

“No. She didn’t need to. She and Adam are working together on this event. He asked her if you’d be there. When she said you had broken up with her, I knew something was up. So, here I am.”

I roll my eyes and get back to work. “People break up, Linda. Doesn’t mean you have to travel half way across the country to check on me. I’m a big boy. I can handle myself.”

“Yes, but I also know you’re a stubborn ass. I find it very odd that you finally found someone to share your life with, and then you get this diagnosis and end it with her, just like that.” She snaps her fingers, and the sound rings through my head.

It does feel like it happened in the snap of two fingers. One day, I was heading to New York, hoping to help my girlfriend get over her fear of being there and making sure she was safe, and the next thing I knew, I was sick as a dog, feeling like I didn’t want to have anyone by my side to bring them down with me.

She leans under the hood of the car and says, “Let’s go get some lunch. Henry already said he’d give you a break.”

I stand and wipe my hands. “There’s nowhere to talk in this town.”

“I know. That’s why I grabbed your favorite sandwich from Wren’s before I showed up, and I have it in the car. Come join me.”

She walks away, and I feel like I’m a teenager again, having to go talk to my parents about something I did wrong. No matter how much I don’t want to have this conversation, I head over to the sink to wash my hands and follow her out to her car.

When I sit down, she already has my food out and waiting for me. “Here you go.”

“Thank you.” I open the container and dig in, not quite ready to talk and thankful to have the food to keep me from doing so.

Linda eats her meal, and we sit in silence for the first few minutes.

After she finishes the first half of her sandwich, she asks, “Ready to talk yet?”

“Nope,” I respond with a mouthful of food.

She laughs. “Well, sorry, dear brother of mine. That’s not an option.”

“Says who?”

“Says me, Tucker.” She turns