Crossroads—2026-06-16 (Patreon)

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Chapter 149: CATCHING UP by Meredith Sinclair

Summer break is held out to teachers as a time to recover from a long year and catch up on all the things postponed until the rigid bell schedule is finally on hold. For me, I never feel like I get to most of the things I planned on doing.

But this morning, I got up early enough to meet Will for coffee. He has a ten o’clock meeting, so he said he could just go directly from the shop. We didn’t have to hurry.

We talked about my novel—another thing I said I’d put a lot more time into but haven’t—and then moved on to day-to-day life.

“I suppose you’re glad your prodigies are back from Memphis?”

He nodded. “I am. They are going back next weekend for a wedding.”

He told me about the Pay It Forward Society’s disappearance and the hardships it was causing the young people at Crossroads Apartments. He explained how two of them were leaving behind New York’s high cost of living, getting married, and settling in the Memphis area.

My thoughts drifted—raced, actually—back to 1994, when I married Daniel. I turned twenty-seven that year, and for the next thirty-two years, I was happy. Life wasn’t always perfect, but it was steady and satisfying.

My daughter, Caroline was born in 1996. I hope that someday she’ll find someone who gives her the happiness I had with her father. She doesn’t disagree.

“Maybe I’ll find someone,” she says. “I just haven’t yet. I’m happy, though.”

I try to encourage her, but lately, she’s turned the tables.

The last time we talked about it, she said, “You know, Mom, it’s really not fair. I’ve never found a guy who is right for me. Now, you’ve found two.”

I didn’t comment on her remark directly. “Well, being thirty doesn’t make you an old maid. You’ve got time.”

She replied, “Well, being fifty-nine doesn’t make you dead. You’ve got a lot of years left.”

I think college and life have made her a little too smart.

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All characters in this story are fictional characters, their images generated with AI for AGI Stories. They do not represent any real person, nor is their appearance based on any real human.

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Chapter 150: JET LAG by Hannah Madison

I know, I know… crossing one time zone hardly warrants a claim of jet lag. I’m sure Merritt and I are just tired from our long four-day travel weekend.

Merritt and I had a great time. He said he thought he and Michael would have become good friends if he had stayed in Memphis. From what I saw, I think he’s right.

Michael’s wife, Cindi, is a wonderful person. She’s deeply spiritual in a really great way. The way she has learned to live with her anxiety disorder is inspiring.

“I’m not cured,” she told me. “I just don’t let the attacks win. I name them and move on.”Over the weekend, it happened three times. Nothing obvious triggered the attacks, and she couldn’t explain why. She rolled with it.

Michael noticed and didn’t overreact. One time, when she put her hands on the table, he moved her water glass out of the way and reminded her to breathe. Then he went back to whatever we were talking about.

He was steady, solid, and compassionate, but didn’t make her attacks seem bigger than they were. He was there for her, and she leaned into his presence and drew strength from it.

Okay… I know what some of you want to know: How are things with Merritt and me?

I’ll illustrate rather than tell you.

Last night when we were between the Gulfstream and the Expedition, he elbowed me gently. I looked at him as she smiled.

“Hey Ruffles… When we’re married someday, I hope we have the kind of relationship Michael and Cindi have.”

I smiled. “Me too.”

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