Maya hurriedly came down the steps to Topanga's, and though it was closed, she looked into the windows, but no one was there. Looking at the two orange chairs, she remembered the conversation they had there, where a part of her world died. When Topanga told them what she decided…..
Riley, Maya, Auggie, and Corey all came through the doors of the bakery, to find Topanga, sitting in the dark. Corey calls out,
"Topanga, you're sitting in the dark."
She answers him,
"Yeah, sorry I have been thinking for a long time. Turns out this is my quiet place."
Auggie looked up to her, with Riley's hand on his shoulder, and asked
"Have you made your decision?"
Topanga gently responds,
"Yes, please don't try to talk me out of it."
Riley followed right away,
"We won't."
…which Corey followed with,
"We know better."
He continued,
"You've always done what's best for us, so do this one for you." Upon saying that, RIley let's go of Auggie's hand, and grabbed ahold of Maya's.
Topanga thanks him, and Auggie steps toward his mom,
"Yeah, no matter what it is, we are going to be fine. You know why?"
Topanga interjects,
"Because you have good friends, and you've had good teachers."
Riley agrees, and Maya spoke up for the first time since coming in, she had just stared into Topanga since stepping foot in there, knowing just how much hung in the balance of her decision.
"That's a whole lot better than what we were going to say." Topanga laughed, and went over to the 2 orange seats the girls so frequently sat in. Everyone filed behind, and joined in sitting down, all except Corey, who chose to stand. Topanga wrapped her arms around Auggie, and faced Riley and Maya, who were holding hands and listening intently.
Riley asked hesitantly,
"So?"
Topanga repeated her,
"So. There are alot of reasons to stay, the bakery, our family and friends, my career, the life we have built here. There are a whole bunch of reasons to stay."
"Got any reasons to go?" Riley said almost quietly, unsure what would follow as the answer.
"Only one. Every time I watch you girls in the bay window, I remember how much we wanted a place like it of our own."
"-yeah we called it a nook." Corey butts in.
"...a place where important decisions are made, and the best next steps of your life are planned and considered. We would do great in England, we would do great anywhere in the world. I could run the London office, and maybe someday I could run the New York office. But the place I love running is this place. This family, being together with my kids, and my goofball husband-"
She continued, looking at Corey affectionately before looking back at the girls.
"Sometimes you come to a crossroads, and you are given an opportunity, and I have put aside my wants to be there for my family. Today I am asking my family to make sacrifices and support me. Because ultimately, your bay window,"
She leaned in, making direct eye contact with Maya,
"The place you plan parts of your life, it's not a place. It's each other. You will always have each other, even if you are an ocean apart."
Riley and Maya had simultaneously gripped each other's hands tighter, and tears were threatening to surface in Maya's eyes.
"So I know that wherever we are, we are never without the love we have been given from everyone here."
Topanga sits Auggie to face her,
"You will never be without the love of our family and friends. No matter where you are, you take their love with you. It's almost like Mrs. Svorski, you have her in here, and all her affection and smiles."
Topanga touches his chest, pointing to his heart.
"So?" Corey asked, clarifying what she was saying.
"So. I decided to take the job, and take this life changing opportunity, knowing that what you said was true Auggie. That no matter what it is, we are going to be fine. We have each other."
Topanga looked over to Maya, who seems in shock,
"I have loved, and will always love, you being part of our family Maya. We have watched you grow, and watched you gain your own new family."
Corey mutters softly,
"Shawn." Almost realizing what he will have to tell him.
"I am so proud of who you are Maya, and I know my daughters' life changed forever when you came into our lives."
She paused, allowing the moment to sink in, then continued,
"This is a new step, and I ask you all to continue to support me, and I will try to do the same for all of you. Thank you for trusting me with this decision, for having faith in me."
"Of course Topanga." Corey affectionately said.
Maya, still restraining, stood up, taking her eyes off of Topanga, and looking at Riley, and walked out of the bakery.