Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 112903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 565(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 565(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
I feel like I’m getting away with something. This is too easy. Too much of a delight. Didn’t Shakespeare have a lot to say about delights having violent ends?
There is still so much we need to figure out. But it can’t be figured out today, or tomorrow, or even the next day. We have to just…be, I guess, and see what happens.
It’s like jumping off a cliff without a safety net. Totally terrifying.
It’s also the biggest thrill I think I’ve had outside an operating room.
Cash shoves his hands inside his pockets. “Please don’t make me regret trusting y’all.”
Later that afternoon, I help Mom do prep work for tomorrow’s breakfast. We decide to make Mrs. Rivers’s cinnamon rolls—Cash kept the recipe and gave it to Mom—so we throw together some dough that will sit overnight, and chop the peppers and onions that will go in the frittatas that will accompany the rolls.
Mom stretches a sheet of plastic wrap over the dough bowl. “I’m proud of you, you know, for being honest with Wyatt about your feelings. I imagine it wasn’t easy telling your best friend you had the hots for him.”
Grinning, I scoop the peppers into a Pyrex container. “Thanks. I’m proud of me too.”
“You know your father and I are always proud of you. We’re proud of your accomplishments, obviously. But more than that, I’m proud of who you’ve become. You’re a woman with backbone and character and courage. I think it’s spectacular you’re taking risks.”
I blame the onions I just chopped for the sudden burn in my eyes. “I appreciate you saying that. I know Dad isn’t thrilled about this whole thing.”
“But it’s not about Dad, is it? This is about you and what you want to do with your life. It’s okay to disappoint him so long as you’re not letting yourself down.”
Swallowing, I nod. “Easier said than done.”
“Of course. I remember being terrified to tell my daddy I was dating John. Those two did not get along at first.”
I blink. “Really? How did I not know that?”
Mom grins as she opens the fridge and puts the bowl inside. “Because that’s not part of the story your dad likes to tell. Eventually, your grandfather came around to the idea of us being together. But my daddy, he was hell-bent on me getting my education, moving to the big, fancy city. Which, to him, was Amarillo, but that’s neither here nor there. Point being, he didn’t want me throwing away my dreams to become some small-town boy’s wife.”
“Sounds familiar.”
“Thing is, marrying your dad was one of my dreams. That’s what your grandfather didn’t understand—that being with John didn’t mean giving up on my degree or my dreams for my career.”
I press the plastic cover onto the Pyrex container. “How did you get him to understand that?”
“I showed him. I started my catering business right out of college. I was taking freelance recipe development gigs left and right. I built a great little portfolio for myself. And I did it all while married to your dad. Yeah, it was a far cry from Amarillo. But I was happy. I loved my life—still do—and I think that’s because I let go of my dad’s expectations for me and did what I wanted to do.”
Crossing the kitchen, I wrap Mom in a hug. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“You say I have courage, but I’m not gonna lie to you, Mom. I’m terrified of what Dad would say…” I shake my head. “Never mind.”
“Tell me.”
I glance over my shoulder, making sure the kitchen is still empty. “I’m not feeling great about going back to New York, which I don’t entirely understand. That job represents everything I’ve worked toward. It’s everything I ever wanted. But now…I don’t know. I’m starting to wonder if it’s everything Dad wanted, and I just kind of adopted that dream as my own. I know how much he regrets not going further in his career, but…I just love it so much here, Mom. I can’t imagine leaving Hartsville, and I’m not just saying that because I’m dating Wyatt. Even if he weren’t in the picture, I’m pretty sure I’d feel the same way.”
Mom holds me tighter. “I knew something was up. You haven’t talked about the job much.”
“That’s because talking about it makes my chest hurt.”
“Oh, honey. I’m sorry. Your dad means well, but I understand what you’re saying. Maybe your dreams are different from Dad’s, and maybe they’re coming true a little closer to home than you thought. That’s okay.”
“But turning down the job at Ithaca University makes no sense.”
“It only has to make sense to you.”
Sniffling, I close my eyes. “Thank you for saying that.”
“Be patient.” Mom rubs my shoulder. “And get creative. Hartsville might be a small town, but there’s a lot of knowledge here. A lot of cool things happening. You never know when you might come across an opportunity.”