“They are. They’re...” I paused, trying to find the right words. “They’re my family. That won’t change just because I’m moving.”
“Of course not.” Wren’s voice was gentle. “Family doesn’t end because of distance, and it comes in all shapes and sizes. Trust me, Leigh and I have been proving that for years.” She glanced at Leigh. “She used to live in town before she moved in here with me. We made it work.”
“You needed me,” Leigh said quietly.
“I did. I do.” Wren’s expression softened. “But Dex needs you too. And you need him. So it’s good. It’s all good. Besides, Claire and I are planning a picnic on the beach next week.”
Leigh looked at Wren in surprise and then tried to play it cool. “That sounds nice. Maybe we’ll join you. If you’re okay with that?”
“It’s just a picnic outside. Not a big deal,” Wren said shuffling awkwardly. I could see how nervous she was about the idea but no one called her out on it, deciding to instead let it pass for now.
Claire checked her phone. “I should go. I have to go in early tomorrow to finish getting my classroom set up.” She hugged Leigh. “But we should get dinner this week. Catch up properly.”
“I’d like that.”
After Claire left, Wren stood. “You two should go explore. Show Dex the town while there’s still light.” She shooed us toward the door. “And Dex? There’s a garage for sale on Main Street. You might want to check it out.”
“You know about that?”
“Everyone knows about everything in this town. You should be used to that by now.” She smiled. “Now go. I’ll see you later.”
Outside, the evening sun was starting to dip toward the horizon. Leigh grabbed my hand as we walked down the path from the lighthouse.
“They liked you,” she said.
“Wren’s great. Claire seems... careful. They don’t seem to be quite all there.”
“They’ve been through some stuff. But they’re figuring it out. When Wren started to close herself away it was really hard on her siblings and they ended up pushing each other further apart. They’re working on it though.” Leigh squeezed my hand. “Now, come on. Let me show you your new town.”
We walked through Blue Point Bay, and I tried to see it not just as a place Leigh loved, but as somewhere I’d live. The coffee shop where she got her morning latte—I could go there too. The bookstore where she browsed on Sundays—we could go together. The restaurant where she and her mom used to have dinner on special occasions—that could be our spot.
“And this one is mine,” she said, stopping outside a storefront.
Pierce Photography. The sign was elegant, professional. Through the window, I could see the space. Clean, minimalist, with large prints on the walls.
“Want to see inside?” she asked.
“Yeah.”
She unlocked the door and flipped on the lights. The space was bigger than I’d expected. A main gallery area, a small officevisible through a doorway, and what looked like a workspace in the back. But it was the photographs that caught my attention.
Large format prints covered the walls. Coastal landscapes with dramatic shots of the ocean at dawn, waves crashing against rocks, lighthouses silhouetted against stormy skies. And street photography showing candid moments of people lost in thought, a kid chasing seagulls, an elderly couple holding hands on a bench, everyday moments made beautiful.
“Leigh.” I turned slowly, taking it all in. “These are incredible.”
“It’s taken five years to build.” She walked to one wall, looking up at a massive print of the Blue Point Bay lighthouse at sunset. “This isn’t just a studio. It’s a gallery. I sell prints, I do shows, I work on commissions for businesses and collectors. This is...” She paused. “This is mine. I built this.”
I heard what she wasn’t saying. This wasn’t just a business. This was her proof that she’d made something of herself. That she’d succeeded on her own terms.
“You should be proud,” I said.
“I am.” She looked at me, and there was something vulnerable in her expression. “You’re giving up your grandfather’s garage for this. For me. And I just... I need you to know what you’re walking into. This isn’t some small hobby. This is my life’s work.”
“I know.” I moved closer to her. “And I’m not giving it up. I’m choosing something different. I’m choosing us. I’m choosing you. But also, I’m choosing myself. To have the chance to build something like this for myself.”
“You have to promise me that if you hate it here, if you ever start to feel like you regret…”
I cupped her face in my hands, cutting off her spiral. “Leigh. I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. You’re my home. Wherever you are, that’s where I belong. But if it makes you feel better, I promise I will tell you if I ever have any doubts.”
