My mouth snapped shut at that. Thoughts scurried through my brain. Frankie had tried to help me make plans, to get me to talk about my feelings and my past. It was all to help me, not to change me. In fact, I hadn’t felt so seen andaccepted by someone in…in I didn’t know how long. No one had ever made me feel the way that she did.
“No,” I finally said. “She doesn’t want me to change.”
“That right there is special.”
“But I don’t want her to change either,” I said hollowly.
We turned down the street the lodge was located on. When we got to the front entrance, I gave my mom a hug good night.
She pulled away and squeezed my arms. “Oliver, I love you.”
“Love you too.”
“And I want to see you happy,” she continued.
“Ma,” I groaned, dragging a hand over my face. All I wanted to do was rush back to collect Frankie in my arms. I wasn’t ready for any more talks tonight.
“Listen.” She pointed a finger at my chest, eyes determined. When I didn’t interrupt again, she continued. “I guess maybe moving on to the next thing will be what brings you happiness. But I can’t help feeling that if you’re always searching—always on the move—you might miss out on what truly matters. In the end, you could find yourself disappointed. Don’t let your need to live a full life make you miss out on what could be the most fulfilling adventure yet.”
THIRTY-ONE
Frankie
The day after tomorrow.
That was the end of my sentence here in Key Ridge.
I could hardly believe it. As much as I wanted to pretend it wasn’t happening, my ticket was booked and I was already packed. Maybe packing days ahead of my departure was a bit excessive, but hey, I hadn’t changedthatmuch during my time here.
In less than forty-eight hours, I would be on a plane to Atlanta. I’d stop by my condo to get anything I’d need. Then it was off to New York to start my new career—or life, really. Funny, it didn’t feel like much of a life. But it would be, right? It had to be.
I tossed my waves up into a messy bun before tugging on an oversized fleece I’d borrowed from Mattie. Something like homesickness washed over me as I toyed with the soft green collar. My sister would be sad to see me go, but she definitely wouldn’t be upset about the fact that I could no longer raid her closet on a daily basis.
Before I walked out of the bedroom I’d hardly spent timein lately, I paused in the doorway to take it in for a second. It was funny how sentimental big changes could make you. This was just my sister’s guest bedroom, but when I looked at the worn quilt and the ancient wood side tables, all I could see was how relieved I’d been to rest my head here when I’d first gotten here. It had been a safety net amidst the unraveling of my life.
I sprinted up the basement stairs and through the house, stalling to say a quick goodbye to Giles and Mattie, who were curled up on the couch watching a movie, before stepping outside. The front porch light switched on even though the sun hadn’t completely set yet. I hugged my arms around me. It was the warmest night I could remember since arriving here. But the crispness of the mountain air still hovered.
Taking a deep breath in, I perched on the front step, waiting for Oliver to pick me up.
He’d dropped his mom off at the airport earlier, and while we’d still managed to see each other plenty during her short visit, I was excited to have him all to myself tonight and tomorrow. While it was clear his relationship with his mom was still strained, and of course they’d bickered a little, I could sense a grain of relief in his demeanor. He was different. Released. When I told him again how proud of him I was for talking it out with her, he’d said he wasn’t sure if he could have done it without me. I flushed at the memory. That alone filled me with more pride than landing any job ever could.
Headlights shone into the driveway, and I leapt up. Oliver jumped out of the car as soon as it was in park. I crashed into him. He laced his arms around me, holding me tightly as I inhaled the scent that clung to his sweatshirt.
“How many times do I have to tell you? I’ll come to the door.” Oliver pulled back a little, taking me in.
“I like waiting outside.” I stood on my tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his lips.
We got into his car. I immediately went for the radio, turning it to one of the only two stations that came through. Our windows were both rolled down, the wind snaking through the car as he drove us down a few different residential streets.
The song playing in the background wasn’t one I particularly liked, yet it fit the moment perfectly. I pulled out my phone to write it down. I needed mementos to bottle this feeling.
When Oliver pulled up to a park in front of a rather large playground, I turned to him with raised eyebrows. “A park?” I questioned.
“Yep.” He smiled, looking pleased with himself, before hopping out of the driver’s seat and jogging around to my side to open my door.
He took my hand and led me up a short sidewalk to the empty, colorful jungle gym.
“Swings,” he said proudly. “You said you liked them, right?”
