“I hate it when you’re right.”
27
The day after I agree to take on Taylor’s case, she comes into the bakery with a binder full of evidence. Surprising no one, it turns out her ex really is a dick. I want to punch him in the balls for his overall audacity, but I’ll settle for making him cry in court.
Two days after that, Emma fires me.
Okay, it’s not so much a firing, but a gentle push out the front door with my promises to devote my full attention to Taylor’s case. Emma has always seen me clearer than I’ve seen myself, but even I can admit this go around that she’s right.
It might not be the way things were “supposed” to turn out, but helping the women of Heart Springs get theirs has become something I’m legitimately passionate about, and something I don’t want to turn away from.
The morning after I get fired, I still wake up and go to the bakery first thing. But I don’t put on my apron and hop behind the counter. Instead, I grab a pastry and a coffee, give Emma a hug, and head back home, where I’ve spreadout the contents of Taylor’s binder across my kitchen table. It’s not exactly the corner office of my old life, but for now, it will have to do. An hour later, when I get up to use the bathroom, I find a new doorway, leading to an office space. It’s sparse, but comfortable, and once I move all the materials Taylor brought me, it’s the perfect space.
I work throughout the entire day, making notes and reading until my eyes sting and compiling a list of questions I have for Taylor. I don’t stop until Ben physically removes the pen from my hand, guides me out of my chair, and takes me next door to his place for dinner.
He pours us each a glass of red wine and dishes up plates of spaghetti. Both are delicious, and I sigh with pleasure when the first bite of garlic bread hits my tongue.
Ben watches me with a bemused smile on his face. “Good day at the office?”
I roll my eyes, but there’s no true annoyance in the motion. “I got a lot accomplished if that’s what you’re asking.”
He swirls a bite of pasta on his fork. “I was mostly asking if you enjoyed yourself.”
“I mean, it’s hard to enjoy a day buried in paperwork.” Even as I say it, I know it’s a lie, because I did in fact enjoy my day. Yes, there were moments that were exhausting and some that were even frustrating, but at the end of it, I felt good. Content. Happy with the work I’d put in.
Ben, of course, can read me like a freaking book at this point. “Happiness looks good on you, sweetheart.”
I decide not to argue with him for once. “Thanks, babe.”
After dinner we move to the couch with our second glasses of wine. Ben turns on the TV, though we both know we won’t be paying much attention to whatever movie we’re stuck watching today.
I tuck myself into his side, nuzzling farther into his warmth when his fingers twine in my hair. The soothing motion of his hands in my hair almost puts me to sleep, but there’s still wine to finish, so I force my eyes to stay open.
“Ben?” I mutter, my voice laden with sleep and wine and an overwhelming feeling of peace.
“Hmm?”
“Do you think that we might be wasting our time trying to find our way back home? Are we better off at this point just accepting that this is where we belong?”
His fingers stop, his hand dropping to my shoulder as I pull away just enough so I can look at him, read the response on his face. “Do you really want that, sweetheart? To be stuck here forever, never seeing your home or your family again?”
I shrug, hiding my discomfort with another sip of wine. “Does it make me a terrible person if I admit I don’t really miss my family all that much?”
He sets his wineglass on the coffee table and shifts so he’s facing me. “It doesn’t make you a terrible person, Cam. I know life with them wasn’t exactly easy for you. But they’re still your family. Don’t you think they miss you?”
“I don’t actually know, which sort of makes me think they probably don’t. What I do know is that if I were to go home, I would miss everyone here. Emma, of course, and Mimi.” I take another long gulp. “And you.”
Ben reaches for my hand, lacing our fingers together. “I fully stand by my theory that we will remember everything that happened here. But I understand how you would miss everyone else. And miss the town. I will too.”
“And, I know you already know this, but just sit here quietly and let me have this moment of discovery, okay?”
He mimes zipping his lips and throwing away the key.
“I like what I’m doing here. With Emma, and Anna, and Taylor. I like using the skills I’ve been practicing my whole life for good instead of evil. I like that I’m making a difference in these women’s lives.” Fuck, it feels good to say that out loud.
Ben’s smile is knowing but not smug. “You know you could do something similar when we get home.”
I shake my head, finishing my wine and setting the glass down next to Ben’s. “I don’t see how. My whole life is working for my family. I don’t see how I could possibly break away from that.”
