Page 69 of Where She Belongs

This conversation was going to go one of two ways. Roxy would tell her she needed to come home because that was where she belonged, or she’d say she needed to make a firm decision on the path she wanted to take—even if that meant staying.

Problem was, Rylee didn’t have the faintest clue what direction she wanted to go. She was standing at that fork in the road. The possibilities laid out for her were endless, and at the same time they came down to two very different lives.

She could go back to the city and become the socialite her aunt had become over the years. She could attend charities and galas. She could find a wealthy man to marry who would support her while she made him look good.

Or she could stay.

Raise those chickens. Play with those goats. Care for the little critters Tate continued to bring by. A warm fuzzy feeling enveloped her and her aunt chuckled.

“Why do I get the feeling you’ve already made your decision?”

“What?” Rylee demanded.

“That smile. You were thinking about something. Or is it someone?” She arched a brow, indicating she knew all too well who was on Rylee’s mind. “Have you decided to stay, then? Follow in your father’s footsteps?”

She wanted to say yes.

So much so that she almost nodded without thinking it through. But then she caught herself. There were so many unknowns at the moment. The argument she’d had with Tate sat there in her mind. He didn’t think she belonged. Yes, he’d said it while in the heat of the moment, but wasn’t that when people spoke their mind more freely? Somewhere deep in his heart he thought Rylee didn’t fit. That wasn’t to say she would never fit, but still. He’d said it and she’d forever remember how it had made her feel.

“I don’t know.” Her smile faded just as quickly as it had arrived.

“You don’t know?” Roxy asked skeptically.

Rylee shook her head. “Honestly, I don’t. I thought I wanted to stay here. To find what my father had when he’d bought this house. But…”

“You have chickens. And goats.” Roxy sounded incredulous. “If you didn’t want to stay, why⁠—”

“Tate rescued them. Well, the goats. And the horse. And cow.” Rylee grimaced. “He figured since I had the space and some of the know-how, that I could foster them for a while.”

Once again, Roxy arched that all-too-knowing brow of hers. “I see.”

Rylee blew out a breath. “I think I could be happy here. I really do. But I just don’t know if it’s the right move. I’ve only just moved back. What if…”

What if I don’t belong?

The words were on the tip of her tongue, but she reined them in. There was no way she’d admit to such a thing with Roxy. She didn’t want to be persuaded to do anything because eventually, she would figure this out. She’d make her choice, and she’d make sure it wasn’t one she’d regret.

Roxy nodded thoughtfully. “Well, then. I suppose you still have a few weeks to figure it out. And honey, if you think you need more time than that…” She shrugged. “You have all the time in the world. I just want to see you happy before I die.”

“Roxy!” Rylee squawked and her aunt laughed darkly.

“Oh, sweetie, you know I’m only kidding. But then what have I always taught you? Nothing is ever promised.”

They both said that last part together.

“Right,” Roxy continued. Then she stretched and yawned. “That trip took a lot out of me. You wouldn’t mind terribly if I turned in early, would you?”

“Of course not.”

Her aunt patted her cheek affectionately. “Thank you, dear. I’ll be right as rain in the morning and perhaps we can wander through town. You’ll have to show me the best places.”

“I can do that.” Rylee rose to her feet at the same time as her aunt and showed her to the spare bedroom. She’d recently made the bed and gone through some of the boxes that had taken up space in there as well. That was what she’d called kismet. If Roxy had arrived even a day earlier, that room wouldn’t have been ready for her.

Rylee returned to the living room to turn off the lights and put some of her aunt’s belongings to the side so they wouldn’t get in the way when there was another knock at the door.

Her heart jumped. Tate? Had he finally decided to break the silence? She pulled the blanket tightly around her shoulders then straightened and told herself not to roll over at the first sign of groveling. All Tate would have to do was offer her one of his crooked grins and she’d be a puddle of mush.

When she opened the door, she was disappointed for a second time that evening.