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Sarah frowned, checking the time. “I don’t think we have time.” The executives from SmartTech Kids would be arriving any minute, and she didn’t want to be in mid-presentation when they arrived. That wouldn’t exactly look professional.
Gail waved a hand. “The meeting’s not until noon. We can run through this a few times to make sure we nail it.”
Heat rose on Sarah’s neck. Noon? Her boss had told her nine thirty. She’d told Wes she would be back as soon as possible to try to salvage part of parents’ day if she could. She hadn’t promised him and he wasn’t expecting her. But she’d been planning on trying her best to be there for at least part of the day. Now that wouldn’t be possible.
“Why did you tell me nine thirty?”
Gail looked surprised that it should even matter. “Because I wanted to make sure you were here on time.”
When had she ever let her boss down? Sure, in recent weeks she’d been divided in her focus and not as available as usual, but her work hadn’t suffered at all for it. In fact, Gail herself had admitted that the time away had helped.
“Is there a problem?” Gail asked when she continued to stand there.
“Um…no,” Sarah said, squaring her shoulders and taking a breath. It didn’t matter. She was there now. There was nothing she could do. And her boss was right—a few run-throughs made sense. She hadn’t really had time to do much prep work herself…
She reached for the television remote and stood at the front of the room. She smiled and scanned the empty room as she would later that day when the seats were filled with the executives. “Welcome, SmartTech Kids. I’m Sarah Lewis and this is… This is…” She stopped, glancing down at her note cards; then she shook her head. “This is not where I need to be,” she said, letting her hands fall to her sides as her gaze met Gail’s confused one.
“What’s going on?”
Sarah blew out a breath, then said, “I thought the meeting was this morning. I actually have something else…something important I need to do this afternoon.” And if she left now, she’d make it in time for the entire parents’ day event. Marissa wouldn’t have to be disappointed. For the first time, she’d have a “mom” present for the mom and daughter scavenger hunt. And all of a sudden, finding hidden items using a compass she had no idea how to use was the only thing that mattered. She wanted to be that person Marissa could depend on and trust. She could be that mom the little girl was missing. Her heart nearly burst at the thought.
“What are you talking about?” Gail was clearly not impressed.
“I have to get back to Blue Moon Bay.”
“This is about that old inn?”
Sarah shook her head. “Not exactly.” She wouldn’t try explaining it to Gail. There was no point. Her boss had given up the idea of having a family years before, choosing her career. It worked for her. It made her happy.
Gail’s life wasn’t the life Sarah wanted.
She packed up her things, and Gail stood. “You’re leaving?”
“Yes.”
“What about the presentation?”
“Here are my notes. Everything is on the slides,” she said. Her boss had everything she needed to handle this without her.
“Sarah, this isn’t funny.”
“I’m not kidding.” She grabbed her purse. “I’m sorry, Gail. But I think I’m finally realizing that I’m never going to have the flexibility working here that I need to do the things I want to do…to have other opportunities that will make me happy.”
Gail scoffed. “Happy? Life is not about being happy, Sarah. It’s about working hard, building something meaningful…” She gestured at the office around her.
Sarah smiled as she moved past her boss, out of the boardroom. “That’s what I’m hoping to do.” With the inn. With her own business. With Wes and Marissa.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Wes paced outside the Camp Crowley gates just before noon. He’d told Sarah that her not being here was okay and he meant it, but now he was really hoping she did. At least for a little while. When Marissa saw just him there that day, she would be so disappointed. But this would be the way it would be if they all moved forward in a relationship…as a family.
Sarah’s life was in the city. She’d never said she would move back to Blue Moon Bay, and with his new lease space and office plans hopefully coming together, he had no intentions of moving to the city.
But couples made long-distance relationships work all the time. They’d figure it out.
He scanned the cars driving up the dirt road. Still not hers.
Hearing a chime, he reached for his cell. But it wasn’t her. It wasn’t even his phone. Another chime. He frowned.
