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“I’m doing pretty good. How are you? How’s Dad doing?”
“We’re both doing well. Your dad’s ulcers are going away, and we’re hoping to get back to our schedule in the next couple of weeks.”
“That’s great, Mom. I’m glad to hear he’s doing better.” Knowing my parents are able to get back to the norm makes me feel so much better about my dad’s health. I don’t have to worry about him taking a turn for the worse. “I’m glad you called. I have a few things I want to tell you about.”
After our dinner with Cooper’s parents, I realized that even though the way my parents show their love is a little backward, they do still love me and want what’s best for me. What I need to help them understand is that what is best for me looks a lot different than what was best for them. I may not be able to get through to them on the first try, but I’m going to keep trying until they understand.
“Have you started practicing again?” I cringe, knowing she’s not going to be happy with my answer.
“Um, no. I got a job managing an art gallery. I’ve been selling my paintings in a store here in town, and the owner asked if I would want to help her run the gallery she’s opening.” I hold my breath while the silence on the other end of the phone stretches on. Naturally, I continue talking because I hate disappointing them. “I know it’s not exactly what you had in mind for me to do, but I’m really happy about this. It allows me to paint and be surrounded by art every day.” I stop talking before I ramble on even more.
“So, you’re staying there indefinitely then?” I can’t tell by the tone of her voice if she’s mad or just indifferent.
“Yeah, I am. I love it here, Mom, and I know there’s nowhere else I’d want to be.”
“Well, I guess that’s your choice to make.” I blow out a big breath to quell the little pinch of disappointment. I didn’t expect her to jump for joy, but I thought maybe my happiness would be enough.
“Are you mad at me?” I ask before I can think better of it.
“No, Quinn,” she says, sighing into the phone. “I guess I expected you to do more. I know being a doctor like your father and me wasn’t for you, but you spent all this time getting your law degree and you were so talented. I just don’t understand why you’d throw away an amazing career to work in an art store.”
My first reaction is to snap at her, to tell her my job is more than selling art supplies but then I think about my revelation after dinner with the Jacksons. My parents have only ever wanted me to be successful so that they wouldn’t need to worry about me. Having a lucrative career in New York meant that I’d be fine on my own, so when I “threw that away” for a life completely foreign to them, they were probably scared to death. How do I convey to them that being here gives me a passion for life like my parents have in their career?
“Mom, why do you and Dad do what you do?”
“Um... well, I’m not sure,” she stutters, thrown off by my question. “I guess we do it because we know we can help people who might be suffering and make their lives easier. By researching and teaching, we’re able to share our knowledge which could impact someone's care.”
“That makes sense, and I’ve always admired yours and Dad’s drive to help others. In New York, my life was made up of going into an office I didn’t want to be in and doing a job that didn’t fulfill me at all. At first, I thought it did, but really, I was just out to prove that I could do it, not that I wanted to do it.
“Being here, in Sonoma, I finally feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. I’ve never felt more myself here, and I’m genuinely happy.” I take another breath, feeling a weight fall off my shoulders with my admission. “Not only am I doing something that drives me, but I also met someone who makes me happier than any career ever could.”
“You met someone?”
“I did,” I say, feeling a grin spread across my face. “His name is Cooper, and he’s the police chief in town. He’s such a good man, and I’m head over heels in love with him.”
There’s another long pause while my mother digests that information. “I guess we’ll need to meet this man. Make sure he’s good enough for you.”
I bust out laughing in surprise while also rolling my eyes at the underhanded dig. “I think he would like to meet you too. Things are crazy right now. He’s got a lot on his plate at the moment, but when everything calms down, we’ll make a plan, okay?” I know I’m glossing over the murders but she already has a disdain for this town, I don’t want to add to it when I think I’m making a little headway.
“That would be good.”
“Okay. I should go, Mom, but I’m glad you called.”
“We’ll talk again, and you can give me more information about this Cooper.”
“Sounds good. Talk to you later.”
I hang up after she responds and feel an immense amount of relief course through my system. I think I’ll get them to come around and that gives me so much hope for the future.
* * *
After staringat my painting with my newfound insight, thanks to Hailey, I knew exactly what I needed to do to get it done. I jumped in my car to put my plan in place, and now I’m pulling into the parking lot of the police station with a box of muffins from the cafe in hand.
While this isn’t my first time walking into the station, I still feel a sense of unease when I walk into the main lobby. I think it’s similar to the feeling you get when you see a cop on the road and, even though you know you didn’t do anything wrong, you feel like you’re guilty of something.
My feelings always make me laugh because I told Cooper how I felt once, and he told me he’d be happy to use his handcuffs on me if it would make me feel better. I haven’t taken him up on his offer yet, but I get a little thrill every time I think about it. I may have to let him do that soon.
I walk past the reception area and into the hallway leading toward Cooper’s office. I texted him to make sure he was around before I got here, and he told me he was buried in paperwork and would love to have me as a distraction.
