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“Hi, Tina.” I force a smile. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Of course. Come on in. Are you okay?” she asks, her brows furrowing. I know she must be confused as to why I’m here.
“Well…” I pause, “not entirely. And I hate to do this without putting in my proper two weeks, but I’m going to have to quit. Effective immediately.”
Her eyes widen, and then narrow slightly as she leans back in her chair, studying me. “You and Kyle broke up, I assume?” she asks calmly, playing with the pen in her hands.
“Yes,” I tell her honestly. “It wasn’t a cordial separation either, and I know I won’t be able to just continue working here pretending to be fine. I respect you, though, and wanted to inform you in person rather than just call.”
“Thank you.” She nods. “You’re an excellent employee, Elizabeth, and I’m saddened to see you go, but I understand. I appreciate you coming to tell me face-to-face, and I’ll overlook the normal two-week etiquette because of the situation.”
I muster a small smile. “Thank you.”
“I was in a similar situation myself when I was a little younger than you are now,” she says, smiling softly. “May I ask if you know what you plan to do next?”
“I’m actually not quite sure.”
“That’s good.” She nods. “Try something new. Follow a passion you have. Life can give us great opportunities in tough times. And you will always have me as a reference.”
“Thank you so much, Tina,” I gush, breathing a sigh of relief. I was nervous she’d see this as grossly irresponsible and be upset that I’m leaving with no notice when I know I’m needed on the schedule.
“If it helps, I think Kyle is too self-centered for a wonderful person like you.”
“That’s kind of you to say.”
“I mean it,” she says, standing and holding her hand out for me to shake. “Good luck with everything.”
“Thank you.”
Leaving, I make sure to exit without anyone seeing me, and breathe in the fresh morning air, already knowing it’s going to be another hot and muggy summer day. It may be the beginning of September, but it’s still blazing out.
I feel a little lighter, though. Just the knowledge that I’ll never have to seehimor go back to workthereagain, is enough to bring me even just a sliver of happiness.
I’ve worked at Lakeview Terrace for so long, it’s been feeling like I’d never have the chance to leave. And now that I have, I feel like I have the world at my feet. I can do anything I want.
But…I have no home and no job.
My car is packed with everything I own, and I have no idea what my next step should be.
Scrolling through my phone, I go to text the group chat I have with Ally, Ash, and Mel, but then stop when I see an image Ally recently shared with us. She’s having an art show this weekend at The Blueberry Café where she works, and while I previously thought I couldn’t go, it gives me an idea.
I could surprise everyone and show up in Pine Cove for her show…
As I mull the idea over, I smile – the first real smile I’ve had in over eight hours.
There’s something about that little coastal town that brings anyone who sets foot in it a sense of coming home. I haven’t been back since Ally’s wedding last September, and now that I think about it, I’ve only seen the three of them once since then.
I got swept up in my relationship with Kyle and trying to make new friends at work. I thought that was what was best for me considering they were all gone and it was just me here.
I had to find a way to be okay with that, and distancing myself from them was a part of that.
They all have each other in Pine Cove, and I may have acted like I was okay when each of them moved up there, but I felt abandoned, and I coped the best way I could.
Turns out that was the biggest mistake of my life, because Kyle has been the biggest mistake of my life. And I know if I had more of my friends in my life, they would have seen something I didn’t.
But hindsight is 20/20 as they say, and I need to keep moving forward without looking back.
Chapter 2
