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“So what time will he be here?”
“Right on time, according to this.”
~ ~ ~
Piper and Laura followed the server to their table. They took their seats out on the deck which sat directly above the lake. This place was so beautiful. She’d only been here a couple of days, but Piper had already fallen in love with Summer Lake.
Once they’d ordered their drinks, Laura smiled at her. “What are you looking so happy about?”
“Just about being here. I don’t know. This time last week I was stuck in a rut, fed up with work, fed up with my life in general, and now, here I am.” She looked around. “Isn’t it funny how one spontaneous decision can shake things up so much? If you’d told me then that I’d be here in this beautiful place with my best friend, I wouldn’t have believed you. But I am here, and instead of feeling stuck, I feel like life is opening up for me again.”
“It is, or at least you’re seeing all the possibilities now. Nothing’s changed except your attitude. You believed you were stuck, so you acted like you were stuck. You’re not, though. If you wanted to, you could jump out of your rut completely. You could move here, get a new job. Do whatever you want.”
Piper pursed her lips. “I know you keep saying that, but …”
“But nothing. If you want it, you can make it happen.”
“I suppose.” Piper smiled at the server when he came back with their drinks.
“Sorry. I don’t mean to push,” said Laura. “I’d just love to see you happy—that’s all. Well, that, and the fact that, selfishly, I’d love it if you moved here.”
“I don’t know.” Piper looked around. “I think I need to get out of my mental rut a bit more before that seems possible.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, look at this place. Look at the people. You’re all so California beautiful. I don’t feel like I fit in.” Laura scowled at her, making her laugh. “Okay, I’m not that bad. I’m just not used to it. You know me, I’m more used to wearing a pilot’s uniform than getting dressed up. I feel as though I’d have to become someone else if I were to move here.”
“You would not! That’s silly.”
“I know.” Piper shrugged. “I think I’m just making excuses.”
“It sounds like you are. That’s just the part of you that’s afraid to make such a big change. You’re looking for all the reasons not to when you should be looking at all the reasons why it could be great for you.”
“You’re right. As always. I think some part of me is looking for a change. I wouldn’t be here otherwise, would I?” She smiled and looked down at herself. She’d bought a whole bunch of clothes for this trip—pretty dresses included. “And I wouldn’t be dressed like this.”
Laura nodded. “I know. You look amazing.”
“Thanks. You really think so?”
“I know so. Didn’t you notice how many heads turned as you went by?”
Piper smiled. “I did, but I’m just not used to that. You know me—always the tomboy. I’m more at home in boots and jeans than skirts and dresses.”
“Well, I think you should change that. You’ve said you’re ready for a change, so go for it. Change your wardrobe, change your job.” Laura smiled. “Change where you live. I still think you should move out here.”
Piper looked around the deck of the restaurant and then out at the lake which was turning crimson and gold with the reflections of the setting sun. “The more time I spend here, the more appealing that idea becomes, but there’s one slight problem. I don’t have a job here. There’s nothing I could do here unless I wanted to change my career as well as everything else. My career is the one thing I feel I got right in life, even if I couldn’t take it as far as I’d like to.”
Laura shrugged. “Maybe there is something you could do here. I mean, no, there aren’t any cargo airlines based here, but there is an airport and a flight school and a private jet charter company, and I know a guy. I have connections.” She grinned.
“No, I couldn’t ask your Smoke for a job. That wouldn’t be right.”
“Why not? That’s what friends do. They use their connections to help each other out.”
“No, leave it, Laura. I do need to make changes, I do need to find a new job, but I need to figure it out for myself, not just lean on you to help me out.”
“Okay, whatever you say. I’m just being selfish. I’d like to have you here.”
“Thanks.” She looked up as Ben, the guy who owned the place, approached their table.
