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Yes.
I’m grateful for matching Misty Gray hoodies. (I slept in mine last night.)
I’m grateful for dancing the night away on a softly lit boardwalk with a man who can dance like no other man I’ve met. (We both predicted the amateur band will be huge one day.)
I’m grateful for sore cheeks from laughing so much.
I’m grateful last night was magical.
I’m grateful for the unexpected.
I’m grateful I’m not sitting in my room crying over a man who didn’t really love me.
When I stop to take a breath, I realize I could go on and on. It feels amazing. I smile at myself and notice the smile reaches my eyes. Life feels good again. I have one more thing I need to add.
I’m grateful my life is not over.
That’s huge. I came here thinking my life was over. Now I know it’s only beginning. Just for that alone, I have made huge strides.
The changes that have occurred in such a short time leave me reeling. I’ve hopped on the Slade train and I have no intention of getting off.
I skip down the stairs and eat my breakfast quickly, but not too quickly. Slade made a goat-cheese with sun-dried tomato and bacon frittata. Some things are meant to be savored, and this is one of them.
I head for the kitchen, already carrying my dishes.
“Morning, beautiful.” Slade stops in his tracks at the sight of me.
That’s encouraging. Seeing him makes my heart leap in my chest. “Hello, handsome. I’m here to help with the dishes. Don’t say no.”
“When it comes to dishes, the word no doesn’t exist in my vocabulary anymore.” Slade pulls me into a warm embrace before we tackle the chore ahead of us.
There’s something I’d like to broach with him. I tossed and turned last night while running it through my mind. I’ve made a decision about what I want to do with my life, at least for the foreseeable future. I hope he won’t turn me down.
While we’re busy washing and loading the dishwasher, I muster up my courage. “You know, Slade, I quit my job before I came here.”
“Yes, you told me. I’m sorry about that.” He frowns.
I go on. “I also moved out of my apartment and put all of my belongings in storage. I literally don’t have anything to return home to.”
“Don’t say that, Marin. You have so much to return to. Your mom and dad, Kira, Morgan.”
“Yes, that’s true. What I’m trying to say is, I’m free from any obligations.”
“You’ll get a new job quickly. I don’t doubt it for a minute.” He fits another plate in one of the dishwashers like he’s a Tetris master.
“Slade, what I’m trying to say in a roundabout way is, I’m free to apply for your housekeeping job.” I blurt it out really fast before I lose my nerve.
His eyes wander around as though he’s thinking a million thoughts at once. “You’re not a maid,” he says, like the thought is preposterous. “I can’t do that to you.”
“You’re not doing it to me, I’m doing it to myself.” I hesitate. “I’d love to stay here with you, give us a chance. If I’m working at Sheridan House, we can be together much more often than if I only travel here on the weekends. I want this for us.”
It takes him at least a full minute to respond, even though his face softened at my words. “I’d like that more than you know. But I feel like this job is beneath you.”
I object. “There’s not a job in the world that’s beneath me. As long as I’m earning an honest living.”
“You know what I mean.” He continues to load the dishwasher as though the case is closed. I can tell his thoughts are buzzing. He can’t hide it.
I take his hand, causing him to stop what he’s doing. “I’m serious. This is what I want to do. Stay here with you and work at Sheridan House. We need this time together to see where our relationship is going. It’s the perfect situation. Don’t you think?”
