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ChapterOne
KENNEDY
Hi Liam,
Yet another email I’ll never send you.
I was offered an acting job yesterday by one of Malcolm’s old clients. It’s just a minor part. A fill-in, really, but it pays well. We’re not hurting for money, but only a year after Malcolm and Mom died, I’ve already gone through a scary amount of what should be saved for the kids’ college funds. Maybe I should start working to make sure I don’t inadvertently limit their options. But then, is it better for them to have that money in the future, or for them to have me around 24/7 now?
I’ve got no idea. You’d know better than I would. Your family has always been so strong. I feel like I screw up every day, and I worry I won’t give them what they need. I wish I could talk to you about it.
I miss you.
Love,
K xx
I droveinto Destiny Falls as dusk was settling over the township. The last rays of sunlight gilded the colonial style shopfronts of Centennial Street in gold. To the right, an older lady wrapped in a fluffy purple jersey and a matching knit hat brought in the Open sign outside Destiny Fibers. I smiled. Desdemona Smith. It was nice to know some things hadn’t changed.
The street was mostly empty of people, with a few gathered outside Drunken Destiny, which looked to have been repainted during the eleven years I’d been gone, and several others clustered around a cafe a couple of buildings down from Desdemona’s shop. That was new. I glanced at signwriting on the window. Taste of Destiny. My lips curved into a smile. I’d always loved the way the locals played up to the town’s name.
For a brief moment, I considered pulling over for a coffee. I’d flown from Los Angeles to New Zealand the day before yesterday, and then I’d been driving all day yesterday as well as today. Prior to leaving, I’d been rushing through a tourist Visa application. Now, I was exhausted and not in the mood to deal with the possibility of tourists at the cafe recognizing me. Being a successful actress had its perks—I never needed to worry about money again—but it had downsides too.
A shiver ran through me.Seriousdownsides.
Like the stalker who’d been hassling me with anonymous social media messages, disturbing videos, and had escalated to infiltrating my house. I still didn’t know who the person was, but that shouldn’t matter, since they’d surely never follow me halfway around the world—assuming they’d be able to locate me in the first place.
Not that the stalker was the reason I’d decided to return to Destiny Falls. They—and my friend, Gray—had just prompted me to look at my life, and I hadn’t liked what I’d seen. Beneath the glitz and glam, I wasn’t happy. Hadn’t been in a long time. Blair, Mina, Joel, and Jamie had all moved out, so for once, I’d been able to put myself first and come back to the place my heart had yearned for since the accident that changed everything.
Back to themanI’d never stopped loving.
I didn’t know anything about Liam’s life now. He could be married with kids. He might have moved away, although I highly doubted it. He’d always been so determined to stay in Destiny Falls. Even if he was single and still in town, he probably wouldn’t want anything to do with me. But I was no stranger to adversity. I’d raised my half-siblings when I wasn’t much more than a child myself. I wasn’t afraid of working hard for forgiveness and a second chance.
I pulled onto a side road and followed it for a couple of blocks until I arrived at the cottage I used to rent from Grace Smith, a woman a couple of years older than me. I scanned the outside. The weathered boards were the same shade of white they used to be, with no sign of wear and tear. Perhaps they’d been repainted over the years, or maybe Grace had simply maintained them in pristine condition. The door was a muted green with a metal flap for letters to be pushed through and an old-fashioned brass ringer. The tiled roof had the same cozy appeal that had once drawn me to it. In short, it looked like I’d never left.
Pocketing the keys, I got out of the car and headed for the main house. As far as I could tell, Grace still ran the operation here. I’d made my booking through an automated online system under a different name—partly because I was worried she’d cancel it if she knew who I really was and partly because it was just good sense to do that as a celebrity. Hopefully Grace wouldn’t be too angry about the deception. I paused for a moment to gather my courage, then pressed the doorbell. I could hear it ring through the house, and I gnawed on my lower lip, preparing for a hostile welcome.
The door swung inward, and there she was, as beautiful as I remembered. Her face had more maturity, but nothing else seemed to have changed. I fought the urge to hug her, knowing she probably wouldn’t return the affection.
Her smile faltered, and she stopped abruptly, crossing her arms over her chest. “Let me guess. Katy?”
I winced. “I’m sorry.”
She shook her head. “I never thought I’d see you again. Not after all this time.”
I shifted from one foot to the other, unable to read her. She clearly wasn’t pleased, but she didn’t seem furious either. More… cautious.
“Things changed,” I said, knowing the weak excuse couldn’t possibly sum up the many ways in which my life had been tipped upside down over the past decade. I’d need hours to explain the whole painful story. “I can leave if you don’t want me here.”
Grace pursed her lips and was quiet for a long moment with her hand on the door, effectively barring me from entering the house. She searched my eyes. I didn’t know what she hoped to find, but I held her gaze.
Eventually, she spoke. “If you’re expecting to be welcomed back with open arms, you’re going to be disappointed.”
I released a bitter laugh. “I know. Believe me.”
“People are going to be upset,” she continued, her tone level despite her words. “They won’t be happy if I open my doors to you.”
I nodded. She was probably right.
