Then there’s the other part of me wondering if all of the blood, sweat, and tears I’ve poured into my life up until this point will all be for nothing if I choose to stay. All my years at med school, my career and highly regarded reputation… will it all be for nothing if I give it up now.
Yet, when I think like that, I feel selfish and ungrateful. Uncle George offered me the chance of a lifetime to come here and usemy knowledge and experience to help the hospital improve for their patients.
I even tried a pros and cons list, except when I realized there were double the number of pros than cons–that being leaving my two best friends and my position in Rochester–I knew it wouldn’t help.
I haven’t spoken to Alex and Cate about it either, whichneverhappens. The three of us have always told each other everything. We’re each other’s built in life coach, therapist, and staunchest cheerleader.
Then there’s Sutton. The man I was meant to love, who the mountain spirit chose to be rewarded withme.Even if he tells me all the time that the Call is about both of us, not just him.
All I can hope is that Starchild offerssomeguidance as to what my future holds and–more importantly–the decision I’m meant to make.
“Hey,” a melodic cheerful voice says as a beautiful blonde sweeps out through the beaded curtain behind the counter. Her eyes widen when she sees us. “Sutton!”
She rushes around the counter and walks right up to us, hugging him first before turning to me with a huge beaming smile. “Blair, it’s so nice to finally meet you in person,” she adds, her eyes twinkling in the overhead lights.
“I had no idea you knew the Coopers. It’s kind of–”
“Kismet? I know,” she says. “Believe me, the last thing I expected Aster to tell me was that a stranger from the internet, who I gave an online readin’ to, would be the next soulmate called to Cooper Ranch.”
“It’s still kind of surreal.”
“Oh, I knowthatfeelin’. Do you know my story? How I stormed in and told Landry that no mountain would ever tell me who to love?” She holds her hand up to show us her wedding ring. “Guess the joke was on me, huh.”
Sutton wraps an arm around my waist as if he knows I’m feeling a little overwhelmed. “The spiritdoeslike to keep us guessin’.”
Star slides her gaze between the two of us. “And to think, your paths already crossed years ago. It just wasn’t your time yet.”
I cock my head. “Did Aster tell you that?”
“Nope.” She pops the p but doesn’t elaborate, which just makes me all the more curious.
“Are you a Seer too?”
She shakes her head. “Not exactly. I do readin’s for people, but I’m not like Leah who can see the future played out in her dreams like a movie, or Kendra at Eagle Mountain who gets visions. Then there’s Gandalf at Bear Mountain who gets guidance from the mountain spirit directly.”
“And Aster, who tells the Mountain’s Call stories before they’ve even happened?”
Star grins at that. “Yeah. She gets the script before the rest of us do. Now, I know you’re dyin’ to know what the cards are goin’ to say. Sutton, if you want to lock the front door and turn over the closed sign, we can all head on back.” When Sutton returns to us, she turns around and leads us around the counter and back through the curtain. “My grandmother and her best friends have their own side business they run from the shop so don’t be alarmed if you see anything on the whiteboard that sounds a bit… odd.”
“Odd?” I mouth to Sutton who just grins.
“They’re amateur private investigators,” he explains.
“Yep,” Star continues. “Everyone around town already calls them the Sunday School Sallies and they always seem to know everybody’s business anyway. Now they just hire out their services too.”
“Your grandmother and her friends do that?”
She chuckles. “Oh yeah. All of them are pushin’ eighty and I swear they could outlast the lot of us. Who’d have guessed that solvin’ small town mysteries keeps you feelin’ young.”
“Hey,” Sutton says, coming to a stop. “I’m goin’ to go and let you and Star have some privacy for your readin’.”
“What? No. You can stay.”
He shakes his head, glancing over at Star who gives him a nod before going on ahead, leaving us alone. “Gorgeous, I know you’ve got a lot of things to think about and even bigger decisions to make movin’ forward. I don’t want you worryin’ about me while you’re weighin’ it all up.”
“But you’re at the center of all of this. I hope you know that.”
He smiles. “I do and that’s why I’m doin’ this. I want you to go in there with an open mind. You’ve already given up so much for everyone else to pursue your dream of becomin’ a doctor and make a name for yourself. Now that we’ve found each other again, it’s time for you to do what’s best foryouand do it knowin’ the only place I’m ever goin’ to be is where you are. I’m always goin’ to be by your side and cheerin’ you on. I’m golden already, I’ve finally got the woman of my dreams and everythin’ I’ve ever wanted–that’s you.”
