“What’s her name?”
“Grey.”
She chuckles as her fingers press a few keys on the keyboard. “I’m sure she’ll be fine,” she says as she looks away from her computer screen. “It’s good to have you back in town, Jace. I’m sorry to hear about your injury, but everything always happens for a reason.”
Forcing a smile onto my face, I give her a quick nod. I know she means to be reassuring, but it’s honestly the last thing I want to hear right now. What possible reason could be worth my career ending with an injury? “I’m not sure what the reason was for an early retirement,” I say with a rough laugh.
A purring sound comes from my feet. Grey pushes up against my leg, rubbing her head on my jeans. Bending down, I scoop her up and cradle her against my chest as I scratch her behind her ears.
“It will all work out,” she assures me with a smile. “You can trust me. I’ve been around long enough to know a thing or two. It’s all going to be okay.”
Swallowing hard, I offer her a nod. “Thanks, Joyce.”
“Of course, sweetie,” she says as I turn to head down the hall. “You only get one life, so make sure you make the most of it—even if it does throw you a curveball now and again.”
Joyce’s words carry me back to the administrative office and sit with me long after I busy myself with sifting through emails. She’s right; we do only get one chance here. It’s only right to take advantage of the time we have but what happens when you don’tknow where you’re supposed to go or what you’re supposed to do?
What happens when you can’t help but feel lost?
CHAPTER FOUR
WILLOW
“Can you stop by The Pastry Parlor and grab some bread? Miss Maggie always makes fresh loaves on Tuesdays.”
My eyebrows lift as I turn to look at my brother while he opens the door to usher Otto into the front seat. “Should I tell Miss Maggie you said hi?”
Miss Maggie was Noah’s preschool teacher when she was fresh out of college, and he swore he was in love with her when he was five years old. To this day, none of us have let him live it down and even Maggie joins in on the jokes sometimes.
Finn chokes back a laugh and Noah snorts, shaking his head as he rolls his eyes. “You’re funny.” He shuts the door, cutting his eyes at me. “Isn’t that joke old yet? That was how many years ago? She’s old enough to be our mother.”
“It will never get old,” Finn says to him as the three of us walk around the back of Finn’s truck, stopping by the driver’s side. He pulls open the door for me. “I wonder if she has any nieces or anything, since all the Mini Maggie’s ended up being boys.”
My face cracks as I climb into the truck, pushing Otto over into his seat. “Mini Maggie’s?” I laugh as my face scrunches. “What are you even talking about?”
Finn shrugs with a smirk drifting across his face. “Both of her kids are boys. They’re Maggie Juniors instead of Mini Maggie’s.”
Noah lightly shoves Finn and laughter escapes our older brother as he stumbles to the side. “Can you take him with you, please? Maybe just find a new home for him in town or something?” Noah begs me, a frustrated breath escaping him. “Sometimes, I regret the life path I chose.”
“No can do,” I say, shaking my head at Noah. Glancing back and forth between the two of them, I raise my eyebrows as Finn stands back beside Noah. “I didn’t come home to babysit either of you.”
“I don’t need a babysitter,” Finn chimes in to defend himself. “Noah just needs to learn how to take a joke every once in a while.”
“Or you need to come up with some new jokes,” Noah retorts, rolling his eyes. “You’d better head out before you’re late for Otto’s appointment.”
“Poor guy,” Finn mutters, pursing his lips. “Doesn’t even know what’s about to happen.”
“He’ll be fine,” I say, nodding my head at him. “All right, we’re off to see the wizard then.”
“That dog looks nothing like Toto,” Noah points out, lifting his brows.
“The vet,” Finn corrects me at the same time, laughing.
“And Miss Maggie,” I add with a wink at Finn and smirk.
Noah lifts his hand, gives me the middle finger, and slowly backs away, a grin tugging on his lips. “I hope you find the wicked witch instead and her little monkeys carry you away.”
“We’re glad you’re home, kid,” Finn says, tapping his hand on the door. “Thanks for taking him for me,” he adds as he nods toward Otto, who’s drooling on the center console of the truck with his tongue hanging out.
