Mabel sent Peter a beaming smile. “We’ve all missed you. If you’d like to come to dinner tomorrow night, you’re more than welcome. Ethan and Theo will be there with Diana and Barbara.”
Peter glanced at Katie before replying. She looked so uncomfortable that he wasn’t sure if it was a good idea. “Thanks for the invitation. Can I let you know later tonight if I can make it? Zac mentioned something about tomorrow night, too.”
“That’s no problem. If you’re busy tomorrow, then anytime is fine.” With a cheerful wave, Mabel rushed into the store.
The silence filling the workroom was more overwhelming than Mabel’s greeting.
Katie clutched the keyring in her hand. “My agent called me yesterday.”
“What did she say?”
“She wants me to fly to Los Angeles and speak to one of the biggest children’s publishing houses in the country. The acquiring editor of Plumridge Books read my stories and loved them.” Taking a deep breath, she continued, “They want me to write a new series of stories for them.”
A glimmer of hope made Peter’s heart pound. If Katie was offered a contract, she wouldn’t have to live in Los Angeles, chasing a dream that had already happened. But, considering how stressed she looked, there had to be more to the offer.
“That’s great news, isn’t it?”
“It is.” Clasping her hands in front of her, she took a deep breath. “Plumridge Books is sponsoring a six-month Writers in Residence Program at UCLA for emerging authors. As well as writing the new series, they want me to be the first children’s author to participate in the program. It’s a huge honor.”
His hopes plummeted. It was hard enough being separated from Katie for two weeks. Six months would be horrendous. “When does it start?”
“At the beginning of their spring quarter. I’d need to be living in the apartment they provide by mid-March for a March 23 start.”
“That’s only six weeks away.”
“It’s a few weeks earlier than I thought I’d be leaving. I’m not even sure it will be possible. I’ll have to ask Grandma’s lawyer if I can leave before the twelve-month term in her will is over.”
The sharp sting of disappointment hit him in the chest. Not once had she mentioned their relationship. “Do you want to go to UCLA?”
“That’s where I completed my degree, so I know the campus and how everything works. The staff are wonderful and it would give me plenty of time to write without having to waitress at the restaurant.”
“It sounds like you’re looking forward to it.”
Katie’s eyes misted over. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
“So are we.”
“It doesn’t have to be the end. If I accept the position, we could still keep in contact. It’s only for six months. After that—”
“After that I’ll be in New York City. You don’t want to live there, so we’ll be back to living more than two thousand miles apart.” He focused on the wall behind her instead of the pleading look in her eyes. “I understand why you want to go. I hope everything works out with your grandma’s lawyer.”
And before she saw just how upset he was, he left the workroom and strode toward the front of the store. He needed to get out of here before Mabel and Allan saw him. It was bad enough seeing the disappointment on Katie’s face without dealing with her parents’ reaction.
With a sinking heart he thought about the next six months. If Katie left, there wasn’t much point staying in Sapphire Bay. It would be better to make a clean break and give them both a chance to focus on the future.
A future that seemed even more bleak than it was before he’d left for New York.
* * *
Three days later,Katie sat in her truck, staring at the gorgeous house Peter was moving into. Cherry Blossom Lane sat like a majestic jewel in the streets around it. Usually, when she saw the white picket fences and wraparound porches, she imagined the wonderful moments the people living there must have. But nothing about today’s visit would be wonderful.
She’d spoken to Nicola Lassiter, the acquiring editor at Plumridge Books. She seemed like a bright and bubbly person. The kind of person she’d enjoy working with. In four days, Katie would fly to Los Angeles, meet the wider publishing team, and visit the UCLA campus where she’d spend six months writing and lecturing.
Ifshe signed the contract.
Diana and Penny thought she was crazy to even consider not working with Nicola and her team. Barbara hadn’t said much, but Katie knew she wanted her to stay in Sapphire Bay. Her grandma’s lawyer still hadn’t told her whether she could work in Los Angeles a few weeks earlier than planned, but it seemed unlikely he’d say no.
Now, here she was, about to ask Peter to give their relationship another chance.
