“I don’t know if I do.That’s why I wanted to speak to you.If I did decide to work forThe New York Timesagain, would you come with me?”
“I can’t.I have to stay here until next April.”
“It wouldn’t have to be straightaway.I could find an apartment that’s big enough for us.You won’t have any trouble finding a job.And even if you did, what I’m earning will be enough for both of us.”
The scowl on Barbara’s face deepened.“I can’t resign from the company I work for.They’ve done everything they can to make sure I’m able to do my job from Sapphire Bay.”
“They aren’t the only company who look after their employees.If you’re worried about not seeing your family, we could visit Sapphire Bay every few months.”
“It’s not the same as living here.”
“If you went back to San Diego, you wouldn’t see them any more than that.Think about all the opportunities there are in New York.Apart from the jobs, there’s so much to do.And it’s only a short distance to Europe.We could have long weekends in Paris or Italy.”
“It sounds as though you’ve already decided what you’re doing.”
Theo held her hands.“I don’t want to go without you.”
“I can’t promise that I’ll meet you there.”
“Will you at least think about it?”
Barbara shook her head.“I don’t want to live in New York City.I’ve spent time in Brooklyn and Manhattan with my clients and it isn’t the kind of life I want.”
“Not even if I was there, too?”
“You’ll be busy.I’ll be busy.Most days, we’ll be lucky if we see each other.Do you think our relationship can become more than it is if we’re living separate lives?”
Theo let go of her hands.“And if I stayed?What would happen to us, then?Would you still go back to San Diego next year?”
“That was always my plan.”
“You’re not even willing to consider staying in Sapphire Bay?”He couldn’t believe how wrong he’d been about Barbara.Surely, she’d want to have some kind of life together?
“I have to talk to my manager before I can stay here.”
“And if he says he wants you back in San Diego?”
Tears filled Barbara’s eyes.“Then I’ll have a decision to make.”
Theo studied the serious expression on her face.She meant what she’d said.She wouldn’t move to New York City and she probably wouldn’t stay in Sapphire Bay.
His heart broke as he thought about his life without her.“Long-distance relationships don’t last, especially if we can’t see a time when we’ll both be living in the same city.It’s probably better if we end things now.”
“I’m sorry, Theo.I can’t tell you what I’ll be doing in five months’ time because I don’t know.All I do know is that I don’t want to live in New York.”
Before he made a complete fool of himself and begged her to reconsider, he stepped away.“I hope everything works out for you.”And with tears blurring his vision, he left Barbara standing beside the lake.
THE FOLLOWING DAY,Barbara kept checking the clock on her office wall, counting down the minutes until Theo’s flight left Kalispell.
“You aren’t still daydreaming, are you?”Katie asked.
Barbara dropped her pen on her desk.“I’m thinking about a project I’m working on.”The lie fell from her lips as if it was something she did all the time.But it wasn’t and she didn’t like being dishonest to anyone.
“Fiddlesticks.You’re thinking about Theo.If you’d done a little more of that before yesterday, you wouldn’t be in this mess.”
Penny walked past the doorway and frowned.“Who’s in a mess?”
“No one,” Barbara said.
