“Yes.”
“It takes a very strong, brave person to change course, you know.” He stops to shift the boxes in his arms. “You moving out, taking up painting again—that takes courage.”
“But you always said to stay the course.”
“I meant if you love the course you’re on. If you don’t, I think changing course takes just as much conviction,” he says. “You know you’re doing the right thing.”
“Yes. Thanks, Dad.”
We finish unpacking, and I wave goodbye to my father as he pulls away. Then I walk into my new apartment alone. I stand in the middle of the tiny studio, completely clueless about what to do next. I’m definitely scared. I’d been dutifully marching along in place by Phillip’s side, and Brayden was like a wake-up call, the best wake-up call I’ve ever had in my life. But I’ve never been a woman without Phillip by my side. I grew up with him.
I reach for the phone to call June.
“I live near your store now,” I say.
“What do you mean?”
“I live on Main,” I say. “I moved out on my own. Like you did a hundred years ago? Well, I’m just now catching up to my little sister.”
I can practically hear her mind racing, trying to figure out what’s going on. “Are you saying…” she begins but doesn’t finish the sentence.
“I’m saying Phillip and I broke up, and I’m head over heels in love with somebody else,” I say.
June screams. Three times. When she finally comes to, she says, “I wondered why Brayden looked so tired today. He didn’t sound sick. He looked pretty satisfied, actually.”
“Enough,” I warn her.
She laughs. “Leleila, I’m happy you’re happy.”
“Thanks.”
“And I’ve cleared some space in the front corner of the store, by the way. It’s going to be for your paintings. I’ll sell them, and maybe then I can pay you back for the new business your sign and mural sent my way.”
“That’s awesome,” I say to her. “But you don’t owe me anything. Actually, I was wondering about that empty suite next door to you?”
“The dusty, peeling paint suite?” June asks me.
“Yes,” I say. “That one. How much do you think it leases for?”
“Not much,” she says. “The building owner begged me to incorporate it into my store. Said I could have it as part of the same lease price. She just wants to see it being used.”
“I want it,” I say. “I’ll turn it into a painting studio, and I can hold a mural painting class there too.”
“That’s a great idea,” she says. “I’ll call Jodie and tell her to hold the suite. You can call it Big Sky Painting.”
“Actually, I’m going to call it Painting Big Sky,” I say. “Oxymoronic, right?”
“But it works,” she says.
When I hang up with June, I get a joyful phone call from Mom and Dad together. I guess the town newspaper came out this morning, but they just saw it. Brayden and I are on the cover with the title “Town Heroes” above our heads.
“Oh no,” I say. “Brayden’s going to be so embarrassed.”
“He should love it,” Mom says. “It’s wonderful. And what a lovely picture of you both. Brayden looks so handsome.”
I finally get them off the phone with a promise to bring Brayden over for dinner so we can tell them the whole story. “Every detail,” Mom insists, “Especially the parts where you and Brayden take that romantic trail ride through the woods. And did he lift you at all?”
“Lift me?” I repeat.
