“I don’t know. It happened gradually. It sure didn’t help that we shared a class that semester. But the bottom line is, you will start feeling better. And someday you’ll meet your own Carlos, and you’ll be grateful it worked out this way.”
She found that hard to believe. At the moment it was taking everything she had not to dissolve into a puddle of tears. She swallowed hard. “Can we talk about something else? I’m so tired of wallowing in misery. Tired ofthinking.”
“Of course. What do you want to talk about? My adorable doggie, my mother’s new career opportunity, or your plans for the upcoming school year? See how I made it multiple choice for you?”
“Very kind. What’s going on with your mom?”
“Well, you know she was thinking of retiring and eventually moving to Tucker Island, but the owner of the realty office where she works offered to sell her the company.”
“Oh, wow, that’s huge.”
“She has the funds to buy her out, and it seems to have reignited her enthusiasm in her career.”
“She’s awfully young to retire. You think she’s going to buy it?”
“I think she might. I have to admit, I don’t love the idea of her moving to South Carolina.”
“You’ve always been so close.”
“I’d be happy to keep her here for another ten years or so. How are your parents doing, by the way?”
“They’re still separated but Mom’s been seeing a therapist, so that’s good.”
“Oh, that’s great. That’s new, isn’t it?”
“It is. She’s always been resistant before, but I think she’s finally tired of the roller-coaster ride. I know Dad is. He’s thinking about going to counseling with her, so that’s something.”
“That would be great for both of them. Maybe they can finally build a healthier relationship.”
“That’s the hope. Better late than never.” How ironic that her parents were finally getting their relationship on track just as Sadie’s had fallen apart. Maybe love was more complicated than she’d imagined. Maybe it involved more effort than she’d ever realized.
They paused as a car went by, its bass thumping loudly.
Caroline sipped her tea. “Wanna brainstorm your story a little? I’m no writer, but I’ve read my share of romances.”
“It couldn’t hurt, I guess. My hero and heroine are in love but have broken up because her life is in the city—Chicago—and his is on St.Lucia. I can’t decide how to resolve the geographical problem.”
“She should definitely move to St.Lucia.”
Sadie gave her a droll grin. “It’s not that simple. The city is her dream—it’s who she is. I can’t make her give up a part of herself for some man. That’s so 1950s.”
“You make a good point. And why can’t your hero just move to the city to be with his one and only?”
“He owns a boat-charter business on the island, one he’s built from the ground up.”
“I guess they are in a tricky spot. But there has to be compromise with any relationship. If they’re going to be together, someone has to make the sacrifice.”
“But does it have to be the heroine?”
“Not necessarily. If Carlos had a big opportunity in another state and it meant a lot to him, I’d move for him—and I know he’d do the same for me. So maybe your hero and heroine are both willing to move.” Caroline paused, tilted her head. Her gaze sharpened on Sadie’s. “Are we still talking about your characters?”
Sadie blinked. She’d thought they were. “That point is moot. Sam and I never even got around to discussing where we might live. I never even told him I—”
“That you love him?” Caroline asked softly.
“I never told him and he certainly never told me.”
“Well, just for the record, you did a lot of dreaming in college about living in the Big Apple... but from what I can see, you don’t love city life all that much.”
