"Well, Ravenhart Mountain is situated right in the middle of Branwen Beach and Corvid Valley, which are just like Sea Glass," she says.
My eyes drift from the window to my sister.
"What do you mean? Like, a paranormal safe-haven type place?"
"Exactly. So I'm sure Ravenhart Mountain has the same vibes."
A small smile dances on my lips.
"Are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting?"
Joelle shrugs.
"Well, you can work from anywhere with your job. So if you are really that unhappy, you now have a mountain cabin you could go make a home."
I sip my morning coffee, staring out at the chilly Vegas landscape and trying to find my mojo to create a fantasy cover for my latest client. Since returning from Sea Glass, I've been in a slump, and it's affecting my work.
A loud knock at my front door interrupts my navel-gazing. I'm not expecting a package and never get random visitors during the day.
I open the door to find my fiancé Buddy standing there holding a dress bag in his hand.
"Hey, babe," he says, pulling me in for a quick kiss.
"What's going on?"
"Get dressed. We're getting married today," he says.
I blurt out, "We are what?"
"You talked in your sleep the other night about selling your new cabin, and I want to be involved with all of that. So let's make it legal," he says, grabbing my coat off the hook and handing it to me.
"I haven't decided that I'm selling it."
"Of course you are," he says dismissively, handing me a pair of boots. Then he grabs them back from me.
"Actually, get in the dress now. I think that makes more sense than changing at the chapel."
"What chapel?" I say as he leads me to the bathroom, shoving the dress bag into my hands.
Twenty minutes later, I am squished inside my compact car covered in white tulle as he instructs me where to go along the Las Vegas Freeway.
"Buddy, what about my sister?" I say as he tells me to get off at an exit.
"She'll understand," he says with a dismissive wave as I pull into the parking lot of a small white chapel covered in neon signs.
Buddy hops out as soon as I put the car into park. My stomach squirms with anxiety looking at the tacky church, and I remain behind the wheel, unable to move. After a couple of seconds, Buddy comes to the driver's side impatiently.
"Come on. Let's go. I was lucky to get this appointment," he shouts through the glass.
Realization washes over me. I roll down the window and slip the diamond ring off my finger. He gives me a confused look as I place it into his open palm.
"This is over, Buddy. I'm not marrying you."
My ex-fiancé's jaw drops as I put the car into reverse and peel out of my spot. Waiting at the light to turn onto the freeway, I plug Ravenhart Mountain into my GPS and head west, feeling freer than I have in a long time.
The desert landscape rushes by as I leave Vegas in my rearview mirror. My heart pounds with a mix of terror and exhilaration. I just ended my engagement. I just drove away from a wedding chapel in a dress I never asked to wear.
But as the miles stretch out between me and Buddy, between me and the life I almost settled for, my breathing steadies. The GPS estimates seven hours to Ravenhart Mountain. Seven hoursto figure out what the hell I'm going to do next. Seven hours until I arrive at a cabin I've never seen in a town I know nothing about.
