He chuckled at my lame attempt to keep him from going.
“If our two-month-old starts crawling while I’m gone, I will be amazed.”
“She’s staying awake longer, so you never know... and the book says she should start recognizing familiar faces now. Not a good time to be leaving us.”
He scowled. “Trust me, I’m not happy about this, either. But it can’t be helped. I promise we’ll come back here as soon as I return.”
I could tell he was as upset as me, if not more, that he had to go, so I decided to quit with the guilt trip.
“On the bright side, Lainey’s happy I’ll be back at the bakery Wednesday afternoon.”
“You decided you’re going to keep working there?”
“Absolutely.”
“What about school?”
“Well, it’s too late to get accepted anywhere for the fall semester, and to be honest, Ruthie’s too little anyway.”
He nodded his head like he agreed but didn’t say anything more before I continued, “I think I could probably start a junior college in January. I only need twelve credits to finish myassociate’s degree—if they take my credits from PCO. And maybe I could do most of that online.”
“Let me know if you need me to do anything.”
“I will.” I paused and asked, “Do you care if I run down to the water one last time?”
“No, go ahead. We’ve got plenty of time.”
I ventured out the back door, past our tiny walled-in patio area, and through the gate leading to the beach.
I still couldn’t believe that he—we, as he liked to remind me—had a place on the ocean.
It was like a fairy tale.
Then I saw his house in Lancastle.
****
Alan
“Are you freaking kidding me?” Jess exclaimed as we waited for the gate at the end of my driveway to open.
“I travel a lot, and I like having an extra layer of security.”
We drove through the gate and rounded the curve so the house came into view.
“Shut the front door! This is not your house.”
“No,” I corrected, “it’sourhouse.”
“This is—” she stammered. “How on earth—” and finally, she sputtered, “You have to got to be joking.”
“Give it a chance. I think you’ll like it. I got the same nursery furniture we have in Haven Springs so Ruthie will feel comfortable. And you can redecorate however you want. You have carte blanche.”
“I’m sure the décor is amazing, Alan. That’s not the point.”
“What’s the point, then?”
“This is a freaking mansion!”
