And to make the decision that was looming before her, that was all she really needed to know.
****
It took Leah a week to hand over her case files to Willow and Nick. They were sad to see her go but understood the lure of the ocean. Maybe they were even a little jealous.
She hadn’t mentioned the lure of a biker who was oh, so good at giving her all the right feels in all the right places.
During that time, she’d set up two interviews for practices in Newton and Clement, one of which had practically offered her the position over the phone. So she wasn’t worried about finding another job. Her résumé was impressive, just as her father had intended it to be.
Another phone call to a realtor had set the wheels in motion for the sale of her property, and she’d put in an official bid for the beach house.
She hadn’t spoken to her father or Ellen since the party. That suited her.
Friday evening came, and she poured a glass of wine as she stood looking out the window at the spot on the curbside where she’d last seen Carter. They hadn’t communicated since.
She picked up her cell.
I’ll be there tomorrow
Sipping her drink, she set her phone to one side.
It buzzed almost immediately.
You won’t regret it.
She was glad Carter was so sure. She felt like she’d thrown her life up in the air and was about to watch as it landed in a higgledy-piggledy mess.
It was a mess before.
It was clear to see that now. She’d been living to work, unhappy and lonely but not admitting it. Stuck in a rut was an understatement. Too sad and tired to stick up for herself when it came to her father and Ellen controlling her life.
Well, that was all about to change. It had to.
She touched her locket. A lovely warmth filled her heart. She got the feeling her mother would be proud of her for being brave enough to step out of the familiar and into the unknown. And she was sure, if she’d gotten to know Carter, she’d be pleased that Leah was going to have a strong man who cared about her at her side.
****
Leah drew the VW onto the drive of the beach house. It was late afternoon, and the front of the house was in shade.
For a moment, she paused to admire it. The windows were so pretty, as was the porch. The flowers seemed to welcome her, and the tall roof promised shelter.
“Home sweet home.”
She grabbed her purse, then got out of the car and locked it. She’d unpack the rest later. Right now, she wanted to fill her lungs with sea air, hear the waves crashing to shore, and stare at the vast horizon.
The key was in its usual box, and she let herself in.
Everything was so familiar, so right. From the smell of the wooden floorboards, to the shafts of light stretching like long arms through the window and letting dust motes waltz in their embrace.
She set her purse down, pulled in a deep breath, and walked right through to the deck. Pulling the door open, she was welcomed by the sound of the ocean and a package on the table.
Wondering what it could be, she wandered over to it.
Wrapped in brown paper was a leather jacket. Small, high-waisted, and with a golden eagle emblem on the back.
She held it up and admired the soft fabric.
“You found it.”