Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 68864 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68864 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
“I’ll absolutely have an answer for you by then. And thank you, Charles. It means the world to me that you’d offer such an incredible opportunity.”
“You’ve earned it,” he says warmly. “And when you’re ready to come back, we’ll have everything in place for you to start immediately. No rush—just something to look forward to. This is the kind of role people wait a lifetime for.”
“I know.” I glance through the café window, see Muriel waving at me like she already knows this is big. “I promise I’ll have an answer for you tomorrow.”
“Sounds great.”
When the call ends, I stand there thinking, the phone pressed to my chest. My mind races with numbers and logistics—salary, travel, my ability to afford a nicer place. But beneath all that practical noise, there’s something harder to face.
I’ve been starting to imagine staying in Whynot. It’s been flirting with my brain since Sam kissed me, although I keep pushing it aside. I keep telling myself that I have plenty of time to figure things out.
It looks like my time is up.
I take a breath, push through the café door, and head straight for Muriel, who’s now standing in the kitchen doorway barking instructions about tomorrow’s breakfast special.
“Can I talk to you for a sec?” I say, receiving a grateful smile from our afternoon cook, Betsy.
“Sure, honey.”
She walks slowly but steadily, and I follow her to a vacant table in the corner, eyeballing her progress with each step. She really is a tough old lady.
When we’re seated, I say, “That was my boss. He offered me a promotion.”
Her eyebrows shoot up. “Well, look at you. What’s the new title, Miss Fancy Pants?”
“Senior Policy Director. It’s huge, Muriel. More money, more responsibility.”
She leans forward. “Then why do you look like someone just handed you a ticking time bomb?”
“Because that’s what it feels like,” I admit. “I thought he was calling to tell me to come back or be replaced. Instead, it’s my dream job. But it means more travel, more work, more… everything. I’m not sure about this.”
Muriel studies me, her expression soft but her gaze sharp. “You’re worried about leaving? Child… you ran from Whynot and never looked back. What’s going on with you?”
I swallow hard. “I don’t know.”
“Yes, you do.”
She stares at me, daring me to deny it.
Heaving out a sigh, I pick at the corner of the tablecloth. “I left Whynot because it wasn’t big enough for me. It didn’t offer enough. But now… I’m seeing that it might have something for me.”
“Sam,” Muriel says with a knowing smile.
I nod, worrying at my bottom lip. “I don’t know what to do,” I confess. “I came here to help you, and I’ve loved every bit of it—even when you’ve been bossy as hell. But Sam…” My voice falters. “He’s made me reconsider all the things I thought were important in my life, and now I’m not so sure DC is where it’s at.”
“You have some pretty deep feelings,” she surmises.
I nod again, letting it spill out. “Sam loves this place. Like, it’s a part of who he is, and watching the town rally around him… it’s making me realize I might have left something precious behind.”
“Community,” Muriel says.
“Exactly. And I could never ask Sam to give that up, so I have to consider perhaps coming back, right?”
Muriel folds her hands on the table. “Dreams can bloom in more than one field, honey. You just gotta decide which dirt feels like yours.”
I stare at her, throat tight. “And what if both fields offer me something I want?”
“Then you got yourself a good problem.” She chuckles, the sound rough with age and affection. “You’ve always followed your heart and your passion, Penny Bean. Time to decide which one’s drivin’ the bus.”
I manage a small laugh, but it trembles. “You’re not making this any easier.”
“Wasn’t tryin’ to. Now go on. I think you need to talk to Sam about this.”
“No,” I say, pushing to my feet. “I’ll do it after I get off.”
“I’ve got it covered here,” Muriel says, staring at me in a way that makes me afraid to argue.
“But—”
“But nothing. I’ll just oversee things. I even promise I’ll sit my butt in a chair and not move around.”
I note there are currently only three customers in the diner and we have two waitresses on shift.
“Okay, but if I hear you lifted one finger, I’m going to take you home and chain you to the couch.” I lean down and kiss her cheek. “Try not to start a mutiny while I’m gone.”
Muriel waves her hand. “Too late. I already told Floyd he could bus tables if he stops flirtin’ with the customers.”
♦
I’d texted Sam that I was coming over, so he’s on the front porch swing waiting for me when I pull in. I smile when I see the laptop balanced on his knees and wonder how much of his writing he actually does at his desk. He looks up as I park, his smile slow and easy across his face.