Chapter 30

SAGE

“Do you think this is a mistake?” Sage met CeCe’s gaze in the reflection of the full-length mirror in her bedroom. Her best friend sat cross-legged on the edge of the twin bed, hugging Sage’s favorite throw pillow—a tufted circle with tiny honeybees embroidered by Gran—as she offered running commentary on the various outfits.

CeCe tilted her head to one side, assessing the coral cocktail dress Sage held just beneath her chin. She scrunched her nose. “Orange isn’t your best color.”

“I don’t mean the dress.” Sage sighed and shoved the hanger back into her closet.

“You mean the gala?” CeCe asked.

“The gala. The sailing-charter bookstore. Flynn. All of it.” She placed both hands on the back of her head like a runner with a side cramp, trying to calm her racing heartbeat.

From the moment they found the diary earlier that morning, everything happened so quickly. Flynn contacted Herman with the good news, then ran off to tell his parents his decision to postpone the promotion. Which they would undoubtedly perceive as extremely bad news.

Sage shivered in her satin slip. If Cordelia hadn’t loathed her before, this would clinch the deal, for sure.

She envisioned the pinched scowl on Cordelia’s face when she arrived at the gala as Flynn’s plus-one. Cordelia wouldn’t make a scene, but she would be seething beneath the surface. And would most likely make Sage pay in some way later on.

At least she had Flynn by her side this time.

“If you’re asking whether or not I think it’s a mistake to forgive the love of your life for a youthful transgression and let yourself be happy for once, then no, I don’t think it’s a mistake,” CeCe said with an air of confidence Sage wished she felt.

Was it really that simple?

Her thoughts swirling, Sage stared blankly at her closet. The collection of vintage and bohemian-inspired clothing blended together in an indiscernible kaleidoscope of colors and patterns. She’d never struggled to pick an outfit before. Why couldn’t she make a decision?

“Here.” CeCe hopped off the bed and shuffled through the hangers before retrieving a long, elegant gown of the palest green lace. The sweet flutter sleeves offset the more daring, figure-hugging silhouette. “This will look incredible on you. The sage color matches your eyes. And your name.” CeCe smirked.

“You don’t think it’s a bit too va-va-voom?” She fingered the tiny silver beads dotting the fabric. She’d borrowed the dress from her mother’s closet for some event she couldn’t remember but hadn’t wound up wearing it after all.

“Don’t worry, Cinderella. It’ll be perfect for a gala at the Cahill castle.” CeCe’s dark eyes held a playful glint.

“Does this make you my fairy godmother, then?”

“More like Q,” CeCe teased, referencing an omnipotent Star Trek character with the power to grant your every whim. “Your wish is my command.”

“Speaking of wishes, I wish I didn’t know what you’re talking about,” Sage said with a laugh. “I just hope someday you find a guy as nerdy as you.” She bit her tongue, immediately regretting her comment. It would take more than a fellow Star Trek fanatic for CeCe to forget her lifelong crush on small-town hunk turned Hollywood heartthrob, Jayce Hunt.

“Before we spend too much energy discussing things that will never happen, let’s focus on how you’re not going to blow it with Flynn by second-guessing yourself.” CeCe’s features softened. “It really sounds like things will be different this time.”

“I hope so.” Sage slid the dress over her head, then waited for CeCe to zip up the back before turning to face the mirror.

Her heartbeat stuttered. Was that her?

The dress fit like a dream, molding to every curve as if she’d been dipped in liquid aventurine—her favorite sage-green gemstone.

“Wow,” CeCe breathed. “Maybe I missed my calling as a personal stylist. You look amazing.”

“It is flattering, isn’t it?” Sage swished from side to side, mesmerized by the sparkling sheen. She’d never looked so elegant. Even Cordelia would approve.

Would Flynn like it? Her cheeks heated at the thought.

“Who wants to try some black tea with honey, ginger, and turmeric? I need a few guinea pigs for my new recipe.” Her mother stopped in the doorway with a tray of iced tea and two glasses. “Oh, honeybee.” She gasped when she spotted her daughter wearing her dress. “You look stunning.”

“Thanks.” Sage warmed at her mother’s compliment. “It’s okay if I wear it to the gala?”

“Of course! I’m happy it’s getting some use. It’s always been my favorite.”

“I’m surprised. You don’t usually like anything this fancy.” Her mother’s idea of formal wear consisted of wearing a bra with underwire. Normally, she lived in loose cotton dresses and linen palazzo pants.

Her mother’s eyes glazed over with a nostalgic glimmer. “Your father bought me that dress for a company Christmas party. It was held on a yacht. I’ll never forget that night.”

“Oh! I didn’t realize. I’ll find something else to wear.” Sage yanked the sleeve down over her shoulder, prepared to wriggle out of the offending gown.

Why hadn’t her mother tossed it after her father left?

“Don’t be silly.” Her mom set the tray on the dresser and moved to stand beside her. She lifted the sleeve and draped it back over her shoulder, fussing with the ruffle. “It looks perfect on you. And I know I don’t talk about your father very often, but I still cherish many of our memories. It wasn’t all bad, you know.” Her mother met her gaze in the mirror and smiled.

Sage’s heart squeezed. She did know. She had her own smattering of special memories from before her father left. At least, memories that would be special, if he’d decided to stick around.

The way her dad would push her across the carpet in a cardboard box, and she’d pretend to be a pirate queen or an astronaut. Or all the times they’d bring snacks to the airport and watch the planes take off, imagining the magical places they’d explore above the clouds.

They’d been happy once.

And then he’d disappeared as if he’d never existed at all.

“Do you think he ever regrets leaving us?” she whispered, voicing the question she’d carried in her heart for years.

“Oh, I know he does,” her mother said so matter-of-factly Sage jerked her head up in surprise.

“How do you know?”

“Because he called me six months ago and said he’d made a mistake marrying Susan. He wanted to know if I’d give him a second chance.”

“What did you say?” Her heart slowed to the faintest flutter.

“I told him the truth. That he doesn’t really want me back. He just doesn’t want to stay in a relationship when things get hard. So, he blames the other person. He blames the marriage. He makes every excuse to give himself an easy way out.”

“So, you told him no?” Sage wasn’t sure if she felt proud or disappointed.

“I told him he’d always be your father, should he ever realize it’s the greatest role of his life. But he gave up the right to be my husband the day he married Susan. I won’t come between a man and his wife, even if I was married to him first.”

Sage thought of all the nights she’d heard her mother cry herself to sleep through the thin wall dividing their bedrooms. Her mother had tried to be strong, to hide her pain, but even at six years old, Sage knew something awful had happened. And that nothing would be the same.

“Do you ever wish you’d never married him in the first place? That you could go back and avoid the heartache?”

“Never,” her mother answered instantly. “Each tear I shed for your father, I would willingly shed ten times over for even one of your smiles.” Her mom gently touched her cheek. “You are my greatest blessing, honeybee.”

Knowing she meant every word, Sage wrapped her arms around her mother’s neck, burying her face in her shoulder-length curls.

As she breathed in her homey, herbal scent, and caught CeCe’s smile over her shoulder, Sage could hear Flynn’s voice as he described The Curious Quest of Quinley Culpepper yesterday morning in Mira’s galley.

I realized it’s about the journey of finding yourself.

He’d been so right. The story wasn’t about the search for one person to fill a void. It had more to do with the search for oneself, who God made us to be—whole, complete, and unique, in Him. And about how He brings people into our lives—people like her mom and Gran and CeCe and so many others—to be our family.

Hidden behind a tale of mystery and adventure was a profound truth. A truth she hadn’t fully embedded in her heart until that moment.

There had been a time she’d let Flynn become her whole world. Her only source of happiness. And when he left, she’d lost everything.

Or so she’d thought.

But her family was here all along, both her anchors and her sails, given her need.

And she never wanted to lose sight of that blessing again.