Early the next morning, Lucy plodded down the back steps of the inn, her thick-soled boots heavier than normal.
The golden mid-morning sun tried to lift her spirits, but to no avail. Too many troubled thoughts spiraled in her head.
As she crossed the backyard, she ignored the remnants of last night’s party yet to be packed away. Each bare table and stray chair reminded her that Vick never showed, triggering her pain anew.
Part of her wanted to immediately dismiss Morgan’s offer, seek out Vick, and find out why he never responded to her note. But another, louder voice reasoned that meeting Trent couldn’t hurt.
If things with Vick were beyond repair, she’d have a viable alternative, a chance to get away from it all.
Even the mere possibility made her chest hurt, like running too far, too fast and forgetting to breathe.
Her cell phone buzzed, and she paused by the gazebo to retrieve it from her coat pocket.
She read the text from Morgan twice, trying to wrap her head around the surreal message. She’d need to be at the private airport in Primrose Valley in less than an hour, then she’d be on her way to meet the man she may or may not be joining on a tour around the globe for several months.
In a different lifetime, she might find the opportunity thrilling. And if she concentrated hard enough, the siren call of extravagant adventures might come close to igniting her imagination and wanderlust. But she couldn’t bring herself to be excited, not when she thought about everything she’d be leaving behind.
Especially Vick.
The uncomfortable tension spread across her chest again, and she struggled to inhale a deep breath.
Even in the expansive outdoors, with fresh, crisp air in endless supply, invisible walls closed in around her, reminding her that so much of her life remained uncertain.
What if they discovered something on the MRI and whatever choices she once had were suddenly stripped away?
Part of the arrangement for meeting Trent gave her access to his private pilot and driver for the afternoon, so she’d scheduled the return flight for after her doctor’s appointment.
The downside was that no one else could come with her, which generated plenty of grumbling from Jack and Sadie in particular. Lucy loved them for it and didn’t want to hurt their feelings by confessing the one person she wanted by her side the most had already let her down.
Slipping her phone back into her coat pocket, she ducked down the narrow trail leading into the forest of fragrant pines and sinewy sycamores, forcing the bleak reflections aside.
The farther she headed into the woods, following Kat’s directions from memory, the softer her footfalls became, as if the dense, protective covering offered shelter from her troubles.
When she rounded the bend in the well-traversed path, she came to a small clearing with a single bench in the heart of the thicket.
Jayla sat in the middle, her head tilted back, gazing up at the swaying branches.
Surprised to not be alone, Lucy stepped back, snapping a twig beneath her heel.
Jayla jumped, then smiled when she caught sight of Lucy. “Hi.”
“I’m sorry to interrupt. I’ll—”
“Join me. There’s plenty of room.” Jayla scooted to the side, leaving the center of the bench open for Lucy.
“Are you sure? I really don’t mind coming back later.”
“I insist.” Jayla patted the smooth cedar slats, and Lucy settled beside her, grateful for the invitation. She wasn’t sure why, but she had her heart set on visiting this spot today.
“So, what’s so special about—” Lucy’s question stalled on the tip of her tongue, her gaze drawn upward by an unexpected, ethereal sound.
Lyrical wind danced through the tops of the trees, seemingly coming from every direction. Frozen in wonder, she held her breath, as though a single utterance would disturb the magical corner of the universe suspended in time and space.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Jayla asked softly.
“I’ve never heard anything like it,” Lucy whispered. “How is it possible?”
“I don’t know. A small convergence zone, maybe? Or more likely a trick of the ear. I thought about looking it up, but didn’t want to spoil the illusion.”
“I can see why Kat loves it here.”
“Me, too. I’ve been back several times since my first visit.”
Lucy noticed something had shifted in Jayla’s demeanor, or maybe her countenance, and without thinking, she asked, “Has it helped?”
“It sounds strange, but yes. I think it has. Or maybe the wind just confirmed what I already knew.” She released a light, incredulous laugh, as though she couldn’t believe her own logic. “For weeks, I’d been questioning how much longer I could do my job, if I needed to quit. I was tired and burnt out. But sitting here, I realized I could never give it up. It brings me joy and a sense of purpose. I just need to be better about taking breaks and asking for help.”
“A sense of purpose,” Lucy murmured, studying the slivers of sky peeking through the branches. “I wish I knew how to find mine.”
For several seconds, Jayla didn’t respond. When she finally spoke, her words were gentle and carefully considered. “Perhaps it’s been there all along, but there’s something keeping you from seeing it?”
“Maybe,” Lucy conceded, though it didn’t seem likely. “How did you find yours?”
“Honestly, it came about kind of like this place. The convergence of life’s opportunities, what I was good at, what brought me joy, and what allowed me to bless others. All the pieces pointed to the same thing.”
“And what you do is incredible, Jayla,” Lucy told her with genuine admiration.
To her surprise, Jayla shrugged off the compliment. “It’s no more noble than what anyone else does. We all have the ability and opportunity to make a difference in our own unique way. Like you, Lucy. You have a special gift. A voice. There’s something about you that draws people in and inspires them to act. Real, genuine influence from a place of kindness and humility. And I have no doubt you’ll figure out exactly what to do with it.” She gave her shoulder a squeeze before rising from the bench. “Sometimes, all you have to do is wait for a subtle whisper in the wind.”
With one last smile, she waved goodbye and disappeared down the path toward the inn, leaving Lucy alone on the bench.
Inhaling a deep, cleansing breath, she closed her eyes and opened her heart, finally prepared to listen.
Vick sat in his Jeep, the engine idling.
Parked outside his home, he hadn’t budged for over five minutes, torn between confronting Rhett and going after Lucy.
In the wake of his encounter with Rhett last night, he’d been too rattled to stay. He’d needed answers. After making several calls, he’d finally gotten a hold of their old neighbor in Los Angeles, Lisa Alinac, who confirmed Rhett’s story. At least, the part about Rhett being his father.
He still couldn’t believe it.
What he knew about the hardworking, amiable cook didn’t fit the picture of his deadbeat dad. And he resented being filled with so many questions about his past—questions he’d purposefully buried.
At a young age, he’d resolved to never look for his father.
Now that the man was right in front of him, he didn’t know what to do.
He thought about what Rhett said regarding his parole officer. She obviously knew he was in town somewhere; she simply needed to catch him by surprise. How would he feel if Rhett got hauled away without ever seeing him again? Did he even want to talk?
He still wasn’t sure.
But he was sure how he felt about Lucy. And he wanted to hear her side of the story, to know why that other man had been at the party with her.
Maybe it wasn’t as bad as it looked?
He prayed that it wasn’t.
Pulling out of his parking spot, he eased down the dirt road, being mindful of meandering chickens. He’d already talked to Bill about switching from a month-to-month agreement to a yearlong lease, and he’d been touched by how readily Bill agreed. He even mentioned how broken-up Buddy would be if he left. Although his four-legged friend had been spending a lot of time with another goat named Holly, proving even Buddy knew more about love than he did. Maybe he should ask for a few pointers? Especially if his rival Peter Pan stood half a chance.
Beyond the gate, Vick stepped on the gas, suddenly in more of a hurry.
When he pulled into the driveway of the inn, Sadie was unloading boxes of chocolate from the back of her delivery van.
Vick hopped out of the Jeep to help her. “Have you seen Lucy today?” Her car wasn’t parked in the driveway.
“Earlier this morning. But she’s on her way to LA right now.”
“What?” His heartbeat stalled, and he leaned against the side of the van to gather a breath. At the news, everything inside of him ached with regret and defeat.
The neurological clinic was in LA, which meant she’d finally made her appointment. More than anything, he’d wanted to go with her, to be a steady presence, a shoulder to lean on, the support she needed.
But he’d missed his chance.
As if sensing the weight of his disappointment, Sadie set down her stack of boxes and turned to face him, her features soft, yet serious. “Do you love her?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He had zero doubt and didn’t care who knew it, even in light of his epic failure.
“Then for goodness’ sake, please tell her already.” The sparkle in her eyes belied the censure in her voice.
“Believe me, I plan on it.” Running a hand through his hair, he racked his brain for a solution, something to fix his terrible timing. “Do you know where her appointment is? If I leave right now maybe—”
“You’ll never make it if you drive.”
“I don’t really have another option.” Crushing regret wrapped around his chest again.
If only he’d arrived sooner.
Slipping her phone from her back pocket, Sadie smiled. “Lucky for you, I do.”