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)
He puts the computer aside and stands up to meet me at the top porch step. “I know we had plans later tonight, so I’ll admit… I’m a little worried as to what has you leaving the diner early to come talk to me.”
“Something big’s happened and you’re the one person in the world I want to share it with,” I say.
I climb the steps and he tugs me into his arms. His kiss is soft, grounding, and it steals my words.
When he lifts his head, he smiles. “Okay… lay it on me.”
“I got a call from DC.”
He searches my face, trying to figure out what that means. “Good news?”
“Yes. Scary news, but good. They offered me a promotion—Senior Policy Director. More money, national projects, lots of travel, the works.”
His eyes widen and warm with pride. “Penny, that’s amazing.”
“It is.” My voice comes out small. “It’s everything I’ve worked for. But the first thing I thought about was you.”
Sam’s hand tightens around mine and he pulls me over to the swing. “I’d be lying if I said I don’t love hearing that. But I can see I’m part of what’s causing you some consternation.”
I sink onto the seat and he joins me. “It should be a no-brainer, right? Like… I should have leapt at the job. I should have said yes right away. But I didn’t. I asked for some time to think about it.”
“What’s the dilemma?” he asks, gently holding my hand.
“The dilemma is that I find myself weighing options. I’m not going to lie… I was thinking about staying.” Sam blinks at me in surprise, and he can’t hide the sparkle of happiness that brings him. “I’ve been trying to figure out how to make this home again and is there a place for me other than at your side. What kind of work would I do? Where would I live? Would I be happy walking away from a career I love? But this job offer… it changes everything.”
He looks out at the yard before bringing his gaze back to me. “I can’t be the reason you turn down the job, Penny. I’ll never be the reason you give up dreams. Take the job if it feels right. We’ll figure out the rest.”
“Even if that means long distance?”
“Even if. We’re adults. We can handle miles.”
“Can we?” I ask, slight panic in my voice. “Because connection comes from proximity. And I’m going to be traveling all the time. I feel like this has doom written all over it as far as we’re concerned.”
“I’m mobile, you know,” he says thoughtfully. “I could come visit you in DC when you’re not traveling. It would be something.”
“Yeah,” I murmur, my gaze sliding out to stare at his front yard. I’m trying to envision what that would look like, but for the life of me, I just can’t. It doesn’t seem like enough for either of us.
“Look,” he says, and my head swings his way. “You and I have plenty of time to figure us out. I’m not going anywhere. But I suspect you don’t have time on this job. You can’t let this opportunity go because we’re unsure of what we may or may not be. You need to accept the offer.”
I pay careful attention to how that makes me feel, and it’s overwhelming relief that he’s taking the decision out of my hands. Because while I’ve been wrestling with how I make this right with me and Sam, I was afraid I would sacrifice a part of myself. A wave of calm rushes through me. Sam recognizes it and insists I stay true to myself.
I heave out a relieved breath. “Okay. I will. Accept the job, that is.”
Sam flashes me a smile and while I see a whole lot of pride and happiness, I’m notching a dream, I still glimpse the sadness underneath. This wonderful little bubble we’ve been living in the last few weeks is bursting.
Standing from the swing, Sam pulls me up, straight into an all-encompassing hug. “How about we drive into Raleigh tonight? Grab dinner somewhere that doesn’t serve hushpuppies?”
I laugh, a little watery but real. “That sounds perfect.”
As I wait for Sam to put away his laptop, I press my hand to the railing, grounding myself in the wood beneath my fingers. It hits me then—how something can feel right and wrong all at once. I’m thrilled, terrified, proud and already mourning the version of us that existed before this decision.
CHAPTER 21
Sam
Derek’s talking tour dates, but I’m watching Penny over the rim of my coffee. She laughs at something he says, sunlight catching the copper in her hair, and the ache hits again—love mixed with a countdown clock.
Yeah… it’s love. I write about it enough to know when it’s real.
I told Penny to take the DC promotion and it was the right decision. And yet, it feels like I handed my own heart a one-way ticket to doom. Penny called her boss and accepted the position. She’ll be heading back to Washington at the end of the week.