“Because I’m not sure how I feel about it,” I admitted. “And yesterday was your day to shine. I didn’t want to make it about me.”
He shook his head, a faint smile tugging at his mouth. “But where there’s me, there’s also you. There’salwaysroom for you, Anna.”
My heart wobbled, delighting in his words, but also still questioning if there was room for a different version of me.
“So, what do you think about what I told you?” I prodded, unsure of what answer I wanted.
Chase gave my plan a light squeeze. “I don’t think it’s really up to me,” he answered carefully. “If it’s something you want, you should do it.” His tone was even. Supportive.
“Even if it means I have to leave here?”
I searched his eyes, looking for some flicker of doubt. Distress. But his expression had gone completely neutral. “If that’s what it takes, then we’ll figure it out.”
I stared at him, my stomach flipping. “Just like that?” I asked. “No hesitation?”
He let out a quiet breath and looked out the window toward the barn, where just a week ago I felt like everything in my life was falling into place.
“Anna, I’m not going to be the guy who tells you what you can or can’t do. Not after everything you’ve lived through. I think you’ve spent a long time putting yourself last,” he said simply. “And if someone sees something you made and wants to help you grow it? That’s not something you ignore.”
I sat still, unsure what to say or even how to feel. It wasn’t because of what he said, but because of what hedidn’tsay. He didn’t ask me to stay. Hadn’t asked what it meant forus. Didn’t he care if this took me away?
I hated the thought. It wasn’t fair. But it crept into my head, anyway.
I knew Chase loved me.
But how easily could he let me go?
I hadn’t written in my journal for several days. Mostly because I’d been so busy, but also I felt settled and didn’t need it the way I once had.
But today, I didn’t know what to do with everything I was feeling. So I reached for my pen
I called Calla Skincare
I told Emma I’d think about her offer
I didn’t ask Chase what to do
But instead of feeling stronger, I felt…tired. Like I was checking boxes that didn’t feel uplifting like they should, but just sat flat on the page.
I needed my walk today more than ever. My usual paths didn’t call to me the way they usually did. I didn’t pay much attention to where I was going. I only knew that I needed to keep moving. Jack didn’t care. He trotted ahead as if he knew where he was going, and I let myself follow mindlessly.
When the old mill came into view, I paused. It was painfully appropriate that I should arrive at the very place Chase and I had made love for the first time since my return. The place where we spoke of legacy.
The word loomed in my mind as I kept walking toward it. Could I have my own? Or was I meant to just be part of someone else’s?
Jack suddenly stopped short. I barely had time to react before I stumbled over something solid in the grass.
