Rory’s heart constricted with sadness. She knew what her mother feared to say, and it pained her to know that soon, her grandmother would be gone.
“I’m so sorry, Mom.”
“Me too, sweetie,” Andrea replied, her voice tight with regret. “All we can do now is make sure she’s comfortable and surrounded by family.”
“I will definitely be there then.”
As soon as she was off the phone, Rory switched on her laptop and emailed her superior to request time off.
Two days later, Rory zipped her carry-on with a sigh of relief that everything she’d planned to take with her had fit in the small luggage. She wheeled the suitcase out of her bedroom and posted it by the front door. Removing the letter from her laptop bag, she walked over to the kitchen island. She stared at the folded paper for a long time before finally placing it on the counter.
The sound of the alarm system disarming caused her to turn toward the door just as James walked through. He stopped in his tracks, his hand on the doorknob as he stared at Rory, who was already staring at him, surprised. She hadn’t expected him home.Why was he home so early?Suddenly his gaze cut to the suitcase just inches from his feet before looking questioningly back at her.
“Are you going somewhere?”
Rory recovered from her stupor in time to respond. “I took some time off from work. I’m going to Oak Harbor.”
“Were you planning on leaving without telling me?” His voice was deadly calm, but his eyes flared with restrained anger.
Her own anger came to the surface. “I didn’t think there was anything to tell. We’ve both been doing our own thing. I’ve literally only said ten words to you in the past two days. I’ve counted.”
“So what? I would have just come home to an empty house and wondered if you were okay. How can y—”
“Look, James, I really don’t have the time for this,” she breathed tiredly. “I was planning on leaving a letter for you, but you’re here now. I need some time away from…this,” she gestured between them. “I’m going to Oak Harbor because it’s the only place where I won’t feel like I’m alone. Plus, I need to spend time with my grandmother, who doesn’t have much time left.”
James stared at her for a beat. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, and his eyes became hooded. “Okay.” With that, he moved away from the door, granting her exit.
Rory walked over to her luggage, hesitating over the handle before she wrapped her palm around it and walked out of the apartment.
In her car, she aggressively hit the steering over and over again before resting her head against it as hot tears streamed down her cheeks and her heart threatened to burst in two.
ChapterFour
Rory yawned for the fourth time since leaving San Francisco eight hours ago. She was starting to regret her impulsive decision to drive all the way to Whidbey Island rather than take the plane. At the rate she was going and the exhaustion she felt, she was sure she would be asleep within the next hour. It was time to find a motel. Pulling up her map, she browsed the ones in close proximity to Portland’s I-5 N. She chose Sunnyside Inn, which was only a mile away from the highway.
A half-hour later, she was settled under the warm covers of a four-poster bed. The next morning at the crack of dawn, she was back on the road, and in five hours, she was driving over the Deception Pass Bridge. Each time she’d driven over it or viewed it from the State Park, she’d been in awe. The majestic structure curved beautifully over the blue-green water below and provided a panoramic view of the landmasses populated with evergreens and deciduous trees that connected to the mainland and surrounded by the pacific.
She needed to paint it and the Cascade Mountains, which would be trading its evergreen palette soon enough for one marked by snow-capped peaks juxtaposed against a clear, blue sky. There was so much that she appreciated about this small town and wished she could pack up and take it back with her to San Fran.
Two minutes later, she’d driven past the elliptical welcome sign that displayed the words ‘Welcome to Whidbey Island’ in bold, black letters and ten minutes after that, she was driving through the famous avenue of Oaks. Oak trees lined either side of the street like guard rails.
When she finally pulled past the sign that read ‘Willberry Inn, Restaurant and Property,’ anticipation bubbled on the inside, and she slowed the car to give herself enough time to get her emotions in check. She took the time to admire her surroundings. Colorful leaves floated to the ground as she passed the Oak and Birch trees preparing for the winter. A pile of leaves stood tall under one. She remembered how back in New York, she’d wished she had things like these— mountains of leaves to play in. She passed well-maintained boxwood and fire, and ice daylilies led the way to the inn, a three-story colonial home renovated to incorporate a few modern architectural changes. Soon she was passing the restaurant with its rustic exterior and pulling up to the main house.
Drawing in a deep breath, she exhaled and exited her car. The air here, she noted, was a lot cooler than back in San Fran, and she found herself pulling her sweater tighter around her.
“Hi, sweetie,” her mother greeted when she stepped out.
“Hi, Mom,” Rory smiled, walking into her mother’s embrace. The warmth and affection of the hug tugged at her heart, and she wanted to cry. It felt like coming home.
“Let’s get you inside. You must be tired after all the driving,” Andrea suggested after they separated.
“I’m not that tired. I stopped at that motel. Remember?”
“Okay. Well, you can just freshen up, and we can talk after that,” she conceded.
“Where’s grandma?” she asked the minute they stepped into the foyer.
Andrea hesitated. Rory could see the pain that flashed in her eyes before they became hooded.
