Elizabeth looked drawn and tired.
I recognized the look, because I’d had the same appearance the whole time I worked for the firm, too. They took too much. There was nothing left for living.
“You seem so… cheerful. It’s weird,” Lizzie said with a frown on her face.
“It’s this place. It’s different here. It’s like I can actually be alive. I had no idea how much of a toll those eighty-hourworkweeks were taking on me. I’d love it if you could come here and see it for yourself.”
She shook her head as if that were impossible. “Why would I do that? Besides, you’re coming home soon, right?”
“Oh… that’s up in the air.”
Lizzie’s eyes narrowed. “You’re not thinking ofstayingthere. Are you? You said you were surrounded by a bunch of rednecks and country folk.”
I bit my lip. I knew she wouldn’t take this well.
“They’ve grown on me. And maybe I was being judgmental. It wasn’t very nice of me to say that.”
Lizzie snorted. “Since when have you been nice?”
Since Thatcher.
Being with him had changed me somehow. It wasn’t just the town. If I were being honest, it was all him. He’d made the place come alive for me.
Flippantly I said, “I’m trying it on for size.”
She laughed. “I’ll just wait until you come back. I can skip the smell of cow shit on my shoes.”
It was crazy how fast things had changed. Six months ago I would have agreed with her whole-heartedly.
Now… I loved this place. And I realized I loved Thatcher, too.
“Liz. I have to tell you, the place grows on you. I mean, just the other day we went for a haybale ride out at his friend’s farm and—”
Elizabeth’s eyes narrowed. “Who’she?”
“Uh, Thatcher. His name is… Thatcher.”
Now she looked scared, like she’d just realized this might be real for me.
“Congratulations. Are you two dating, or is it casual?”
How could I say this?
“I just wish you could come and meet him. I never thought this would happen to me. He’s so handsome. And tall. And his body’slike a work of art; all the men around here are like that. But… I think we’re getting serious. If things keep going the way they are, I could even see us getting married. He’s not like anyone I’ve ever met before.”
Lizzie’s face crumbled right in front of me. Then she put on a brave mask, a fake smile landing on her lips. “Oh. That’s so… wonderful! Wonderful, uh, so you’re not moving back?”
I shook my head. “I don’t think I am. I canceled my storage unit. You can get anything you want out of there for the next ten days. It wasn’t worth having the furniture shipped. Besides, Thatcher has this rustic vibe going, and my velvet couch wouldn’t match well.”
“You’re giving up your green velvet couch?” Elizabeth looked seriously concerned about me.
I winced. I’d spent four thousand dollars on it. “Yeah.”
Thatcher was worth a hundred of those couches.
Quietly, Lizzie said, “The firm’s been asking about you. They say your knowledge of acquisition law is remarkable. They’d like to have you back. They’re taking on a big merger soon. Westwind and Ativita.”
Those were two huge mega-corporations. Normally, hearing that would have me salivating. But now it just made me tired.
