And I needed to lay it all out so Elizabeth could get used to the idea that this move was real. “I’m going to buy the law practice here, Liz. I’m in a rental right now, but Thatcher and I have talked about getting a place together. Tobuy. His brother Buck is coming back soon, and he wants to give his cabin to him. I’d really love for you to meet him.”
“His brother?”
“No. Thatcher.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “What do you even know about him? It’s been a month. What does he do for a living? Who are his parents? What are his goals?”
Confidently I said, “He owns his own company. And his parents are lovely.” I’d met them last weekend. They’d welcomed me straight into the family as though they already knew I was the one.
“What kind of company?”
Never try to slip anything by a lawyer. It’s like they sensed what you were downplaying.
“He runs a trash removal service.”
Lizzie’s eyes got huge.
Then she spoke without thinking. She did that sometimes, and I always recognized it when it happened.
“You left Williams, Phelps and Harmon, the most prestigious firm in New York City, to marry a fuckingtrashman? Are you serious, Shelby? Are you having a nervous breakdown at twenty-six years old?”
“He’s anamazingman. And it shouldn’t matter what he does for a living. I’m in love with him. That’s all that matters.”
I watched my best friend in the whole world shut down. She was closing me out. “I can’t believe you’re leaving me for a trashman.”
“I’m notleavingyou, Liz. I just can’t live that life anymore. It’s not for me. If you saw this place and met these people, you’d understand there’s something different out there for us. A new life is possible. It doesn’t have to be work, work, work and then you die surrounded by pretty baubles. Just last night, we went out, and the fall wind was whipping leaves around us in the air. We brought his sleeping bag out and watched the stars for hours. That would never happen in New York City.”
I didn’t mention that we’d made love afterward, in the backyard of his cabin. Or that I’d been late to work the next morning because I overslept. Or that Hank didn’t mindat all. My old bosses would have been screaming.
“Life can be more than work, Liz. You deserve better than the firm can give you. Come visit us. Just once. You might fall in love with the place.”
She sighed as I heard the ding of a text coming through. “That’s them now. I’ve got to go. It was nice catching up. Have fun with your new life.”
Then the screen went blank.
I had to give up either my best friend or the love of my life. And ithurt.
If I could just get Liz to come out here once, I knew I could convince her to stay. I’d always been stronger in debate than her. She’d see the wisdom of the decision. She’d feel the magic of this place. Thesepeople.
Thatcher wandered in with two mugs of hot apple cider. He was already changed into his cozy flannel bathrobe for the night. “You off already? I was hoping to meet her.”
Hiding the storm inside me, I put on a brave face. “You’ll meet her next time we chat. She had some work stuff to do.”
As he took a sip of his cider, he gave me a measured stare. “How did she react to your decision to move here permanently?”
I snuggled deep in his arms. “She had a little resistance to the idea. But she’ll come around. She always does.” At least I hoped she would.
Chapter 11
Thatcher
I could tell by the look on her face that the call hadn’t gone well.
But I’d already learned that sometimes Shelby needed to tell me things in her own time. So I didn’t press her further.
Instead, I held her tight, my heart hammering in my chest.
“I found a house today.”
