The rest of my time in London went by quickly. I saw several great properties, as well as all of the typical tourist attractions. The Rogers family showed me the bustling Covent Garden with its street performers and vibrant market stalls.
We walked through the historic Tower of London, where the ancient stones seemed to whisper stories of the past. I marveled at the Crown Jewels, their brilliance almost blinding under the display lights.
On my free afternoon, I took the chance to visit the British Museum. Its grand, neoclassical facade was imposing, and as I walked through the Great Court, I felt a sense of awe at the sheer scale of human history housed within those walls.
I wandered through galleries filled with ancient artifacts, from the Rosetta Stone to the Elgin Marbles. Each piece seemed to pulse with the weight of its history, connecting me to a timeline that stretched back thousands of years.
I also took a stroll along the South Bank of the Thames. The views were spectacular, with the river glistening under the afternoon sun and the London Eye rotating slowly in the distance.
Street musicians played lively tunes, and the air was filled with the delicious aroma of food from nearby stalls. I felt a part of the city's rhythm, an intricate dance of history and modernity.
I looked at three different options for schools. I knew that I would never send Rylan to a boarding school, as I wanted tokeep him with me, and I knew he would want to stay with me. However, there were other very suitable options, and I could see him thriving in those environments.
While I enjoyed my time and getting to know different people within the company, I was preoccupied trying to decide what I was going to do.
If I was just making decisions for myself, I would jump at the opportunity. I knew that I would enjoy it personally, and it would be an amazing move for me professionally.
However, I did not just have myself to consider. I had to make the decision that was best for Rylan as well. And, as much as I tried not to think of her, I couldn’t help but wonder what this would mean regarding Brenna.
Every time her face entered my mind, I tried to dismiss it. We were not dating. We had not ever even discussed the idea of dating. But I couldn’t lie to myself. I cared about her very much and I was attracted to her. We got along great, and I loved watching the way she interacted with Rylan. He seemed very comfortable with her, and I could picture a future with her.
She would be having the grand reopening of the B&B in just two weeks, and was starting on an incredible adventure. I didn’t like the thought of not being able to be there to help her and support her on the way.
Despite all of that, I knew I couldn’t make a decision based on her. I had to do the right thing, and I had to consider every aspect of my life.
On my last day in England, Paul had insisted that he take me to the airport himself.
As we were driving, he said that he had wanted a final moment to speak to me on a personal level.
“I understand that this is an enormous decision you have to make, and I am not going to try to pressure you either way. Obviously, we believe that you would be a wonderful fit forour organization; otherwise, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation. However, as a father myself, I understand that you have to do what is best for your son as well.”
“Thank you,” I said, feeling relieved that he understood where I was coming from. I didn’t want him to think that I was ungrateful or that I didn’t realize the enormity of his offer.
“I know it would be awkward for you to ask me for advice. And, quite honestly, I know that I would not be unbiased. But I will just leave you with the concept that has served me well for my entire life. Trust your instincts. You have gotten to where you are in your life because you have excellent instincts, so go with them. Do not doubt them. You are accountable to no one besides yourself and your son. As long as you don’t sway from that, you will make the right decision.”
I thanked him, then we shook hands. I got out of the car and let him know that I would be in touch in two weeks.
I tried to sleep during my flight home, but to no avail. My mind was racing the entire time, and I was trying to figure out what my instincts were telling me.
Finally, about an hour before I landed, I decided to stop trying to find the answer. I let it all go. I realized that I would know what to do when the time came. I exhaled, and felt a wave of peace wash over me. I would give it some time and allow my instincts to tell me what was right.
I closed my eyes and felt relieved.
Chapter 15
Brenna
I slowly walked through every room, carefully inspecting each surface. The walls gleamed with fresh paint, and the floors shone from the recent polish. The windows sparkled, letting in the golden afternoon light, and the furniture was arranged perfectly, creating an inviting and cozy atmosphere.
Once I had seen everything in the house, I went outside to the deck, collapsed into one of the chairs, and let out a huge sigh of relief. The sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the property and making the freshly cleaned deck look even more inviting.
I was done.
I looked down at the walking cast on my foot and shook my head. The injury had certainly added a whole different element to what we had accomplished, but I was done. The sight of my cast reminded me of the obstacles we had overcome and how much we had achieved despite them.
The inspection wasn’t happening for another three days, but I was ready. Josh would be back the next day, and he was going to come and help me double-check to make sure that everything was ready. As I thought back over the previous weeks, I felt a surge of gratitude for all of the help I had received.
My mom had been wonderful, and Michelle and Alicia had helped me put on the finishing touches. But I knew that none of this would have been possible if it were not for Josh.
