40. Tessa
40
Tessa
T he windows of my new apartment, to which Beau is indeed the landlord, face the stores along Magnolia Street. It’s not as spectacular a view as the one from Shep’s balcony, but I would argue that even without the skyline, this is infinitely better. From here, I can see Mama’s gallery and the large sign above the General Store. Since it’s mostly a studio, I can look over at any point in the day and see people I’ve known my whole life going about their business instead of strangers on the street. The sidewalks aren’t crowded here like they are in Houston, but it’s the sense of belonging for me. Knowing I’m meant to be here far outweighs the excitement of the hustle and bustle.
Since I’ve been home, no one but me seems to think I was a traitor for leaving. They welcomed me back with open arms. Well, everyone but my dad, but we’re working on it. I’m going to fight to keep the store and his legacy intact. I’ll be a part of as many decisions as he’s comfortable with for the running of it, but Shep was right the day he brought me home. I don’t owe my father an easy life. I don’t owe anyone anything and I’m trying hard to stick to that.
Coming back from a week at the cabin with both McAbee boys sure gave everyone plenty to talk about, but this time the gossip didn’t bother me. That’s just what everyone does here. That’s how small towns are. They gossip, they play matchmaker, but most importantly, the thing I couldn’t understand before, was that they care. And after more than a year of living in a place where no one knew my name or my family, I realize the place you’re born is called your hometown for a reason. It’s supposed to feel like home.
I moved away to pursue a dream only to find out that the old saying is true. You can take the girl out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the girl. In Texas, I had everything I’d ever wanted career-wise, but I realized on Shep’s balcony that I hated the new version of myself. I hated living in a place where I couldn’t see the stars every night or smell the fruit trees in summer. I hated the noise of the city and missed the music of the crickets outside my window. But mostly, I hated myself for not seeing how wonderful Pelahatchie was.
I should probably consider moving my desk to a place where the view isn’t as tempting. I’d get a lot more work done, but what’s the point of working remotely if I can’t enjoy the scenery while I do it? And right about now, the scenery is wearing a backwards baseball cap and carrying two cups of coffee from Carriage House next door. When I moved back, I was able to convince Freestone to keep me on as a remote employee. They moved me to marketing right before I left Houston and working with authors through the publishing house and my social media accounts has been just as rewarding as I wanted it to be. I get the best of everything. Now I spend my days working for the company that gave me a chance to get out and my nights with the man who brought me back.
In the beginning, I thought I hated them both. But it turns out I was all wrong. I can admit now that I was wrong about a lot of things. I used to think I could never love this place. That it was too small, too quaint for the life I wanted to live. But it’s breathtaking in its simplicity. I tried so hard to outgrow it, but it seems I had a small town heart all along. And the cocky, arrogant boy who chased me into the pond that day, he’s breathtaking too. Especially when he comes in the door grinning his trademark McAbee grin like he is right now.
Thirteen-year-old me, the one who laughed when Beau McAbee said he was going to marry me one day, well she’s still laughing, but for an entirely different reason. Now I have to chuckle at the absurd amount of time I spent hating him when I could have been loving him. It’s crazy to think about the lengths I had to go to to get out of this town, only to find myself right back in it. And damn him, if he wasn’t right that night on the hood of his Jeep. I can’t think of home without thinking of him either. He is my home and never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d utter any of those words. If only I’d known how good we’d get it, I’d have given in so much sooner.