Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Kat
My feet tapped impatiently on the floor as I waited for the plane to land. I looked out the window and felt my heart flutter as I spotted the Space Needle, feeling the warmth spread through me that I was officially home.
While San Antonio felt like an experience I needed to try, I knew deep down that I belonged in Seattle.
My heart was empty until I decided to come back.
When I talked to Jamie and let her know I was coming back, she rushed to offer me the guest bedroom at their house until I could find something. My forever home.
Most of my stuff was still in storage because I didn’t have time to do anything with it when I left for San Antonio. I was thankful that I wouldn’t have to start over with everything since a new job and house were enough right now.
Part of me was anxious to get off of the plane and go find Miles, but I didn’t know what I would even say to him.
Almost two months had passed since I’d been gone, and we hadn’t spoken much in that time.
What started out as daily texts to check in with each other turned into a few times a week and then continually declined after that.
A woman’s voice came over the speakers and gave instructions as we approached the runway.
I listened to what she said, but the words went in one ear and out the other.
When we finally landed, and I was able to get off of the plane, I smiled when I saw Jamie and her husband waiting for me at baggage claim.
She opened her arms, pulling me into a tight hug as her husband took my carry-on luggage and stepped to the side to give us space.
“I’m so happy you’re back,” she cried. “I missed you so much.”
“I missed you too,” I said, wiping the tears from my face.
“Okay, let's get you situated, and then we can go to dinner.”
“Sounds great, I’m starving.”
The drive to Jamie’s house was quick, with little traffic. I left my suitcases in the guest room, not bothering to unpack them yet. I didn’t have a job which meant I had plenty of time to tackle that stuff in the next couple of days while job hunting.
I freshened up my makeup and pulled my hair into a ponytail, not sure where they wanted to go for dinner. There were so many places that I’d missed while in San Antonio, so I wasn’t picky. Though part of me hoped she would pick Ambrosia so I could have an excuse to pass by Mile’s food truck.
As if reading my mind, Craig, Jamie’s husband, turned the corner and parked in the lot behind Ambrosia.
“I hope this is okay,” Jamie said, turning to look at me from the passenger seat as she undid her seatbelt. “Everyone is excited to see you.”
“It’s perfect.”
I got out and walked around the front with them, trying to keep my nerves calm as we approached the line of food trucks. When we got closer to Ambrosia, my heart dropped when I noticed that Miles High Food Club wasn’t there. Nothing was there. It was just an empty spot like the one in my heart.
Jamie read the frown on my face and smiled sadly.
“He closed last week.”
“For good?”
She nodded and stepped inside as Craig held the door to Ambrosia open for me. Why hadn’t he told me? I knew that we’d drifted apart during the time I was gone, but this was huge, and I felt disappointed that he hadn’t bothered to let me know what was going on.
As much as I wanted to ask more questions about what happened with Miles, I was immediately overwhelmed by my family coming to welcome me home.
Clarissa had prepared a special menu just for us, and I was treated like royalty as everyone fought over who got to take care of our table. I tried to ignore the sadness as I enjoyed being home. This was where I belonged.
Once we were done, I went outside for a breath of fresh air while Jamie stayed behind to answer some questions Clarissa had about the new menu she’d been working on. That was the thing about being an executive chef; you never really had a day off.
I looked up at the sky, enjoying the cool air as it rushed over me and started to blow all of the tension and worry away.