Chapter Twenty-Four
Sam woke before dawn the next day, this time by choice.
Morning sunlight flooded the kitchen, and everything looked both brand-new and heartbreakingly familiar.
She ran a fingertip over the walls, noting how perfect the paint color Alex had chosen was.
She looked around at all the other updates, marveling that this was her childhood home.
But still, it felt like someone else’s life.
Sam’s old life in Hicksville had always been about motion, about running from one thing to the next, pushing herself to do more.
But now, everything felt still. She cradled a lukewarm cup of coffee, rehearsing her words. What was she about to do?
Her thumb hovered over the contact for a long moment before finally tapping it. As she listened to the rings echo, her stomach grew tighter. She didn’t have to wait long. Stephanie answered on the third ring.
Stephanie’s brisk voice cut through her rising panic. “Sam? I thought I would hear from you sooner.” Her tone was sharp, but Sam could hear the concern in her voice. “Is everything okay?”
Sam’s throat tightened. She’d rehearsed her speech a thousand times, but all the words flew out the window. “I need to…”
There was a pause. “Come on, Sam. Talk to me,” Stephanie said gently. “I know I’m your boss, but I care about you. What’s up?”
Sam closed her eyes, pressing the phone against her ear. “I’m sorry,” she finally whispered. She fiddled with the edge of the table to have something to do with her hands. “I don’t want to let you down…”
“I’m going to stop you right there, Sam,” Stephanie interrupted. “I know I seem like a hard-ass when it comes to work. But I need you to know that you come first. Now, tell me what’s going on.”
“I can’t take the job,” Sam said, finding her voice. The silence on the line stretched for so long that Sam looked at the phone to see if they were still connected. “Stephanie?”
The call flickered over to FaceTime. Stephanie’s face filled the screen. “Sam, I’m not going to lie. This is unexpected.” She squinted slightly. “Can I ask why?”
Sam placed the phone on the table to free up her hands, then began wringing them together under the table. It felt strange to open up to Stephanie like this. Their relationship had always been professional, carefully respecting the boundary of boss and employee.
Sam took a breath, relaxed her shoulders, and dove right in. “You remember Alex? I’ve talked about her before, haven’t I?”
“Your high school girlfriend, right? The one whose mother caught you together and scarred you for life?” she joked, trying to lighten the mood.
Sam grimaced. “Yep. That’s the one.” She closed her eyes as the memories came surging back. “Well, she’s here. And we…reconnected.” Sam felt her face flush under the scrutiny. “Turns out neither of us has really moved on.”
Stephanie’s eyes widened in surprise, her hand flying up to cover her mouth. “Sam. Wow. That’s huge.”
“It is,” Sam agreed. “I never expected any of this.” Sam glanced up, her expression sheepish.
“So, what’s the problem?” Stephanie pressed, once again cutting to the chase.
“I still love her,” Sam whispered, voice cracking with emotion. “I lost her once. I don’t want to lose her again.” She looked away from the phone, trying to compose herself. “So I can’t take the job, Stephanie.”
“I don’t understand…” Stephanie looked thoughtful for a minute, working something out in her head. “Why do you have to lose her again?”
“What do you mean?”
“We have an office in Pittsburgh,” she began. “Transfer there.”
Sam’s jaw dropped, her mind racing with the possibility. “Really?” She shook her head. “We have an office in Pittsburgh. How did I not know that?” Her eyes searched Stephanie’s face.
“Location doesn’t matter, Sam. Talent does.” Stephanie leaned forward. “I meant it when I said that you are one of our best. We’d be crazy not to keep you.” Her shoulders lifted in a shrug. “Of course I’d want you here, but you deserve to be happy, Sam.”
Sam’s mind was spinning with the implications. She had called Stephanie to quit. Now everything—her job, this house, Alex—could still be hers. Alex…well, maybe. That would be up to Alex.
“I don’t know what to say, Stephanie.”
“Say you’ll stay.” Stephanie grinned. “We need you.”
“Okay,” Sam nodded her head. “Let’s do it.”
Stephanie clapped her hands. “I’ll get the paperwork started.”
They chatted about the details for a few more minutes.
Sam agreed to head back to Boston soon to hand over her clients and wrap up a few loose ends.
She also had the condo to consider, but didn’t think it would take long to sell.
Real estate was a hot commodity in Boston.
She was thinking a few weeks there would do it.
When she hung up, she felt lighter and heavier all at once. Step one was complete.
With the next call, it was time to face the inevitable.
Melissa needed to know she wasn’t selling the house.
Sam’s stomach churned with guilt and something close to fear.
Melissa had thrown herself into helping her out.
She had no idea how she’d handle the potential loss of income.
She paced the length of the kitchen, phone in hand, then circled back to the window.
The phone barely rang before Melissa picked up.
“Hey, Melissa, it’s Sam.”
“I see that,” Melissa replied dryly. “I do have caller ID, Sam.”
Sam rolled her eyes at Melissa’s snark. She could picture her on the other end with her usual smirk. Sam didn’t let it deter her. “So, I have some news,” she started, but before she could continue, she was interrupted.
“Lemme guess,” Melissa drawled. “You’re staying, aren’t you?”
Sam blinked, relief and fear running through her. “How did you know?”
“We all knew you’d come home eventually, Sam.” She barked out a laugh. “It took you long enough to figure it out, though.”
Sam felt herself relax. She could hear the smile in Melissa’s voice. “But I didn’t even know until about a week ago.”
Melissa scoffed. “I could see it on your face the first time I saw you and Alex together again.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Sam sputtered.
“Everyone knows you belong together, Sam.” Melissa’s tone was surprisingly gentle. “You just had to figure it out on your own. It looks like you finally got there.”
Sam gazed out at the backyard. She smiled and shook her head. “Yeah, well, it took me a minute. But I finally understand where I’m supposed to be.”
Melissa hummed in agreement. “When you know, you know.”
“Thank you, Melissa. For everything.” Sam’s throat constricted. “Look, I know this is costing you time and money,” she said sheepishly. “And I want you to know that I’m good for what your commission would have been. Just let me know what I owe you.”
There was a pause, then Melissa laughed warmly. “Sam, honey, you don’t owe me anything. I knew you were never going to put the house on the market.”
Sam looked down, tears pricking the corners of her eyes. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I don’t know…”
“Whatever,” Melissa said breezily. “Just don’t cut and run again. This town may have forgiven you once, but who knows what they’ll do next time.”
The call disconnected before Sam even had a chance to reply. She stared down at the phone, heart racing with a mixture of hope and terror. After a long moment, she tapped out a message to Alex. Can we talk? Her thumb hovered for a second, but before she could overthink it, she pressed send.