Chapter 27 #2
She paused and looked back at him. The man who’d once represented everything she aspired to now looked small and petty against the backdrop of the festival and the life she was choosing.
“Maybe,” she said quietly. “But I don’t care. I know I’m making the right choice.”
She walked away without waiting for his response.
The festival had transformed in her absence.
The boat parade was forming up in the harbor, with vessels of every size decorated with strings of lights that glimmered in the deepening twilight.
Families clustered along the waterfront, and children perched on parents’ shoulders to get a better view.
The air hummed with anticipation and joy.
Cassidy found her mother near the quilt display, standing beside Winnie and admiring an intricate wedding ring quilt.
“That was quick,” her mom said, studying Cassidy’s face. “Everything okay?”
“I quit.”
Winnie’s eyebrows rose, but she said nothing. Her mom’s expression shifted from surprise to pride.
“No job, no plan,” she continued, the words spilling out faster now. “I have no idea what I’m going to do for work or where I’m going to live when my rental ends or how any of this is going to work out. But I couldn’t get in that car. I couldn’t go back to being the person I was in Chicago.”
Her mom pulled her into a tight hug. “I’m so proud of you.”
“I might have just ruined my entire career.”
“Or you just saved your life.” Her mom pulled back, keeping her hands on Cassidy’s shoulders. “The details will work themselves out. They always do. Right now, I think there’s someone you need to talk to.”
She nodded toward the dock where Bryan stood alone, checking the moorings one final time before the parade began.
He hadn’t changed from his work clothes, still wearing the faded shorts and Sandpiper t-shirt he’d had on all day.
His hair was disheveled from running his hands through it, a habit she’d learned meant he was worried.
He was strikingly handsome.
“Go,” her mom said gently. “Winnie and I have quilts to admire.”
Her feet carried her toward the dock before her brain could catalog all the reasons this was terrifying. Bryan looked up as she approached, his expression cautious.
“Hey.” His voice was careful and guarded. “Festival’s going well.”
“It is.”
They stood in awkward silence. The easy partnership they’d developed over the past weeks felt fragile now, full of everything unsaid between them.
She took a breath. “I quit my job.”
Bryan went very still. “What?”
“David wanted me to leave tonight. Fly back to Chicago.” The words tumbled out faster.
“I told him no. I’m not ever going back.
I’m staying here. I don’t know for how long or what I’m going to do, but I’m not leaving.
Not yet. Maybe not ever. I know that’s crazy and impractical and probably the worst career decision I’ve ever made, but—”
“Cassidy.”
She stopped, breathless.
He took a step closer. Then another. In the fading light, his eyes were impossibly warm. “Cassidy, stop for one minute. Please. I just have to tell you something.”
“What?”
“I love you.”
“You… What did you say?”
“I’m in love with you. Have been for weeks, probably.
I was just too scared to say it because I thought you were going to leave.
” He reached for her hands. “I know you just quit your job, and everything’s uncertain, but I need you to know.
I love you. The real you. Not the corporate executive or the festival coordinator. Just you.”
Tears gathered in her eyes. “I don’t have a plan.”
“Neither do I. We’ll figure it out together.”
“I’m probably going to panic about this decision at least six times before morning.”
“I’ll be there for all six. You don’t have to have everything figured out. You just have to be here.”
Behind them, the first boats in the parade began their slow procession through the harbor. Lights reflected off the dark water, creating ribbons of gold and silver.
Bryan drew her closer. “Now, can I finally kiss you?”
In answer, she closed the distance between them.
The kiss was soft at first. Tentative. Then his hand came up to cup her face, and she melted into him, all the fear and uncertainty of the past weeks dissolving into this perfect moment.
The festival lights showered them with warm colors.
The sound of cheering from the crowd at the parade filtered through her awareness like music.
He finally pulled back slightly. “Ummm, that was... nice.”
She grinned up at him. “It was.” Then she glanced over and saw her mom and Mona watching them, smiles on their faces. “Looks like our moms approve.”
He glanced over and laughed. “Let’s give them something more to talk about.” He kissed her again.
When they finally broke apart, Bryan rested his forehead against hers.
“Welcome home,” he whispered.
She looked past him to the lighthouse, its beam sweeping steadily through the night. Then back to the festival grounds where their moms stood, both women watching with knowing smiles.
Home. The word settled over her, fitting perfectly into a space she hadn’t known was empty.
“Yeah,” she said softly. “I think I am.”