“I’m going to give you my number. If you need to talk, call me; I don’t care what time it is.”
“I’ll be okay,” I assure him.
He shakes his head. “Anna, I have no doubt you will forever be okay. What I want you to know is that I’m here if you need to talk, no matter the time.”
“Okay,” I agree, and he releases my hand. He reaches into his back pocket and pulls out his wallet to take out a card.
My fingers grasp it, but when he doesn’t let go, I look up at him, and his voice is so soft, so regretful, when he speaks that I feel the sincerity in each word. “I wish I didn’t have to go, but I need to get to the station to file some paperwork.”
“I understand, and seriously, I’ll be all right,” I say, and then my lips part in surprise when he leans down to touch his to my forehead.
“I’ll see you soon, Anna.”
I don’t nod or say a word. I watch him walk to the sliding door, open it, and close it behind him, and then I continue to watch him through the glass until he disappears out of sight as he heads down the steps to the beach.
I fall back against my bed and rub my eyes, trying to remember if I ever had so much excitement in my life before I moved here. I don’t think I did. Really, my life in Chicago was pretty boring, considering everything that’s happened recently.
“Anna Belle!”
I jump up when my name is shouted and run to my front door when Edie starts to pound on it. I swing the door open, and my knees weaken when I see the look on her face.
“What happened?” I ask, startled by her expression.
“You’re okay!” She wraps her arms around me, squeezing me so tight I can’t even breathe.
“Edie, you’re freaking me out.”
“I’m freaking you out?” She leans back and shakes me from side to side. “I just heard what happened and rushed home to make sure you’re okay.”
“I’m fine,” I tell her softly, pulling her in for another hug. “I’m just a little shaken up.”
“Honey.” Her voice cracks. “Those tides can be tricky. You could have died out there.”
My throat gets tight, and tears burn the backs of my eyelids, because I still don’t know for sure that Amy is okay.
Edie leans back to look at me, then slides a piece of hair behind my ear while tears form in her eyes. “You, my beautiful girl, have a warrior’s soul, and today you proved you’re not just willing to take risks to benefit yourself. You’re willing to take risks to help others, and that is true bravery.” She smiles slightly, and tears fill my eyes. Her thinking I’m brave means everything. It means more than she could ever know. “No tears.” She leans in to kiss my cheek, then grasps my hands. “Now, go shower and meet me downstairs for a glass of wine.”
I look at the clock on the oven. “It’s not even two.”
“If you take one lesson from today, let it be that you should live every single day of your life like it’s your last. Drink when you want, laugh until your soul is full, open yourself up to falling in love, spend time with people who are important, and enjoy every moment, even the scary ones.”
“Like you, Pearl, and Dixie,” I say softly. That’s exactly how they live their lives.
“Like us but better, because you’re still young enough to do it right from the start.” She smiles, then pushes me gently away. “Now, go shower while I find us the perfect bottle of wine.”
With my throat tight, I start toward my bathroom but stop when I hear the door open. “Edie.” I turn to face her.
“Yeah?”
“I love you,” I tell her quietly. “Thank you for everything: for believing in me and for just being here for me. I don’t know what would have happened if you weren’t placed in my path.”
“You would’ve been okay, child, but I hope you know I love you too.”
I nod, then watch her go, knowing that even with everything that’s happened, I have no regrets, not a single one. Every day I’m getting closer to finding myself and the happiness I’ve been searching for.
With that last thought in my mind, I take a shower, then go meet my friend for a glass of wine that we drink outside under the warm sun. The sound of the ocean is the background to our relieved tears after Calvin calls to tell me that Amy woke up and will be okay.
Suggestion 5
FAKE IT UNTIL YOU MAKE IT
ANNA
“Maybe I should reconsider giving you days off, because it seems a lot happens when you’re not here at the shop,” Chrissie says, picking up a bouquet of flowers off the front counter and handing it to Gaston. He’s been loading them into his car off and on all day to take to the local retirement home.