The leaving road, p.3
The Leaving Road, page 3
Luckily, Ted noticed how passionate I was about my job, so we kept the conversation mostly centered around that. “So, technically, you could open your pipe dream clinic anywhere,” he said while he finished the last bit of food on his plate. Mine was already long gone.
“Yeah, I guess, technically I could.” I side eyed him, wondering where this was going.
“Well, Magnolia, I think it’s time we get down to it.”
“Yes, that would be great. I’m sure there’s a lot to do, and I need to be on the road in the next two weeks.”
Ted gazed at me with a puzzled look. “Magnolia, had your dad ever talked to you at all about his will?”
“Err…not really, no. We weren’t very close, per se. Our relationship was more of, ‘How’s the weather? Read any good books lately?’”
“This complicates things a bit…”
Dread pulled at my stomach, but at least Ted had the decency to look a little frazzled, like he had expected a totally different interaction.
He pulled out a thick binder with what looked like lots of legal documents. “Magnolia, as I’m sure you know, your parents were wealthy due to some family money that was very well invested—your mother’s inheritance, and your dad made a good living as a deep-sea fisherman.”
“I don’t know much about that if we are being honest. I got scholarships, and I worked my way through college; my dad paid for my room and board and meal ticket, but that’s about it. Not that he wouldn’t have helped more, I just didn’t need it. I got hired right out of school and started making my own money very quickly. We never talked about his financial state of things; I guess we both just figured we had more time…”
“Oh well, I’m pleased to inform you that your dad’s investment portfolio is around one-point-two million dollars. Now, all this money is currently tied up in stocks, but you could pull it out if you chose to.”
I choked on coffee, unsure of what to say. One-point-two million dollars? I could open my own clinic. For the first time in a long time, I was feeling hopeful.
“Now, onto the house, which was also left to you. It was appraised at three million dollars, give or take the state of the market. It does have some severe issues since it was laid in a state of neglect for the last eight or so years. There was a pipe that burst last winter that caused some damage to one of the rooms downstairs, which will need to be restored before being placed on the market. According to your dad’s last wishes, you must live in the town of Rockland for one year before you can have access to the investment portfolio, and you must live in the house for two years before the deed is transferred into your name to do with what you will.”
My mouth dropped open.
“Live here?” I all but screeched.
“Yes, your dad wanted you to come home. He said it was time, and he figured this was the way to do it.”
“That’s not possible. I have a job, a career. I couldn’t possibly stay here for two years! What an odd amount of time… Why two years, anyway?”
“One year was for healing, one was for moving on.”
My blood turned to ice. “Excuse me?”
“Like I said, your dad and I got close toward the end, and he confided in me. Look, I know I’m not your favorite person right now, and I also know that you need time to process what I’ve told you, but your dad wrote you a letter. I suggest you read this; it will explain everything a bit more. Call me when you’re ready to discuss the finer details.” He started to get up to leave.
“And what happens if I refuse? If I go home?”
“Then your dad’s investment portfolio will be divided up between charities of his choosing, and the house will be awarded to the historical society.”
This was a lot to process, and my dad’s letter felt like it was a ticking time bomb just waiting to go off. Ted threw down multiple bills to cover breakfast.
“Call me and we’ll go over everything once you’ve had time to digest it.” He squeezed my shoulder and strode out the door.
I needed to get home to read that letter, I couldn’t do it here. I grabbed my purse, made sure to make eye contact with Momma and Papa Tuck on my way out, and offered a small wave to both.
“Don’t be a stranger, Magnolia, I mean it.” Momma’s playful tone held a serious note to it.
I’m sure I broke multiple laws with how fast I drove back to the house. Once inside, I sat on the sofa and tore open the envelope.
Magnolia,
Hey, kid, well, I guess if you’re reading this, I’m long gone. I gotta say, I’m sorry, kiddo. I’m sorry I fell apart after your mom passed; I wish I could give you a good reason, but I can’t. I fell into my grief, and I forgot about you. If I could turn back the clock…just know, I would. I wish I could fill the pages with excuses, but there are none. I lost the love of my life, and my soul fractured. I thought nothing mattered anymore, not even you. I’m sure that’s hard to read, and believe me, it’s hard to write. It took me a long time to realize how wrong I was. I know I had a part in you leaving and never coming back, and that’s something that will haunt me long after I’m gone. I know you’re questioning why I would make you stay here, kid, you’re going to have to trust me on this. There’s magic here, you can find yourself here. I fell in love with your mom here, you were born here, you took your first steps here. I know all you remember right now are the bad times, but there were years of good that you’ve chosen to forget. Don’t give up on this place, Magnolia, please. For me, for your mom, and most of all, for yourself.
I’m sorry.
I love you, kid,
Dad.
Chapter 5
Magnolia
My hands were still trembling while holding the letter, years of emotions I had done my best to bury were threatening to get the best of me. I couldn’t stay here; I didn’t need the money. However, that money would be more than enough to start my own clinic… what’s two years when at the end of it you get everything you’ve spent the last eight years working toward? My head was a jumbled mess of emotions with the ‘should I or shouldn’t I’. I reached for my phone in my back pocket and pulled up Lexie’s contact and pressed call.
“Hi, friend,” she singsong answered on the first ring. “I see you still haven’t read my texts. What’s up, babes?”
“Lexie…I….” My voice cracked. It was like just by hearing hers, all the emotions I was trying to hold in seeped out. “I need you.”
“I’m on my way.” I was met with a click before I could respond.
I finally let myself succumb to all the emotions and stress these last few days have caused me—hell, the last few months since my dad passed, if I’m being honest. I let the grief of it all weigh me down until I sank to my knees and gave into the tears—they were the silent kind, the ones that shook your entire body and you had to do everything in your power to focus on just breathing. The last feeling I felt before I let sleep overtake me was bone-deep exhaustion. I just wanted to float away into my unconscious, so I did.
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The banging on the door roused me from where I had fallen asleep on the floor. Luckily for me, this dusty old throw rug seemed to be my landing place, and minus the dust, it was rather comfy. The banging intensified.
“Good gravy, hold your horses, I’m coming,” I yelled at the intruder. A quick glance at the old grandfather clock told me it was ten-thirty p.m., meaning I had slept for nearly twelve hours.
I made my way to the door and ripped it open, ready to tell off whoever felt the need to behave this way this late, but I couldn’t help the smile that found my face when I saw who stood on the other side of it.
“Lexie,” I breathed and pulled her to me. I could feel her body tense in shock before she returned the hug tenfold.
“Babes, as good as it is to see you, you look like shit.”
I couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled out of me. I was sure I looked half crazed. I could feel my eyes were swollen, and I unfortunately wasn’t one of those girls who looked gorgeous when they cried. In fact, it was quite the opposite; my face got splotchy, everything swelled, and good god, the amount of mucus I could produce. It was not a pretty sight.
“Are you going to invite me in? Or are we going to stand out here all night? Not that I mind, but I am slightly concerned this porch might give out.” She glanced around. I took her in; my best friend was a bomb shell with her crimson-colored hair, blue eyes, and tall willowy figure. I stood to the side, and she pushed past me.
She whistled low. “Man, this place looks like you. Rough.”
I poked her in the rib. “Why’d you even come if you were going to insult me the whole time?”
“Easy, you needed me.”
“How’d you get here so fast?” I quirked my eyebrow at her.
“I’m offended that you thought I was going to let you do this alone. I knew you needed a day or two by yourself. My ticket was already booked, so your phone call just confirmed that I was coming.”
I couldn’t help the tears that were forming again. She really was the best.
“How about you show me where I’m staying, make me some coffee, and then we can talk about it?”
“Demanding, aren’t you, for someone who just got here.” Without waiting for her smartass comeback, I started toward the stairs, and she took that as her cue to follow me. I led her to the other guest room and told her to meet me in the kitchen when she was ready.
I made my way downstairs and realized I had yet to go to the store. I started looking through the cabinets in hopes that I could find something, anything. Luckily, an old box of Earl Gray tea sat in one of the long-forgotten cupboards. I cleaned and found the old teapot, added the water, and silently prayed to whoever might be listening that the gas stove still worked. The flames turning on led me to let out a whoop of happiness.
“Tea, babes? Tea?”
“Okay, picky princess, I haven’t had the time to go to the store yet. You’ll just have to deal for the night.”
She huffed in frustration and pointed her red-painted nail in my direction. “Tomorrow morning, first thing, we are going shopping.”
I shuddered at the thought of going into town, but I guess it didn’t matter now. There was no way after Lori’s visit last night and my breakfast meeting that half the town didn’t already know I was back.
I had always thought that if Sloan were here, he might reach out to me. He tried calling and texting in the first weeks after I left, but I didn’t even read them. I knew that if I spoke with him, I would cave in and accept any excuse he gave. I was that in love with him, but there were no excuses good enough. Then, when my resolve almost broke, I blocked him and never allowed myself to look back.
“We’re going, babes. You can’t live on dust and old tea.”
I couldn’t help myself; I rounded the kitchen island to her side and grabbed her in another hug—and this one she returned without a moment of hesitation.
“Not that I don’t love this, but you must tell me what happened. I’ve known you eight years now, and I can count on my hand the number of times we’ve hugged, and I can tell you, not once have you ever initiated physical contact. Two hugs in under an hour? You’re about to send me into full-on panic mode, babes. Talk to me.”
I sat on the stool next to her and went through my last twenty-four hours: the drive, seeing Lori out by the dock, seeing Momma and Papa Tuck, what Momma said to me about running, what the lawyer said. Then, I showed her the letter from my dad. When she finished reading, she had a puzzled look on her face as if she were trying to make the pieces fit. After a few minutes of her processing everything, she finally spoke.
“That’s some shit, babe…some real shit.”
“That’s all you got for me?”
She laughed. “You want me to lie to you to make you feel better? Or do you want my honest advice?”
I blew out a breath, my heart sinking. “You think I should stay.”
“I think you’ll regret it if you don’t.”
I shrugged. “I don’t think I can do it alone again, Lex. I don’t think my heart can handle it…”
I felt her shudder next to me. She was there when I fully shut down last time, so she understood what I meant.
“Babes, who ever said you were going to be alone?”
She smiled at me and told me what she was thinking.
Chapter 6
Magnolia
I watched the sun rise as I sat on the dock, my mind going over Lexie and my conversation from last night. She said she would stay here with me for the next two years.
Lexie had sold some software programs and was very wealthy. She did some small jobs to fill her time, but she could work from anywhere. I brought up the fact that we had apartments, and I had a job with a contract. She informed me that all contracts had an exit clause, and she would put her lawyer on it after she had me email her a copy of my contract. She told me we could hire companies to ship us our things, and that we could work everything out if I wanted to stay.
She also told me that if staying really wasn’t an option, she would give me the money to start my own clinic and be a silent partner. I almost smacked her for even suggesting I take money from her. She reminded me that as much as she was here for me, I had always been there for her as well.
After we said our goodnights, I spent most of the night tossing and turning, thinking about what to do. My phone rang, and I was momentarily confused about who would be calling me at six-fifteen in the morning. A quick glance at my caller ID told me it was Mr. Jensen. I had sent him an email at three a.m., asking him to call me so I could ask some questions, it didn’t matter what time.
“Mr. Jensen,” I answered
“Ted, please.” He sounded more awake than I would have guessed for this early.
“I’m sorry I sent you that email so late; it wasn’t an emergency. I can wait for normal business hours.”
“Nonsense. Please ask me your questions.”
I felt a warmth next to me and noticed Lexie had woken up and had come down to join me on the dock, carrying what looked like two cups of tea and a blanket.
You’re a goddess, I mouthed at her while taking the cup.
“Magnolia?” Ted said again.
“Right, sorry. I guess the only real question I have is, if I try it out here and it doesn’t work for me, what happens then?”
“That’s a good question. Basically, exactly what I stated before. Your dad’s investment portfolio would go to charities and the house would go to the historical society. Does that mean you’re thinking about staying? After our talk yesterday, I was almost certain I’d be drawing up the paperwork to donate everything.”
“I’m still weighing all my options. I have a contract for my job, and I’m unsure of what would need to happen for me to break that.”
“Ah, yes, yes. Well, we never got to the part where, if you do decide to stay, the full amount of money your dad had in his checking account would be transferred to you almost immediately. That way you don’t have to worry about finding work right away. You could focus on settling in and getting some house repairs set up.”
“I’m not concerned about the money, Mr. Jensen. I’m just trying to make the best decision for me.”
“Please don’t make me ask you to call me Ted again. Your dad and I got close toward the end, and I feel terribly awkward when you call me that.”
I sighed. “Fine, Ted. I know it’s Tuesday, so I’ll have an answer for you by Friday.”
“Wonderful!” He sounded a bit chipper. “Talk soon.”
Lexie bumped my shoulder. “What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking the sunrise is nice, the beach is nice, and I feel more at ease than I have in a while.” I took a sip of my tea. “I’m thinking two years really isn’t that long of a time, and the only person I would miss would be here.”
“That’s true.”
“But I’m also thinking it’s a lot to ask of you.”
“Pish-posh. This is an adventure.”
“I’m thinking I’m going to stay.”
Lexie’s squeal could rival a pig and almost broke my eardrum.
“Go shower, stinky, and meet me downstairs in thirty minutes. We are going to the store to start turning this place around.” She pulled me up and slapped my ass while making a run for it to get first dibs on the hot water.
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Forty-five minutes later, we were showered and at the grocery store, packing the cart with everything we thought we could need.
“Lex, I think I might have to make my way to the front and grab another cart if we don’t slow down.”
“Might as well go get one.”
I turned away from her and started back to the front of the store, not paying much attention to my surroundings, only my destination.
“Well, I heard the rumors you were back in town…” a vaguely familiar voice said from beside me.
I swiveled, only to be met with chocolate- brown eyes.
“Jace?” I couldn’t believe it. Gone was the scrawny boy who was Sloan’s best friend, and in his place was a man.
“Holy shit, it is you.” He engulfed me in a hug.
What was it with this town and hugs?
“You grew up very nice, Magnolia,” he said right before he released me.
“You too, Jace.” I was a little shocked to see him. I wasn’t super close with anyone else in high school other than Sloan, but a few of his friends were around enough that we had friendly relationships.
“I bet Sloan is flipping his shit right now. Has he seen you yet?”
My heart was beating so fast, I couldn’t get myself to respond. Part of me hoped he had moved away and I’d never have to see him or deal with him again. I knew that was a dream since it had always been a family restaurant and he wanted nothing more than to take it over.
“Babes, what’s the hold up?”
Saved by Lexie, again.
“Lex, this is Jace, an old acquaintance from high school.” I didn’t miss the way Jace’s eyebrows furrowed when I called him an acquaintance.
