Page 72 of The Candle Palace (Jamison Valley 6)
“Oh, sorry.” I shoved the hair out of my eyes. The sound of wheels on pavement and Milo’s scent had lulled me to sleep. “I didn’t mean to conk out on you.”
“It’s okay.” He reached over and laced his fingers with mine. “You were tired.”
I took a few more deep breaths as I came out of my slumber, then stretched the kink out of my neck. The past week had caught up to me, and even though sleeping in a car was miserably uncomfortable, I couldn’t fight the exhaustion.
Milo and I had spent a week packing up my condo. We hauled boxes to Goodwill. Crammed my car full of everything we could possibly fit. And what was left was boxed and loaded into a mobile storage trailer that would be delivered to Milo’s house in Prescott by the end of the month.
My arms were stiff. My legs ached. Running a marathon would have wreaked less havoc on my body.
We’d spent yesterday cleaning my condo so it would be ready to show as a rental. I’d decided against selling. I knew when I locked the door behind me this morning I’d never live there again. But I was keeping it for sentimental reasons, not quite ready to let it go. The property management company I’d hired assured me it would be no problem to get a good monthly income from the place.
Milo and I had spent last night in a hotel, splurging on a fancy location downtown.
Then this morning, we’d hit the road.
I’d cried a little as we’d pulled onto the interstate. I’d miss the familiarity of Spokane. I’d miss driving by a restaurant or park or store and being reminded of a time I’d had there with Dad.
But as the miles wore on, excitement chased away the sadness. Anticipation of a new life and new adventures erased my fears. The scenery rolling past my window was so breathtaking it was impossible not to feel an eagerness to explore.
This was my new beginning. I was hurt by Mom and angry at Denny, so much so that I hadn’t even bothered saying good-bye. I wanted this chance to forge my own life without their actions weighing me down.
Out the car windows, wide fields of golden grasses rolled in every direction. Stubborn snow piles filled creek beds and valleys. Spring had come early to this part of Montana and green shoots were peeking through the black earth. Lemon buds dotted naked trees. In the distance, the cobalt, snowcapped mountains rose past the few clouds into the sky.
We crested the top of a large hill and my stomach dropped. Below us, the entire world had opened up. Above us, the sky was bigger. Bluer. There was so much to see it was impossible to take it all in as we flew down the road.
On the horizon, homes clustered along the highway. A small town rolled into view.
“Where are we? This valley is gorgeous.”
“I’m glad you think so.” Milo glanced over, a smile toying at the corner of his mouth. “Because that’s Prescott. And we’re home.”
Epilogue
“That’s it,” I told the girls in the spa. “That’s our story.”
“It’s so romantic.” Sabrina swooned. “I love real-life stories with kismet.”
“Your mom is something else.” Felicity’s lip curled. “I know you guys are fighting and you know I’m always on your side. But . . . this time I think I have to side with Milo. Mom sleeps on the floor.”
“There’s more.” I looked over at Gigi, who rolled her eyes.
She and I had been working together at the hospital for so long, she not only knew the story of how Milo and I had met, but she’d also been through everything since. When I
had a bad day, she was always there to listen. When I’d found out I was pregnant after trying unsuccessfully for years, she’d cried happy tears for an hour. And ages ago, when Mom had crossed a line Milo hadn’t been able to forgive, Gigi had been nearly as angry as he had been.
“Was it because of how she was with Denny?” Emmeline guessed.
“No.” I shook my head. “Milo hates Mom because she married Greg Vernon six months after I moved to Prescott.”
The spa filled with collective gasps.
“That asshole is your stepfather?” Sabrina’s mouth hung open.
“Don’t worry. They only lasted another six months after that. Mom realized he was scum and apologized profusely. But Milo still hates her for it.”
“As he should,” Felicity grumbled.
In Milo’s eyes, Mom had betrayed me by choosing Vernon over her own daughter. No number of apologies would earn his forgiveness.
