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“Depressing, isn’t it?” Georgia murmured.
“Yes,” Lena said. “Eventually I found a way to move on. I started therapy and I got Hero. But months had passed by then. And Malcolm, he hadn’t planned on waiting that long.”
“He’s a jerk,” Katie said firmly.
“No, he tried. But he would kiss me and . . . and it was as if he was asking for something I couldn’t give. He wanted me to be his wife, but I couldn’t do it. Kisses, hugs, those everyday signs of affection felt so meaningless. I couldn’t stand that feeling. So I pushed him away.”
Lena paused on the trail and withdrew her water bottle. “How much further?”
“We’re almost there,” Georgia said. “Promise.”
Almost there—­wasn’t that the story of her life these days? She’d come so far, learning what triggered her anxiety and putting coping mechanisms in place. But if she wanted to reach the pinnacle, she had to keep climbing.
“I’m sorry you’re going through this,” Katie said. “Listening to the two of you, my life seems so easy and normal. What you’ve lived through, and what you’re living with now, amazes me.”
“Don’t discount normal, Katie,” Lena said quietly. “Because that is where I’m headed and I’m going to get there. One day.”
TWO HOURS LATER, as the sun rose high in the sky, Lena steered her truck down Katie’s driveway, heading to her borrowed home.
“Thanks for giving me a ride,” Katie said. “My brothers are going to lose it when they find out my wagon wouldn’t start. They’ve been after me to get a new car, maybe a pickup, ever since Moore Timber cut the check to purchase our family’s trucking business.”
“It’s nice that they look out for you,” Lena said.
“Sometimes. Most of the time it is just annoying.” Katie leaned forward. “Wow, look at that. Lena, I’ll eat my words if my brothers went out and bought me a midnight blue convertible.”
“Mercedes convertible?” Lena asked, scanning the parking area, because the details mattered, especially when it came to unfamiliar cars at her temporary home.
“I think so,” Katie said.
Lena hit the brake. Hard. Parked beside the barn was a midnight blue Mercedes convertible. Once upon a time, she’d driven that car, loving the feel of the wind in her hair. But that was back when her life had felt like a fairy tale.
“Oh, and look, it came with a hot guy in a suit,” Katie added. “You know, I don’t think this is a present from my brothers. Or Liam.”
“No.” Lena put the truck in park and opened her door. “It belongs to Malcolm. My ex. I don’t know how he found me here.”
She climbed down with Hero following close behind her. As soon as they were out of the truck, Hero moved in front of her, demanding to take the lead, his yellow duck clutched tight between his teeth.
“Lena, wait,” Katie called. “Should I get my brothers?”
“No.” Lena held her head high following her dog. “Malcolm’s harmless. I just wasn’t expecting him.”
“If you’re sure,” Katie said, eyeing Malcolm as if trying to assess whether the tall, lean man with the boyish good looks and expensive clothes that screamed, Tech nerd was a threat.
“I am,” Lena said. “Why don’t you head inside?”
Katie gave Malcolm a little wave and turned to the main farmhouse. Knowing it was only a matter of time before one of the Summers brothers appeared—­Katie would send them despite Lena’s reassurances—­Lena approached her ex-­husband. She stopped a few feet away, allowing enough space for Hero to stand between them.
“Hi Lena.” He offered the goofy grin that once had the power to make her knees weak and her heart race. “I tried calling, but you turned off your cell.”
“I’m thinking about changing providers. There’s not a lot of ser­vice out here.”
While that might be true, her phone had been turned off when she’d stopped paying the bill. But if she told her ex, he’d try to write her a check or offer alimony payments again. She needed the cash, but her foolish pride stood in the way. She’d pushed a decent man away, ending their marriage because she’d succumbed to post-­traumatic stress. Yes, he’d been impatient. But a year was a long time to wait. And he’d already put in the time while she served her country. He’d thought the waiting was over when she left after fulfilling her five-­year commitment to the army. She had too. And then she’d fallen apart. That was on her. Malcolm didn’t owe her anything.
“Yeah, you’re kind of in the middle of nowhere,” he said.
“It’s not that far from Portland,” she said, falling into her defensive habits. “You found your way here.”
“I guess not.” He looked past her to the mountain peaks in the distance. “Nice views.”