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She gulped it in as she briskly walked along the pontoons and back up to her place. The conversation had gone both better and worse than she’d imagined.

But she’d done it.

She felt so much better getting it off her chest, but seeing the swirling emotions of worry, disappointment and sadness from her dad was hard to watch. She hoped that given time, they’d be okay; she really did want to make it work, and she’d do everything to ensure the shop would still run without either of them. It had to.

When she got back home she surprised herself by grabbing her phone to message Taylor of all people. While she’d spoken with Alex before about her wild exploration ideas aboard Manny—many times, over many glasses of wine—it wasn’t until she spoke to Taylor that she’d gained the confidence to actually go through with talking to her dad and to start taking her future plans more seriously.

Sam 8:08am:

I did it.

Dots appeared almost immediately.

Taylor 8:09am:

Did what?

Oh yeah Sam, helps if you give a little context…She rolled her eyes at herself.

Sam 8:10am:

I spoke to my dad.

Taylor 8:10am:

Oh wow, that was quick. How’d it go?

Her thumb went to text back, then she hovered over the call option. She clicked it without thinking further.

“Hi,” Taylor said at the other end of the line.

“Sorry, it’s so much easier to talk than text. I just figured I’d let you know how it went after your help and chat yesterday. Wow, was that really only yesterday? Anyway?—”

“Sam?”

“Yeah?”

“Breathe.”

Sam could hear the smile in Taylor’s voice. She puffed out a laugh and took a loud, exaggerated breath.

“Better?” Taylor asked.

“Yep.” She let the rest of the air out slowly. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. Now, what happened?”

“I went to see Dad this morning, kept it straight to the point and pretty much said what I’d told you: that I don’t want to take over the shop and I want to head off on the boat.”

“How’d he take the news?”

“Quieter than I expected—shocked. I’d hoped he’d have some inkling or had already worked it out, but I think I really did blindside him. Especially with the one-two punch of both not taking over the shopandwanting to leave.”

“Oh yeah, that’s a lot.”

“He sounded pretty disappointed, which is completely understandable but almost worse than him just being angry. I pretty much ran out of there as fast as I could.” She winced and sat down at the kitchen bench, absentmindedly peeling the stickers off the apples in front of her.

“I don’t blame you; I probably would’ve done the same thing,” Taylor replied. “So, what now?”