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I checked my phone, found her email, and forwarded it to Forrest. Like me, he’d been under a lot of stress, so I told him to review them whenever he got a chance, and that it wasn’t a rush. I didn’t want my burden to become his.

A text appeared in my group chat with the girls, and I grinned at the mission they’d come up for me. The Opals are Forever mission required Forrest to say the L word. I replied, saying they could be waiting a long time. After a quick chat, they all had to go, and I returned to my lunch and solitude.

While I ate, I watched people on the sidewalk going about their day. Some rushed along, while others took their time. Everyone had their way of approaching life. I had to admit that I was one of those who had rushed along until my mom got sick. I had to slow down so I could appreciate my time with her. What was the point of rushing when I’d miss all the little things that mattered?

It didn’t take me long to finish my sandwich and lemonade. The quiet solitude relaxed me a little. I took out my Chococat, who had fallen to the bottom of my purse, and placed him on the table.

I patted his head. “Enjoy the sunshine.” I found a tiny heart pin in my purse from some event I didn’t remember and secured it on Chococat. “Let this heart give you love and happiness.”

Smiling at how perfect the pin looked on my adorable plush, I snapped a pic with my phone and sent it to Forrest with the caption:Missing you meow.

Then I stuffed him in the front pocket of my purse, which was a perfect size to secure him in place. From that position, he could see the world instead of being inside a dark purse.

I double checked the address for the apothecary and made my way there. As I walked, I noticed a car driving past me in the other direction. Was that Juan, my Uber driver from the airport? He was driving a red SUV instead of the Honda Civic he’d picked me up in.

My gaze followed him, but I couldn’t make out the plate number. Juan had seemed like a nice guy. I remembered him telling me he was working two jobs to support his family. My heart had gone out to him, which was why I’d gifted him my precious spa kit. Had he given the bottle of lotion to another passenger?

I’d been wrong about some people in my life, so I wouldn’t have been surprised if my hunches about Juan were incorrect. I supposed I always saw the good in people first. How could I live thinking everyone was my enemy? That would stress the hell out of me, making me not want to continue living. Deep down, I believed people forgot how to be nice. It should have been a simple gesture, but life was hard, and sometimes that turned a nice person bitter.

Photography had taught me that. When I looked back at older pictures I’d taken all over the world, I saw the transition of time in the expressions on people’s faces. As technology advanced, making it more convenient for people, I noticed they became more disconnected with themselves and the natural world. They were more connected to their devices.

This was one reason I was drawn to nature photography. Plants, moss, and mushrooms, these things told a lovely story about their evolution, all while being connected to everything around them via their roots. They were in touch with what gave them life—the soil, the water, the air, the sun, and the rain.

I often wondered what kind of amazing life existed beneath the soil or in the forest when no one was watching. Like something magical. These curiosities made me happy, but they didn’t pay my bills. Fashion photography did.

Maybe I was drawn to Forrest because he was connected to nature and, at the same time connected to the advanced technology. He had a good balance between both worlds. That wasn’t easy. Was he aware of that?

A car honked and yanked me back to reality. I’d digressed and lost track of where I was going. I should stop analyzing and just enjoy this time to myself.

More people filled the streets as I made my way down the sidewalk, passing stores and restaurants. Someone darted out of a shop and knocked intome. The force pushed me into someone else. Her groceries scattered all over the sidewalk. I couldn’t regain composure and fell onto my ass with my palms scraping the sidewalk.

“I’m sorry, ma’am!” A teen boy looked at me in horror.

I pushed myself up and helped the elderly lady gather her groceries.

“Jason! You need to watch where you’re going!” The mom emerged from the store and turned to me. “So sorry.”

“It was an accident.” I smiled at them even though my butt hurt like hell. “Apology accepted.”

As the mom and son walked away bickering about him needing to pay more attention, I gave the bag of groceries back to the lady with a warm face and sharp eyes.

“Are you okay?” I asked, surveying the older woman. “Sorry about that.”

She took the bag from me and smiled. “No need to apologize. It wasn’t your fault. Thank you for your help.” She tapped the bag. “These are for a special dinner tomorrow for mygrandson.”

“Nothing beats a homecooked meal. My mom used to cook a lot for me when I was younger.”

“Taking care of family is very important. My grandson is a hard worker. Successful people often forget one thing—no one remembers you worked late except your children, your family.”

Those words dropped into my heart like pebbles into a well of wisdom. That statement was true. How many times had I worked my assoff on a project only to have them not renew my contracts or ask me for a lower rate? The only people truly affected were my loved ones.

“Thank you for that,” I said. “It was nice to meet you. I hope you have a fabulous dinner. I’m heading to Full Circle Apothecary to get some gifts. Have you been there?”

Her green eyes sparkled. “You’re in luck. That’s my shop. I can help you choose.”

I needed the luck. Delighted, I followed her.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-SIX