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He continues to listen. My breakfast churns, and my heart begins to beat loudly in my ears. Is this how I would feel every morning waking up to go into that office? Knowing there might be a possibility of bumping into Graham?

If my stomach knows it’s not right, then maybe I should get my brain on board.

“I’m not sure she’s available to come to the phone right now,” JD tells whoever it is.

I hold my hand out. JD sighs. “Just a minute.” He hands his cell phone to me.

“Um, hello. This is Lexie.”

The woman on the other end greets me, her relief evident in the tone of her voice. “Oh, Lexie, I’m glad to get the chance to talk with you. Mr. Dolan wanted me to reach out to you this morning and give you the specifics of the job we’re hiring you for. We’d love to get you started tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” My heart skips a beat. He just assumed I would take it. Why wouldn’t he? I’ve never turned him down.

JD snaps his fingers and opens his palm for his phone back. I shake my head at him.

“Yes. Mr. Dolan would like to get you started right away.”

This is my new life, and I’m not going to let anyone from my past dictate my future. Not even Graham.

“I’m sorry. I’m not interested in the position. If you could please relay to Mr. Dolan that I very much appreciate his offer, but I have other interests I’m going to pursue.”

The woman on the other end begins to argue with me, and I feel bad for her. I’m sure she doesn’t want to disappoint Graham.

“There isn’t another job in town that pays what Mr. Dolan is offering you.”

I stand up from the table, turning away from JD’s stare. “I understand, and while I appreciate it, I just don’t think it’s best for me right now. But thank you again. Goodbye.”

Without meeting JD’s gaze, I set his phone on the table and quickly move to the sink. “I’m going to run into town and start applying for jobs. I looked online this morning, and the ice cream shop is looking for help. I don’t know if that will be enough …”

JD walks over to stand beside me, and he shuts off the water. I stare at the bubbles in the sink.

“I’m so fucking proud of you, Lex. That was you setting your first boundary.”

“She didn’t want to take no for an answer,” I admit, my heart finally returning to a normal beat with JD by my side.

“I’m glad you didn’t let them bully you.”

“But I think it paid really good.”

He shakes his head. “Don’t let the doubt in. You know that isn’t the next step of your journey. Don’t worry about money. I’m not going to take a dime from you anyway.”

I shake water off my hands at him, and he laughs and jogs out the front door.

As soon as he leaves, my doubt seeps back in. If I took the job, maybe my parents wouldn’t be so upset with me.

When Elizabeth comes back inside, she finds me stuck in her living room, staring at a painting of a dragonfly that hangs on the wall. It used to be on their fridge, but it’s now framed. I wonder if Charlotte painted it for them.

“Hey, sweetie. What’s wrong?” She looks from me to the painting.

I take a deep breath. “I was just thinking about the day I met you.”

She reaches out and tucks my hair behind my ear, and I wonder if she remembers pulling leaves from it that day.

“I know you weren’t in the best place, but I’m so glad Elijah and Jackson brought you here.” She glances at the painting before pulling me over to sit on the couch with her. “You know, Jacob and I are so happy to have you here with us. We love you like a daughter, Lexie.”

Suddenly, a sob bursts from my chest.

“Hey.” She pulls me close, wrapping her arm around me.