Page 80 of Rebellious Hearts

She smiled at me, and I put the hat on.

“Cute,” Ben said.

Luke wore the same kind of hiking clothes Ben did. He and Amy had both the same sheen of wealth, but they were nice people. Very down to earth. I was as guilty of judging a book by its cover just as others were. The rich weren’t as stuck-up and they didn’t set themselves aside as much as I’d thought.

“Let’s get cracking,” Luke said. “The trail is an easy one.”

We got into a car—that Luke drove himself—and he drove us to the start of the trail. When he parked, Ben handed me a water bottle.

He was taking care of me and it gave me butterflies.

We headed onto the trail; the men walked in front, and Amy and I followed behind.

The path wound through a coastal forest, and the shade under the oak trees was dappled by sunlight falling through the leaves. Spanish moss draped the branches, and it made the whole area feel like it came from a storybook.

The route we followed wasn’t over manicured but it didn’t take hacking through the underbrush to get there.

As we walked, Amy pointed out the wildflowers, naming birds as we spotted them.

“You know a lot about nature,” I said.

“Yeah, I grew up around these parts, you know? You pick it up.”

“I don’t think so. I mean, not unless you’re interested.”

“I guess,” Amy said with a shrug. “We have family who just stay inside, staying out of the sun and away from anything that resembles having to expend energy. But I can’t live like that, you know?”

I knew what she meant. I wouldn’t be able to live like that, either.

“The difference between living and being alive.”

“Right,” Amy said.

It made me think about the job Elena had told me about, going to Costa Rica, working with endangered species and nature conservation. I loved nature and I loved doing something that made a difference, not just working for money, not just working to be able to survive.

“Have you heard of GNPA?” I asked.

“Of course,” Amy said. “Their efforts are fantastic. They make the kind of difference this world needs, operating on a big enough scale that people notice.”

I nodded. “They’re very involved with preserving places.”

“It’s a lot like what you’re about to do,” Amy said.

I glanced at her. How did she know…?

“With the rejuvenation project,” she said, adding to her comment and I realized she was talking about the project Ben and I had just gotten, not the fact that I’d told her I might be leaving. Of course, there was no way she could have known anything else about it.

“Yeah,” I said. “The town really needs a helping hand, and they could do so much with the cash injection they’ll get from the Blackwood factory and the jobs it will be creating. I’m really excited for the town and its people.”

Amy grinned at me.

“Everyone deserves a second chance,” I added, not sure how else to explain how much I wanted the people of Harborview to have a chance to try again.

“I love that you see the world that way,” Amy said.

“What way?”

“That everyone deserves a second chance. There is so much forgiveness and acceptance in that and it feels like the world can do with a bit more of it. People are so inclined to shut off and turn their backs on those who make a mistake, but no one is perfect.” She glanced at Ben meaningfully and I wasn’t sure why.