The Inn At Seagrove - Rachel Hanna Page 0,34

laughed. "Well nobody can take away somebody's mother. I'm just your mother's friend.”

“My mother thinks of you more like a mother than her own, but we won't say that to my grandmother."

Dixie laughed. "Yes, let's not say that. "

“Grandma can be very difficult. I ran into her yesterday and she told me to stop going to group counseling meetings because I didn't need to be airing my dirty laundry in public."

Dixie looked stunned. "She said that?"

"She did."

"Well, I hope you're not going to listen to her. You need to do what's right for you."

Meg smiled gratefully. "Thank you. And this tea is amazing!"

“It is good, isn’t it.” Dixie smiled at her. “You know, you have much more light in your eyes today than I've seen in a while."

"I'm feeling better. The doctor adjusted my hormones, and I have to say those meetings are actually helping me. I met a new friend, and I'm starting to feel like my old self again."

Dixie reached across the table and squeezed her hand. "And it will only get better from here."

William sat at his desk, staring out the window over the city. He was thankful to at least have a park near his office building, although it was nothing like looking out over the ocean or being able to walk down to the marsh anytime he wanted.

He missed Seagrove more than he would've thought. But, mostly, he just missed Janine. Her laugh. The sweet smell of her thick, curly hair. Her snarky comments and goofy jokes.

So many times, he had typed her number into his phone, intending to call her and tell her how much he missed her. But what good would that do? She had already said she didn't want a long distance relationship, and really how would that ever work anyway?

He felt like calling her might just be prolonging the inevitable. Still, he really wanted to hear her voice and know that she was okay.

He usually talked to his mother a few times a week, and so far he had refrained from asking much about Janine. What if she was starting to date other people? What if she hated him? These were things he just preferred not to know.

Going home to an empty apartment every night was getting kind of depressing, even after only a few weeks. He knew that he needed to get on with his life and build something new, but it was hard.

He hadn't expected to miss that little island so much. But, there were no big opportunities there, and he had to go in the direction that would allow him to build his career. If there was one thing his father had instilled in him at a young age, it was that a man needed to work hard and be strong.

Right now, he wasn't feeling very strong.

"You're here late.” He looked up to see his boss, Tina, standing in the doorway. She was tough as nails, and at first they had butted heads quite a bit. But now they had become pretty good friends, at least from his perspective.

"I'm the new guy. Have to impress the boss," he said, laughing. Tina was a VP of the company, and she’d been assigned to oversee him as he started the new division.

She walked closer and sat down in the chair across from his desk. "You've already done that. Our numbers are on an upward swing."

"We are a new branch. There's nowhere to go but up."

"I mean they are exceeding all expectations. You should be proud of yourself for what you've done in such a short period of time."

"Well, I'm glad you think so. I really want to make this place successful."

She squinted her eyes. “You seem a little down today? Is everything all right?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Just thinking about everybody back home. This was such a quick move, I really didn't have a chance to wrap things up there like I wanted.”

She nodded. "I understand. When I left Los Angeles, it was quite a culture shock to come here. But, I like it. And I know you will adjust also. Remember, I've only been here a couple of weeks longer than you have. I’m still learning the ropes too.“

"I'm sure everything will be okay for both of us. Are you headed out for the evening?"

She laughed. "Actually, I think I'm going down to Malone's to get a nice big glass of wine and watch some sports."

He leaned back in his chair. "You watch sports?"

"Oh yeah. I grew up with