Sand Castle Bay (Ocean Breeze) - By Sherryl Woods Page 0,97
express.
* * *
Emily had been on her own for so long, not accountable to anyone except her clients, that the realization that she needed to consider Boone and B.J. caught her off guard. Once she’d hung up after speaking to the two of them, she sighed.
“Problems?” Sophia asked, joining her on the porch of the house. It was the only place quiet enough to talk on the phone, much less think.
“I’ve just realized how many adjustments I’m going to have to make if I’m going to have a relationship with someone.”
“Someone in particular?” Sophia asked. “Maybe this man who has you running back to North Carolina every few weeks?”
Emily nodded.
“Tell me about him,” Sophia suggested. “Is it serious?”
“It’s been serious since we were teenagers,” Emily admitted. “But I took off to make my way in the world and he stayed behind, got married and had a child.”
Sophia lifted a brow. “And exactly how do you fit in now?”
Emily gave her a chiding look. “It’s not like that. He’s a widower, a single dad. Because of what happened before, he has a lot of trust issues about me actually making a commitment. He’s also scared his son is going to get hurt if I bail again.”
“Are you planning to bail?” Sophia asked.
“It’s not my intention, but there are days when I wonder how we’re going to pull this off, especially after a call like the one I just had.”
“Was he on your case for not being around?”
“No, he does understand how much this project matters to me.” She smiled at Sophia. “Thanks to you, I’ve finally found a way to combine work I love with something worthwhile. I’ve never felt this way about a job before.”
“Something told me it was going to be a perfect fit,” Sophia said. “You’ve always done an outstanding job for me and for everyone I’ve recommended you to, but I sensed there was something missing.”
Emily frowned. “You didn’t think I gave the work my all?”
“Oh, heavens no!” Sophia protested. “In case you haven’t noticed, there seem to be two extremes out here, at least in the circle of people with whom I associate. There are those who are sincerely passionate about the work and those who are in it to make a quick buck. While I’d certainly never lump you in with the latter, you didn’t have the sort of passion for the work that takes something from being a job to being something more. I like to be around people who can’t wait to get out of bed to start the day. I wanted that for you, too.”
Emily grasped what Sophia was telling her. “And you’re right. I think I’ve found that now.”
“But you think that’s going to ruin your future with this man?” Sophia guessed.
“I hope not,” Emily said, “but it does mean I need to consider people other than myself when I make decisions. B.J., that’s Boone’s son, started worrying that I’d forgotten about him. His grandmother, who’s not a big fan of mine, started feeding that insecurity. So while I was here, all caught up in the job, I was inadvertently hurting that little boy. How selfish is that?”
Sophia smiled. “And now that you know about this, what do you intend to do? Go on ignoring him until it’s convenient to make a call?”
“Absolutely not,” Emily said.
“Then lesson learned,” Sophia concluded. “Sweetie, it is not all that unusual for people who’ve only had to think of themselves to need a little time to get used to what’s necessary when there are others in their life. Now that you’ve been reminded of that, you’ll make every adjustment necessary. I have complete confidence in you.”
“What if the adjustments or sacrifices are too great?” Emily asked, voicing her greatest fear.
Sophia’s gaze was filled with compassion. “Then you’ll have made a choice, won’t you? You’ll have chosen work over a relationship.”
“But I don’t want to be that woman,” Emily complained. “I want it all.”
Sophia laughed. “Then find a way,” she said. “You’re a smart woman.”
“What about Boone?” she asked in frustration. “Do all the adjustments and sacrifices have to be mine?”
“Not in my book,” Sophia said. “But then I lost a couple of husbands because of my refusal to compromise. I don’t really recommend that, not if you’re hoping that things will work out. There’s always a middle ground, Emily. Find it.”
Emily nodded, praying that her friend was right and that she and Boone could find a solution that worked for both of them. They certainly