and with Juliet. See where things led with Cooper.
She loved Cape Sanctuary. These past few weeks of being home had reminded her of the good people here and how much she loved the sense of support and community here. The idea was so very tempting. She could go home now, put in her two weeks’ notice, get out of her apartment lease and pack everything up and come home.
And then what?
She looked at her mom. It was completely impossible.
She had built her entire life away from Cape Sanctuary since she left as a college freshman. She didn’t belong here anymore.
What if she failed, if she threw all her energy into building Harper Media and ended up falling flat on her face?
And Cooper. He would be focused on Caitlin, as he should be. It would be so difficult to be close to him, to allow her feelings to grow until she’d be left with only a broken heart.
She would have traded a solid portfolio and comfortable retirement for possibilities that might never happen.
No. She couldn’t do it.
“I have a good job that pays well and has amazing benefits. I would be a fool to walk away for something that could disappear tomorrow.”
“Or that could take off beyond your wildest dreams. Life is about taking chances, honey.”
“I can’t leave my job, Mom.”
“People leave their jobs all the time. It’s a paycheck, not your identity. Anyway, the risk is great, but the reward might be so much greater, too. Why are you so afraid?”
The words seemed to slice through her, cutting her to the bone.
She was.
The attack on that barista had shown her the truth with painful clarity. She was always so worried about things that might go wrong that she was often paralyzed into inaction. While she had cowered under that booth, she had played a hundred different scenarios in her head about how she might stop the attack, but had done nothing because all she could see after every possible course of action were negative outcomes.
That was the same reason she knew she had to push Cooper away. She was only looking ahead to her own possible heartbreak.
But what if she took the chance? What if instead of focusing on her fear of pain, she embraced the possibilities instead?
She wasn’t thinking clearly. She couldn’t make this decision right now, after the emotional, tumultuous day that felt as if she’d lived a week in about twelve hours.
“Let’s forget about me for a minute, Mom. Why don’t we talk about you?”
Juliet frowned. “You’re trying to change the subject.”
“Maybe I am. Maybe I don’t want to talk about my career path right now. Just like you apparently haven’t wanted to talk to your only remaining child about the fact that you have multiple sclerosis.”
Juliet gave an involuntary gasp then went deathly still. She stared at Olivia, her eyes wide.
“How...? You didn’t... You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Until that moment, she hadn’t really believed what Doug had said, certain he must have somehow made some kind of egregious error, confusing Juliet for someone else. As she watched the color seep from her mother’s features, heard her fumble for words, she knew it was no mistake.
“It’s true,” she breathed. “You do have multiple sclerosis. Mom. Why didn’t you tell me? How long have you known?”
Juliet was quiet for a long time, her features pale and still but her eyes distressed. “I wanted to tell you,” she whispered. “I just... I didn’t want you to worry.”
She was so stupid, Olivia thought. She should have realized. She had sensed something was going on but she hadn’t pushed.
So many things began to make sense. Juliet had been secretive about her health, insisting on preparing her own medicine dispensers. That must be why, because she was adding the medications she must take for her MS.
“How long have you known?” she asked again.
“Four years.”
“Four years. You kept a secret like this from me for four years?” She struggled to comprehend the depth of what felt like a vast betrayal.
“I would like to know how you found out,” Juliet said, instead of answering her. “Only a few of my dearest friends know and I’m certain they would never...”
“Other people know but you couldn’t be bothered to tell your own daughter. Does Caitlin know?”
Her mother made a face. “Are you kidding? If I ever told her I have multiple sclerosis, she would never leave my side. You know how protective she is. How did you find out?”