A shrill ringing dragged me from a pleasant dream where I was floating on a cloud above Destiny Falls, gazing down on the township while birds flew past in bright flashes of color. I flopped an arm out of bed and reached for my cell phone, which was on the nightstand.

“Hello?”

“Kennedy, it’s Owen.”

Ugh. Owen was my agent. The one I’d tried to let go when I’d flown to New Zealand, but he’d insisted I’d be back and in need of his services, so he’d refused to be dropped.

“It’s five in the morning,” I groaned. “I was sleeping.”

“Oh.” He sounded surprised. “Sorry, I hadn’t thought about the time difference.”

I forced myself to sit up and flick on the light. “No one ever does.”

He ignored my comment. “I’ve been talking to Jeff.”

I stiffened. “Oh?”

“It’s time to come back,” he said imperiously. “For your own safety, if nothing else. We can take care of you here.”

Despite my annoyance, I smiled. He’d like me to see this as him protecting me, but even if there was a degree of that involved, his call was driven more by self-interest than anything else. He wanted me back in Hollywood, making movies, so he could collect his cut.

“Not happening.” No matter how muddled my morning brain was, I wasn’t wavering on that point.

“Please, Kennedy. Be reasonable.”

“I’m being perfectly reasonable,” I told him. “My career as an actress was an unplanned detour from what I really want to do with my life. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, and I’m grateful for the chances I had because they mean I’m financially set for life, but I’m ready to get back to the original plan now.”

Owen scoffed. “That ‘detour’, as you put it, is the kind of happy circumstance most people dream of.”

“I know.” I gentled my tone. I knew how blessed I was and didn’t ever want to forget that. “I appreciate that I was able to support my family and provide a secure future for each of them because of it, but it’s never been my dream.”

“Fine.” Owen sounded defeated. “Can’t blame a guy for trying. Keep in touch? I do care about you, you know.”

“I know. Bye, Owen.” I ended the call and stretched, then looked around the room. After yesterday, Blair had wanted to sleep on my couch, but I’d convinced him to stay next door. Having people around in the evening had soothed my nerves. They’d all been so determined to make sure the cottage was safe, and even though I’d been overwhelmed by their presence at first, I’d felt reassured by the company and the fact they’d double and triple checked the security systems.