“I want to know!”

Julie spent the next few minutes explaining the plot and her ideas for the rest of the book. Surprisingly, Charlotte sat and listened the whole time. Of course, she was probably just being nice, but Julie appreciated it all the same.

“You know, Julie, you’ve got a great idea there. I’d love to read a few pages if you don’t mind?”

“Really?”

“Sure!”

“I would be so honored if you would. Thank you, Charlotte.”

“I’ll take a look when we get back to the inn later. Will that work?”

“Of course!”

Emma sat behind the table trying her best to look happy as she greeted people that wanted to know more about the lighthouse. In reality, she was still very emotional after her conversation with Janine the night before.

Janine had apologized over and over for bringing it up when Emma had such a big day planned for the spring festival. But she told Janine that she was glad to finally have it out in the open. Not that she wanted everyone in town to know who she was, but Janine was her best friend in Seagrove right now, and she trusted her.

They had talked late into the night even after eating dinner. Janine shared more of her story, and Emma was glad to know that she wasn’t alone. She also felt much better about the details of what had happened, and she felt like she was already beating herself up less and less. Still, she struggled with the decision she’d been forced to make, and she wasn’t totally confident that a support group or a counselor would be able to help her come to terms with that.

After Janine left, she actually sent Steve a message apologizing for the way she reacted when he came to the cottage. She told him that she had loved him, but that she just wasn’t going to be the same person. She was going to be a better person, but she simply could not see herself with the life he wanted. She didn’t want to be in the security business, she didn’t want to work long enough to retire from the force. And she certainly didn’t want to be married to a police officer. It was something she didn’t want in her life anymore.

She had great respect for law-enforcement, and she always would. But being married to someone who came home every night dressed in uniform with stories about their day was just going to further traumatize her. He said he understood, and she felt like they finally cleared the air.

She had called Caroline and tried to explain what she was doing.

“You know I can refer you to someone, right?” Caroline had said, concern filling her voice.

“I know, and I appreciate that. But, I have to do what feels right for me. Taking baby steps is what feels appropriate right now.”

“And you’re sure you’re not moving back home?”