Page 42 of A Secret in the Bay

But she felt a tiny flutter in her stomach. Things were changing and she was nervous, but she had to keep moving forward.

She picked up a photo of Pearl at a dance recital that they had framed and placed on the mantel above the fireplace. It was a favorite of both her and James, so she left it in place. They’d figure out who got this particular frame and photo later.

She worked through the living room, grabbing the things that were one hundred percent hers and wrapping them in paper or bubble wrap. The more she packed, the more she realized how much she had put into this house—the decorations, the furniture, all of it.

Neither she or James had any idea what they were going to do about the house. James wanted an apartment closer to the restaurant and Caitlin wanted whatever worked best.

An apartment, or maybe a rental in a house somewhere? She wasn’t sure. She and James had been together so long that she forgot what it was like to have a space be primarily hers. She needed a room for Pearl, of course, but she’d have full reign over most of the space.

Caitlin wiped sweat off her forehead with the back of her hand and sat down on the couch. She deserved a break.

She pulled her phone from the pocket of her leggings and called Alissa.

“Hey,” Alissa said, sounding slightly out of breath.

“Hey. Did I catch you at a bad time?”

“No, I just had to run to my phone and I’ve been rushing around with the luau coming up,” Alissa said. “I definitely need a break.”

“Oh, good. I’m taking a break too.” Caitlin looked around the living room. She needed to make a path so no one would trip on the boxes.

“Packing?”

“Yep. I’m working on the living room,” she said.

“Are you doing okay?” Alissa asked, her voice gentle. “Holding up?”

“As much as I can, yeah.” Caitlin pushed her hair out of her face. “It’s been weird. I don’t know how to feel, really. One minute I’m sad looking at a piece of furniture that we picked out together, then the next I’m shocked that this is actually happening, then the next I’m just relieved.”

“That’s totally understandable. How’s Pearl doing?”

Caitlin absently rubbed her chest, which ached at the memory of telling Pearl that they were getting divorced. She was upset and confused, but she and James had emphasized that it wasn’t because of her and that they loved her very much.

“She’s doing okay, I think.” Caitlin nibbled on her bottom lip. “She hasn’t been acting out or anything, but sometimes I wonder if she’s hiding it.”

“I’m sure she’ll talk to you about it if she needs to. You two are close,” Alissa said.

The reassurance from Alissa boosted Caitlin’s confidence.

“I hope this is the right move in the long run for her too.” Caitlin grabbed a throw pillow to hold onto. “It might be hard sometimes but I think it’ll be better than growing up in a home where her parents don’t really love each other or even see eye to eye.”

“Good point. And you guys will co-parent too so you both will be in her life,” Alissa added. “I know you’ll all make it through once the hardest parts of this are over.”

“Yeah, exactly.” Caitlin smiled. Even though they were wildly different, Alissa truly got her. “How are things with Dane?”

“They’re great! All of those meetings were just a misunderstanding,” Alissa said.

“Oh? How?”

“He was learning how to hula dance for me.” The delight in Alissa’s voice warmed Caitlin’s heart.

“Dane? Dancing?” Caitlin had to laugh, but covered her mouth. “I can’t imagine that. He’s loosened up but dancing?”

“I know! He was good too.” Alissa laughed too. “He set up this whole surprise at The Crab where he danced for me and decorated everything like we were having our own mini-luau. And then he asked me to it, finally. So all of those nights he was at the office late, he was preparing all of this.”

“That’s so sweet,” Caitlin said, her heart warming. “I’m glad it all worked out for you two.”

Hearing Alissa’s story had really made her day. It gave her the hope that she really needed in that moment. Somewhere out there was a man who’d do something like that for her, even if it wasn’t the man she was about to divorce. Love was real.

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