Page 264 of My Rules

“Yep.” I smile and pull him into a hug. “Thank you for everything.”

I hug Antony and Ethel and Winston. I get to Carol, and she starts crying.

“I’ll see you all the time, Carol.” I hug her tight. “It’s fine.”

“I know, I know.” She sniffs. “I just never wanted you to move. You’re such a beautiful girl, and I’m going to miss you, too, Daisy.”

I walk to my car and take one last look around Kingston Lane. Such a wonderful little street with such beautiful people in it.

Not the happily ever after I was hoping for, but maybe the fresh new start that I need.

I open the door, and Daisy climbs in the back. I get into my car.

And as my friends wave goodbye, I drive out of Kingston Lane with tears in my eyes.

“It’s just me and you now, Daisy. It’s just me and you ...”

It’s winter. The air is crisp, and frost glints in the corners of the window.

I have the most beautiful bay window in the front living room with a big window seat with cushions. My house is freshly painted, and I’m suddenly into nesting.

It’s weird—I’ve been in this house now for eight weeks, and it’s the happiest I’ve been in a long time.

I feel free.

No longer held hostage to the bricks and mortar that I feared losing so much.

No more stupid foot photos.

The future is bright, and the world is my oyster.

Things have changed a lot. Liam, Juliet’s brother, has moved into her old house, and a new family with teenage kids has moved into mine.

The cul-de-sac will be different now with all the new people, and it wouldn’t have been the same even if I’d stayed.

My timer on my oven dings, and I walk into the kitchen. Then Daisy starts to bark at the window.

“What is it, Daisy Doo?” I call to her.

I hear the front step creak, and I walk to the front door and stop on the spot when I see who it is.

“Blake.”

“Hi, Bec.” His eyes search mine.

“Hi.” My heart somersaults in my chest. “Are you ...” I put my hand on my chest to try and calm myself. “Visiting?”

“No.”

“No?”

“I moved back ... last week.”

“Last week?”

“Oh.” I nod as I search for something to say. “But your job ...”

“I’ve returned to my practice here.”

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