Page 6 of Willow in the Wind

Seeing them together felt like sunshine on your cheeks. It was a reminder that new love could be found when you least expected it.

Not that Stella was looking for love.

The Sutton Book Club discussedRebeccafor nearly two hours. The mesmerizing discussion left everyone excited about what it meant to share ideas and joyful creativity.

Afterward, Larry and Esme brought out a ton of desserts to share: cheesecake, brownies, and chocolate chip cookies. A blustery wind crashed against the windows of the ornate library, and it felt cozy to be inside, dipping forks into decadent sweet things and sharing more intimate stories about their lives.

Aunt Esme approached a few minutes after Stella grabbed a plate of cheesecake. “Stella! I wanted to thank you again for the posters.”

Esme had hired Stella to make advertisement posters for a new film series that the Sutton Book Club was putting on that autumn and winter.

“It was no problem at all,” Stella assured her.

“But that advertising copy was sensational!” Esme gushed. She touched Stella’s shoulder. “I knew that was your career. Copywriting, I mean. But I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in action before. You have a real way with words, Stella.”

Stella felt a blush crawl up her chest and neck. Compliments from Aunt Esme were extra powerful because Aunt Esme had such wonderful taste in just about everything. Books. Films. Music. Uncle Victor had made a world-class mistake.

“It’s just advertising copy.” Stella waved it off with her hand.

“I know. But, Stella, I think you have a real talent,” Aunt Esme pointed out. “Today, when you were talking aboutRebecca,I was like, she really gets it. She is aliteraryperson.” Aunt Esme’s smile widened.

Stella just blinked at her. What was she talking about?

“Have you considered writing a book?” Aunt Esme asked.

Stella was taken aback. She slid her tongue over her teeth. The cheesecake was too sweet and already giving her a headache. “Oh, I don’t know. Not really.”

“You should consider it,” Aunt Esme urged. “I have this sense that there’s a story in you.”

“I’m sure everyone has a few stories in them,” Stella said.

“But you have the skill to make it happen,” Aunt Esme pressed it. Aunt Esme’s eyes sparkled. “What is the story of your life?”

Stella’s mouth went dry. “I beg your pardon?”

“You know,” Aunt Esme said. Her eyes were urgent. “When someone says, ‘What is one story that defines your life?’, do you have an answer?”

Stella’s heart skipped a beat.

Should I say the divorce? Having children? Marrying Matt?

Those were big stories. But were they thestory of her life?

No. Stella knew the story of her life. She didn’t have to think hard to find her answer.

But suddenly, Larry approached Esme with a question and took Esme away. Stella waved in understanding and turned to find another book club member, who asked her how her summer went.

“It’s been a year since your divorce, hasn’t it?” the woman asked.

“A little more than a year,” Stella affirmed. “It’s hard to believe.”

“Everyone tells you to take time for yourself,” the woman said. “But I think you should get back out there as soon as you can. Dating is the only distraction!”

Stella forced a smile. She didn’t share this woman’s sentiments.

But everyone approached divorce differently. That was clear from the myriad of divorce memoirs, divorced bloggers, and divorced Instagrammers. Advice was everywhere. Stella was bored by all of it.

She wanted to find her own way.

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