Page 1 of (Un)Planned

PROLOGUE

Focusing on the quiet waves, I tried to force my tears to dry. They’d been pouring down my cheeks for what felt like hours, and there was no sign of them stopping. I hated that I was crying, hated thathewas the cause of it.

Before my mother married my stepfather, David, we were happy. Or at least that’s how it felt looking back on it. Our family was always together, smiling our way through life. Even though my real dad was starting to become a distant memory, I still could feel the weight of his love for me, like my favorite blanket that I dragged everywhere, despite Laurel telling me it was for babies.

Everything changed so quickly when my dad died, and my mind was still struggling to connect the pieces. After his car accident, there was no more laughter, no more impromptu family adventures or slow dances in the kitchen. Our whole lives became about appearance, about how weshouldact.

Especially me.

It only got worse when my mother and David got married earlier this year. Even though she tried to sell it as afantastic opportunity for our family, it really only benefited her. As the wife of a prominent businessman in the city, she got the name and the money.

All the while, Laurel, Devyn, and I were pushed off to the sidelines, only brought out when they needed a picture of a happy family to accompany his company’s newsletters. At first, it was fine. I was old enough to be left on my own. Being fourteen meant I wasn’t a baby anymore; I could handle myself.

At least when David and my mother left me alone, they weren’t trying to shape my future to mirror their own. I glanced down at the brochures clenched in my hands, my fallen tears marring the pictures of happy, smiling children.

This weekend was supposed to be a trip away from all the stress of the city—a chance for my newly-minted stepfather to spend time in my mother’s childhood home, to see the legacy that her family built and what made this town so special.

Instead, it became an all-out assault. David launched into a list of my shortcomings before dinner could even be served, dragging up everything from my report cards to my taste in friends. And that wasn’t even what burned the most. No, it was how my mother sat there, not even bothering to look up as he dove into my failings. I mean, what did he expect me to do? Throw on a power suit and become his shadow? That was never going to be my goal.

I knew better than to think Laurel would stand up for me. She idolized David and already declared that she was going to be just like him when she grew up. It wasn’t surprising; Laurel was always quick to follow my mother’s lead.

Devyn had no problem causing a scene, screaming loudly across the table at our new stepfather. Even thoughshe was only a year older than me, Devyn was my fiercest protector. Still, even she couldn’t stop David once he started scolding me. I loved her for standing up for me, but at the same time, I just wanted to keep my head down and hope that, eventually, he’d move on to another target. But that was before he started mentioning boarding school and all the excellent opportunities it could afford me.

As my nose started to tingle with a fresh wave of tears, someone settled into the seat next to me. I didn’t even have to look up to know who it was. The familiar scent of cigars and cedar always reminded me of home.

“I should have known I’d find you here.” My grandfather, Poppy, took the seat next to me.

The isolated dock was where we always went when we needed an escape from everyone. Even though my grandfather owned and operated the largest hotel in the region, he carved out this little space for himself and my grandmother when he took over the Isadora. Even fifty years later, it's still one of the few places off-limits to guests. The same beaten Adirondack chairs have sat on the shore my entire life, overlooking the lake the town was named after.

I have vague memories of sitting in this very chair with Grammie, her fingers dancing through my waves as we watched the sunset over the mountains. She died when I was seven, so most of my memories were borrowed from others, but certain feelings always come up when I think of her. I know Poppy misses her every day. It’s in his smile; it has dimmed since she died.

I sniffled, wiping my face with the back of my hand. “David wants to send me away.” I held up the crumpled pamphlets. “He’s going to ship me off to boarding school.”

“And what do you want?” Poppy asked.

“I want to stay here, with you.” I glanced up at him.Everyone said I looked just like my grandmother—maybe that was why Poppy and I had such a good connection. “This place feels more like home than that stupid apartment.”

Penthouse, David corrected me in my mind. We’d moved in a couple of months before the wedding. My cozy, decorated bedroom had been traded in for something stale and cold. Even a year later, it still had no personality.

No, the Isadora Resort was my favorite place in the world. I counted down the days between each trip, waiting impatiently to walk through the lobby again. Maybe I was weird because I preferred living in a hotel, but it was a part of me.

My grandfather just sat by my side, offering silent support. I had no doubt he’d let me live with him if I asked. I half expected him to offer when he shifted toward me. “Calla bug, you know what we say about running from your problems?”

“It makes them go away?”

He laughed, the sound deep and hearty. “No, my love. It just saves them for another day.” He patted the back of my hand. “I’ll talk to David about boarding school, but I also don’t think hiding up here will solve anything.”

“Never know until you try.”

He squeezed my hand before turning back in his seat and letting out a content sigh as he looked across the lake. “Remember what happened when we went sailing last summer?”

“The day with the storm?” He nodded. “The sky looked clear, but once we got the boat out, it started to pour. And then, once we were back home, the sun came out all over again.” I shook my head. “It was like the weather was trying to mess with us.”

“That’s life, Calla bug,” Poppy said. “Just when you think you’ve gotten your bearings, something will come and knock you off your feet. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes it's terrible, but either way, you need to face it.” He knocked my chin with his knuckles. “Life won’t stop just because you’re afraid. But it’s in those moments you’ll learn your strength, what you’re capable of. And I know, no matter what life throws at you, that you’ll find your way, my love.”

“How will I know I’m making the right choice?” I asked, brushing my tears on the back of my hand.

He smiled slowly down at me. “Listen to that big, beautiful heart of yours, Calla. It’ll lead you where you need to go.”

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