Page 44 of (Un)Planned

“What’s going on in your head over there?” Theo asked, keeping his eyes on the road.

“I miss home,” I admitted. “Don’t get me wrong; New York is great, but it doesn’t fit quite right—like wearing a shoe that’s two sizes too small.”

“Do you think you’ll move back?”

He asked the question casually, but I could see his grip tighten on the steering wheel. I’d been living moment to moment for so long that I never gave it much thought, butthe idea of leaving Theo behind suddenly soured my stomach. “I don’t know,” I answered honestly. “Part of me would love to. But I also don’t know if I could.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve always loved being at the lake,” I answered, turning back toward the window. “But I don’t know if it’s where I see my future. So many of my memories are at the Isadora. If I couldn’t be a part of that…” I shook my head, cutting off that line of thought. “Let’s just say I’d be starting all over again. And considering I’m doing that right now, I’m not looking to do it again so quickly.”

“I remember that feeling. I left home as soon as I graduated high school,” Theo quietly admitted. “Got my diploma, and the very next day, I packed up all my stuff and started my college courses early. I never even thought about going back.”

“Really?” I asked, turning toward him. “What about your mom?”

He chuckled. “She was all for it. My mom wanted me to have every opportunity. She risked a lot to come to America. She was barely an adult herself, but she sacrificed everything to make sure I had the best life possible.” He cleared his throat, twisting his hands on the steering wheel. “Every time I reach a new goal, it’s because of her.”

“You miss her.”

“I do.” Theo’s voice was tight. “Every day. I hate that I wasn’t there for her at the end, but I hope she’s proud of everything I’ve accomplished.”

“I think she is.”

He turned, smiling softly at me. “One thing I know for sure? She would have loved you. She always liked calling me out when she thought my head got too big.”

“Oh, so all the time?” I chuckled.

I reached out and took his hand, letting the comfortable silence take over, not caring if Devyn saw. So much of Theo made sense now, knowing more about his mother and how hard she had worked to prove a good life for him. Clearly, to him, it was a debt he’d never be able to repay.

I wondered what that was like to have a parent support your dreams, to give up everything to ensure you could lead whatever life you wanted. I hadn’t spoken to my mother inmonths, and while part of me missed her, there was an even larger piece that felt relieved, as if a weight had been lifted off my chest. No more bowing down to her commands, no more fear of saying the wrong thing and being cut off.

Theo exhaled slowly. “All of that to say, I don’t have much experience with the concept of home. But if something calls to your heart, don’t ignore it.” He squeezed my hand. “You are tenacious, Calla. If you decide you want something, the world better get out of your way.”

I looked down at our joined hands, at how perfectly they fit together. Theo had no idea, did he? That home had been a foreign concept to me until he crashed into my life. And while I’d always loved Saint Stephen’s Lake, I was starting to realize that I’d be happy anywhere, as long as I got to be at Theo’s side.

And that scared me most of all.

TWENTY-SIX

After we settled in at the Fox Creek Lodge, Calla ran off to surprise Alex, and Devyn locked herself in her cabin, citing a work-related emergency. Left to my own devices, I decided to take a look around the property to see what my money had helped develop.

I’d only seen a few pictures from before the renovations started, but it was easy to see how much blood, sweat, and tears Alex and Cole had poured into this place. Each of the twelve cabins were pristine, a well-blended mix of rustic and luxury. Holding up the key to cabin nine, I walked inside, immediately taken aback by the craftsmanship. The cabin itself was small, only made up of a cozy sitting area, a king-sized bed, and a bathroom to the side, but the elements instantly soothed me. The walls were made of natural wood plank, and all the linens were white and airy. The back wall had been blown out, covered in a large picture window that offered a view of the surrounding forest. Even with other cabins surrounding mine, it felt isolated, but in the best way.

I forced myself out of my cabin, resisting the urge toscour my inbox and check in on the office. While the rest of the guests settled in, I took a walk to the main lodge, stopping to admire the view of the lake from the bottom of the hill.

Staring out at the picturesque scene, I closed my eyes, inhaling the clean mountain air. I’d lived in cities all my life and preferred the hustle to the quiet, but I was starting to understand the appeal of places like this. As I turned to face the lodge, I found Calla coming out, a broad smile on her face. To my delight, it only got wider when she saw me staring at her.

“Running for the hills already?” Calla asked, bumping my hip as she walked to my side.

“Not yet,” I answered. “Give me a few more days, and that might be a different story. Did Alex like the surprise?”

“She was very excited.” Calla grinned up at me. “Although I think she’s starting to suspect something is going on. I had to bite my lip so hard to keep from telling her.” She pulled my arm out, checking the time on my watch. “I only have to keep the secret for…five more hours. How hard can that be?”

“For you? Excruciating,” I chuckled. “Let’s get out of here, keep you from blurting out Cole’s plans.”

“I don’t know…” Calla glanced between the lodge and the gravel driveway. It was as if she had to physically stop herself from heading into town.

I rolled my eyes, taking her hand without thinking. “C’mon, we’ll be back in plenty of time.”

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