Page 39 of Spiritwarrior

After a good cry, she forced herself out of bed and went to the bathroom attached to the bedroom Ginny had given her last night. Turning on the faucet, she splashed cold water on her face. Then, after wiping off her face with a hand towel, she grimaced at her puffy eyes.

She walked back into the bedroom to dress in the jeans and sweatshirt Ginny had loaned her. The jeans were too tight, but the sweatshirt was long enough to hide the gaping space. With lagging footsteps, she left the bedroom, hoping to leave the house without seeing Ginny. Still on the verge of more tears, she didn’t think she would be able to handle any sympathy without breaking down.

“Good morning,” Ginny greeted her cheerfully, coming out of the kitchen. “How are you doing?”

“Better. Thank you.”

“I just made a pot of coffee. Would you like a cup before you head to the diner?”

“No, thanks. I’m not going to the diner.”

“Oh … then you’re going to your apartment. Give me a couple of minutes to get dressed, and I’ll go with you.”

Sophie shook her head. “I’m not going to my apartment, at least not yet. I’m going to a realty company. I’m going to sell the diner.”

“I’d say I’m surprised, but I’m not. Since you’re not opening the diner, stay for a cup of coffee. I can refer a realtor to you who will try to get you the best price. Drake doesn’t open his office for a couple of hours.”

“I could use a cup of coffee.”

Sophie took a seat at the table next to the kitchen while Ginny got the coffee. She noticed several missed calls from Knox. She would call him back after she drank the coffee, sure he was going to ask her to go back to the apartment to see if anything was stolen. She would need to drink a whole pot laced with Baileys before she worked up enough courage to go there.

“Here you go.” Ginny sat down across from her.

Sophie eyed her. “If you’re going to convince me not to sell the diner, don’t. I’m more than ready to leave Treepoint.”

“Are you just as ready to give up your dreams?”

“I can buy another restaurant in another town.”

“If you do sell the restaurant, where would you buy another one?”

“I don’t know. I guess I’ll use Google to find out where restaurants are for sale and start looking there.”

“In a new town you haven’t been before?”

“Yes.”

“You could run into the same difficulties there you have here. Sometimes when you move to a new place, it takes time to fit in.”

“I don’t need my parents coming to Treepoint to be unhappy. This is supposed to be our new beginning.”

“Sophie”—Ginny stared at her earnestly—“Treepoint can be your and your parents’ new beginning. I’m very happy, but not too long ago, I was miserable, thinking it would be better if I just ran away and disappeared. If not for Gavin coming after me, I wouldn’t have the life I live now. You don’t have to give up; you have more support here than you know.”

“I can’t expect you all to keep helping me. You’ve just met me.”

Ginny’s hand moved across the table to rest on hers. “I have a sixth sense about people. When I met you, I felt as if we would become good friends.”

Sophie had to admit to having the same feeling, yet she didn’t tell Ginny that. It wouldn’t do any good to deepen their friendship when she would be leaving.

“My whole family will be upset if you leave.”

“Your family has been very kind to me.”

“Just give it another few days. Talk to Drake and find out how much you would make from the sale. I just don’t want you to give up before you explore all your options.”

Sighing, she took a sip of her coffee. “I’ll talk to your friend, then come to a decision.”

“Great. I really want you to stay.”

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