Page 80 of Buried Roots

I turn my gaze to Owen and hitch a thumb over my shoulder. “I better get going. I don’t want to miss my flight, and I need time to drop off the rental car.”

He nods curtly. “Good luck with your life, Willow Dawson, even though I know you don’t need it. You’re headed for big things, even if it doesn’t feel like it right at this moment.”

“You too.” My chest collapses, but I say, “Violet Moon and animals are lucky to have you.”

Right on cue, Demon scrambles up to me and licks my hands as if to wish me goodbye. I let out a bittersweet laugh before I say, “Aw, Demon, don’t let anyone ever tell you that you aren’t the best dog in the whole world.” I scrub his tummy as he wags his tail and kicks his legs in the air in pure joy before he runs away to chew on a stick.

Owen’s mouth curves. “Did I tell you that Demon’s officially part of the Brooks’ family?”

“No!” I act surprised, but I’m not. Of course, Owen was always going to adopt Demon. He just didn’t know it. “He is, is he? Well, then. I’d tell you to change his name to something a bit nicer, but I know your mom. She won’t allow it.”

“Nope. It’s bad luck. So. Demon it stays.”

“Well, Demon. I’ll definitely miss you.” I flutter out a breath and meet Owen’s gaze. “And I might miss you, too.”

I want to say more, do more. I want to hug Owen until my arms ache, but I can’t. Instead, I jam my hands in my pockets before heading to the rental car. I sit inside for a beat before I turn the engine.

Pulling away, I can’t help but remember the first day I drove here. I thought Owen might be Ted Bundy. I couldn’t wait to get out of this boondock town and back to New York. Funny thing. Now that I’m actually going, it’s the last thing I want.

I drive the car away at a crawl, taking in my last view of the endless pine trees. And the clouds, like stretched cotton candy, hang just above the mountains with the sunlight peeking through.

And then I pass the tree. I definitely won’t miss that thing.

Still. It’s hard to imagine that I’m leaving this place forever. It got under my skin a lot more than I thought it would.

Owen did too.

31

The Big City

Walkingintotheemptyboardroom, I can’t get over how different everything feels. The hundred-story view of the Hudson River. The building’s modern design with marble floors, sharp edges, and clean yet expensive artwork and statues. It’s the same as I remember it, but it feels different.

When Natanya comes through the door, I pull her into a hug. “I’ve missed you so much.” I give her a tight squeeze, taking in her signature scent of white lilies that I missed too.

“You too, girl,” she says, pulling away. “But I have to say, you’ve got this glow about you.”

“I do?” That’s shocking considering my last few days.

“Yes. Violet Moon was good for you. And you were happy there. And at peace.” She looks up. “Well, except for the fire.”

I close my eyes. “Yeah.”

Her voice is gentle. “Do they know anything more?”

“No. And I’m trying not to think about it.” Which isn’t working. It’sallI can think about—who would do something so heinous to me? And why? But I move on. “I’m sorry about the situation I left you in.”

“Can I speak honestly, boss?”

“You know you will, and I want you to, so go right ahead.” The air conditioner turns on and starts blowing on me, and I shiver. It hits me that I’m no longer used to the dry, cool air.

“I love you, Willow, you know that. But if you give me the tools I need to succeed, I can run the office here just fine.”

“I was standing in your way, wasn’t I?”

“A little bit.”

I let out a long sigh. “I was so scared of letting go of my job, you couldn’t do yours. But I’m going to fix this. I have a plan.”

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