Page 49 of The Forever Formula
All of that meant there was really no need for me to rush out and find work. The house was paid for, after all, and the bills were pretty low. I could easily take another year off, at least, without denting my new savings.
I was sure I wouldn’t, though. As soon as I finished the renovations and the winter preparations, I was going to figure out how to set up my new travel-nurse business.
Megan had already sent me some resources. It totally was a thing. Nothing would be more satisfying than helping my local community with the skills I’d honed over the years.
And then there was Noah. I smiled every time I thought of him. He’d left so early the next morning, I hadn’t even woken. He left me a little handwritten note on his pillow that said he had to do chores, signing it with anxoxo.
I unboxed the lights and cut the power to the house. I’d watched a few videos online, and it seemed easy enough. The old fixtures were simple to remove, and soon there were just a few wires sticking from a hole in the ceiling. The instructions said to connect the black to the black, the white to the white. The only problem was, these wires were both brown.
Climbing off my ladder, I pulled out my phone to look it up.
A beeping sound distracted me, and I glanced out the window. A truck with a load of wood, enough to last the winter, was backing down my driveway. I slipped on my boots and coat and ran outside.
The driver hopped from the truck.
“Rachel Tyson?” she asked, squinting at me.
“Stephanie Freeman.” I chuckled and strode toward her. Steph had been one of my best friends in high school.
We embraced in a hug, both of us a little shocked.
“I didn’t know you were in town. You should have called me,” she said sternly.
“Sorry, Steph. I know. It’s been so crazy.”
Then a look of realization crossed her face. “Oh shit. I’m so sorry. Your grandpa Paul.”
I nodded. “Yeah. But silver linings ... I’m moving back.” I beamed at the thought.
Stephanie squealed so loud, it hurt my ears. “Shut. Up. This is the best news ever.”
“What’s going on out here?” a man asked as he jumped from the passenger side of the truck.
“Babe, you’ll never guess. Rachel Tyson is moving back.”
“Rachel?” he asked, walking over to us. He held his hand up like a visor to block the sun.
I couldn’t place the man. He looked vaguely familiar, but then all at once it hit me. “Nathan Prescott.”
“Oh, that’s right. It’s Stephanie Prescott now. I’m still getting used to saying it,” Steph said and held up her hand to show me her ring.
“So, this is your business.” I nodded to the truck, realizing then I’d called Prescott Wood Delivery.
Nathan threw an arm around Steph. “Yup. And I’m lucky enough to get to work every day with this beautiful gal.”
Steph looked at her watch then. “Speaking of which, we do have a pretty tight schedule. Can we meet soon to catch up?”
“Oh yes. Sorry. Yes. Of course.” I stumbled over my words.
We hugged once more, and I showed them where on the porch to load the firewood, then headed back inside.
Could things get any better? Maybe it was the nine years that had passed that made me forget about all the people I loved in this town. Thankfully, Steph and I were clearly going to pick up again without missing a beat. I was feeling very lucky.
When I got back to my phone, I had a text from Natalie inviting me over for coffee the next morning. I wrote back and accepted, still marveling at how full my life had become.
I finished my search to troubleshoot the lighting install, and as it turned out, one brown wire had ridges, and that one got matched to the white.
After managing to install five out of fifteen lights—who knew there were so many lights in a house?—I wolfed down a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, then I dragged myself to the shower. I knew Noah should be just about done with the day, so I was all set to cuddle up on the couch and text him a hello.
