Page 64 of The Pink House

Hannah chewed on her bottom lip. Thinking about the past had her insides churning. No matter how she spun it, there were so many things she’d have done differently, better.

But she’d learned this last year that life moved on with few do-overs and to not take for granted the time she was given.

“For a long time, I was as driven as Brian. I threw myself into my job with the goal of moving up, of becoming an employee they couldn’t do without.” She gave a little laugh. “We see how that worked out.”

Charlie relaxed further into the lawn chair. “It sounds as if what you wanted changed even before they gave you the heave-ho.”

As he took a long sip of coffee, his gaze remained on her face.

If she’d seen judgment there, she wouldn’t have responded.

“A year or so before Brian got sick, I sensed my passion for the job waning.” She sipped her coffee, and the caffeine gave her system the jolt it needed. “My duties had begun to seem pointless. I wanted something…different.”

“What did Brian have to say when you mentioned how you were feeling?”

“I never said anything to him.”

“Why not?” Surprise skittered across Charlie’s face. “I’m sure he’d have been supportive of you making a change.”

Hannah couldn’t hide her doubt. “I’m not so sure. Brian never deviated from his plans.”

“You’re not giving him enough credit. He was supportive of me dropping out of school when no one else was.”

“What about your mom?”

Charlie shook his head. “Not at first. She felt guilty, as if she was the one pulling me away from completing my education. The truth was, I’d gotten out of my two years what I needed to pursue my dreams.”

Hannah recalled how surprised she’d been when her husband had defended Charlie for leaving college. Brian had insisted that Charlie was brilliant and knew what he was doing. “Brian always said leaving MIT was the right choice for you.”

“His acceptance, his openness to considering that others might have dreams that didn’t mirror his own, was one of the things I admired most about him.”

Hannah heard the affection in his voice. “You miss him.”

“Darn right I do.” Charlie gazed out over the water and cleared his throat. “He was an amazing man and friend.”

“I miss him, too.”

Charlie’s hand reached over and covered hers. He didn’t say anything more. His hand simply remained on hers as they sat on the bank of the creek, the rising sun casting a golden glow over the water.

“His death has made me realize tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. I don’t want to spend time at a job that doesn’t fulfill me.” Hannah thought of how Mackenna and Emma had reacted when she told them she was considering a career in baking.

“Makes sense to me.” Charlie sipped his coffee, his gaze watchful. “If you didn’t love what you were doing, why go back into that field?”

“Making a go of the baking thing is a long shot.”

“Long shots come in every day.” He offered an encouraging smile. “Why not at least try? Who cares if you fail? You can always try something else. You can always change your mind.”

“It feels like everyone I know believes the smart thing for me to do is to get the best position possible with the best pay and benefits.”

“They aren’t you.” Charlie took another long drink of coffee. “I’m glad you’re taking your time and not rushing a decision.”

Hannah just nodded.

“Shifting directions can be challenging, especially when the road you’re traveling is filled with unexpected surprises.”

“Like the letter I got from the woman in the woods.”

“That was definitely a surprise.”

---