Page 2 of The One

“I feel bad,” Trey said. “Until you started this conversation, I hadn’t realized how much you have changed.”

Her shoulders dropped. “Changed how?”

“You’re not the happy carefree little sister you always were. Seeing you getting excited and smiling bright, one that is reaching your eyes, that just hit home for me. I haven’t seen any of that in a long time.”

“No,” she said, sighing. “It’s time to get it all back.”

“Then that is what we’ll do.”

“Thanks,” she said. “Don’t tell Mom and Dad. Not yet. See if the house is available, and once we know more, then I’ll break it to them. They love Mike.”

Trey snorted. “They love Mike because you do. They’ve got nothing against him, but if you aren’t happy, they are only going to want what is best for you and you know it.”

It was exactly what she needed to hear.

“What is best for me is to rediscover the person I used to be, not the one that fell into some boring hole and feels she is stuck in the mud for a man that could care less about moving on.”

“Then let’s get you out of there and cleaned up,” Trey said, laughing. “We can muddle through the next year together because I’m going to need all the help I can get.”

She needed this in her life now. Something to actually look forward to.

1

Saves Me

Over Two Years Later

“Happy Birthday, Harper.”

Rick Masters looked at his niece who turned one yesterday. Today was going to be her first birthday party at his sister Robin Dawson’s house. The house that wasn’t that far from his in Paradise Place.

He never thought he’d be back in New York State, let alone in the development where his sister bought a house two years ago. But times changed and he needed to leave California behind him.

At least he did it with one hell of a bank account and was starting over.

“She loves her Uncle Rick,” Robin said. “I can’t tell you how excited we are that you are back and can see you anytime we want.”

He picked up Harper who was crawling toward him. He’d gotten here before anyone else and hadn’t realized he’d be the first one. Of course, he did only live a few miles away. He could have walked if he wanted to and almost did. In the end he decided to drive so he wasn’t looking like a fool carrying his niece’s gift with him.

“It’s good to be back. Not sure I’m going to enjoy the snow or cold in a few months, but I do love the fall.”

“Then you came back at the right time,” Brian, his brother-in-law, said. “Are you all settled into the house?”

“I’m getting there,” he said.

He’d been living in his house for a few weeks now, thrilled with it, considering he’d bought it sight unseen. Normally he wouldn’t have done that, but when he’d told his sister he was thinking of returning, she’d said there was a house for sale not that far away that she passed daily.

Robin had gotten him in touch with Ruby Turner, the realtor listed. They’d done a video walk-through. His sister went over and checked it out too. Then he’d put an offer in and Brian, being a lawyer, took care of the rest.

Since it was an all-cash offer, things moved quickly and allowed him to finish out his job while he packed up.

He’d started his new job two weeks ago. Leaving Google behind was hard, as he’d gotten his start there, but the long days and hours were too much. He had no one to blame but himself for burning out because he’d spent just as much time with his best friend getting a startup going.

He’d never thought it’d sell before it launched and his forty percent stake in the company gave him millions.

Enough to start his life over when he’d seen that Dean’s marriage had suffered and his wife left him, taking half of that sixty percent his friend had slaved over.

The friendship ended up not being as strong in the end either when it was said and done.

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