Page 139 of Just Like Home

Charlotte sighed. “But if she’d stayed—if I’d been the one to walk away—she’d still be alive today.”

“Don’t do that,” Hildy said. “Julianna loved her life. She loved her family and her dance studio. She loved teaching, and she loved Harbor Pointe.”

Charlotte knew it was true. Julianna’s letters had said so.

“And you loved ballet.”

“I loved applause,” Charlotte said. “I loved being the best.”

“And now?”

Charlotte shrugged. The only thing she could think of was Cole. She loved Cole. He’d proven to her that there was so much more to life than being the best. He’d proven that there was more to strive for than the approval of everyone else. But would he also prove that what he said was true—that love was unconditional? Would he still feel the same once he knew what Hildy knew?

“You seem to be searching for something, Charlotte,” Hildy said. “What is it?”

Charlotte couldn’t have put it into words if she tried. She didn’t know. She just knew that the day Julianna died, the day they laid her to rest, something inside her shifted. Suddenly, everything she’d been working for seemed meaningless.

But if she hadn’t been born to dance, then whyhadshe been born? She was trying to find out.

“Can I tell you what I think?” Hildy asked, as if Charlotte could’ve stopped her. “I think you’re looking for forgiveness.”

The knot at the back of Charlotte’s throat loosened.

“You’re trying toearnforgiveness the same way you’re trying to earn love.”

Charlotte dared a glance at the older, wiser woman. “I think you’re right.” Her voice cracked as she spoke. “This is all new to me.”

“What if I told you that you’ve got nothing to prove?” Hildy reached over and took her hand. “Love and forgiveness aren’t earned. They’re freely given. Like a gift. God created you—not only to be a dancer, but to be His child. He loves you for who you are. No strings attached.”

Like Cole.

The words came to her without warning.

Gifts Charlotte received usually came with conditions. They were usually a result of her performing well or getting a good review or going to a fundraiser and schmoozing the right people.

But that was true about nothing Cole had given her. He expected nothing in return. He’d painted her a picture of a love like she’d never known.

He didn’t care if she ever danced professionally again—to him, she was just Charlotte. And that was enough.

“I don’t deserve it,” she said aloud, though she hadn’t intended to.

“That’s the point,” Hildy said. “None of us do.”

Maybe she’d been led here so she could learn this exact thing. Maybe it wasn’t Julianna’s family or her dance studio or even her passion that Charlotte envied most. Maybe what she really wanted, what Julianna had always possessed, was a deep understanding that she was worthy—and she always had been—of love.

The realization settled inside her like a warm and welcome friend.

She was loved.

Maybe now she could finally forgive herself. Maybe she could stop striving, stop trying to prove herself worthy. Maybe she could rest in the fact that God had already accepted her the way she was, whether or not she ever stepped foot on a stage again.

She’d been so convinced that she’d destroyed Julianna’s life, when clearly her friend had gone on to do beautiful and important things right here in Harbor Pointe.

For Jules, bigger wasn’t best. Some people didn’t need an audience to make a difference.

And Charlotte wanted to be one of those people.

Hildy stood. “I’ll leave you. Stay as long as you want. And have faith in Cole, enough to be honest with him.”

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