Page 77 of Hidden Nature

Now Elsie reached for Dean’s hand under the table.

“I didn’t say anything about it because I needed to think it through— calculate,” she added with a glance at her father. “It’s a very big jump, so a lot of calculating.”

She took a breath. “I filed the application this afternoon.”

“Sloan—”

“Wait.” Dean waved off his wife. “Are you making this change for us? Because we don’t want that, Sloan.”

“Do you factor into those calculations? Of course you do. But I’m doing this for me. I’m being given a chance for a leadership position, and I want it. I believe I’d get the same, at some point, otherwise, but this could be mine now.

“And why now?” she added. “When I ask myself, it seems like fate. And I’ve never really believed in that. Why does this opportunity drop down after I’ve needed to spend weeks back home? Weeks when I’ve started to realize how much I miss it here. I had to leave and make something, be something, on my own before I could come back.”

As simple, she’d realized, and as complex as that.

“Now I’ve come back. I want to stay, for me. I want that chevron, for me. I want to serve under someone like Travis, for me. I want to be close to my family again, for me. And I want to be here, for you.”

“Am I allowed to tell you how happy this makes me? Makes us?” Elsie added.

“You can be happy after I pass the exams.”

“You know you will.”

“I damn well will. The written’s right after the first of the year. I’m on it. But there’s one more thing. I’m going to need my own place.”

“Well, Sloan—”

“Mom.”

“No, no, you’re all grown up, of course you want your own place. I was going to say there’s no rush. And I am going to ask you to wait until you’re fully recovered, and until you’re sure of what you want.”

“I know what I want, and what I don’t. I don’t want to live in town. I considered that because I’ve gotten used to it. But that’s not what I want now. I don’t want an apartment, I want a house. It doesn’t have to be big and shiny—I’m not ready for anything like that. But a little house where I have some room, some outdoor space, too.”

“Rent or buy?” Dean asked, and made her smile.

“Either, but I’d rather buy something. I’ve been careful financially. I think I could afford a little house. A fixer-upper, since I’m fairly handy, and more, I happen to know people even more handy who could help me out there. But no rush, Mom. I know I need at least a few more weeks. At least.”

“I might know a place.”

Sloan glanced at her father. “Does this surprise me? I think, no.”

“It’s a nice little bungalow—needs some work. Well, a lot of work, but—”

“Good bones?” Sloan commented.

“Good bones. Two bedrooms, what they’re going to list as a den or home office, two baths. Updates needed. Eat-in kitchen, and that needs updating, too. Wood-burning fireplace—though I’d want that checked out before I lit a fire in it. It’s about eleven hundred square feet and on a little under a quarter acre.”

“Room enough in, and that outdoor space.”

“Wooded lot,” he continued, “no dock, but with lake access. No porch, no deck, and the back patio needs a complete overhaul. It’s not on the market yet, but the owner came to see me, so I took a look. I’ve been thinking about making an offer.”

“What kind of offer?”

“Investment property for resort rental and a first-home buy—two different things.” Considering, he rubbed his knuckles on his trim beard. “Let me do my own calculations. Anyway, you might want to take a look at it. It’s closer to town—the other side of the Parker place, and tucked back some. The driveway’s rough, so that needs to be dealt with.”

“Okay, I’ll take a look, and if I don’t hate it, this is one area I’m going to put myself in your hands.” She gestured, both palms out. “You’re the expert.”

“You take a look,” Elsie agreed, “and if you don’t hate it, if it’s what you decide you want, we’ll help with the down payment.”

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