Page 36 of Where Sea Meets Sky

“Thanks.” She smiled at him. “I’m so used to living in a world where success is prioritized above everything else. But I think people who live at that pace inevitably come to the realization that it isn’t the most fulfilling way to live at all. I think it’s ultimately the opposite. What do I care if I’m successful if I’m too stressed and overworked to enjoy my life?”

Dean nodded. “People think they have to prove themselves or something. But the reality is that no one should feel like they have to prove themselves. We just need to work hard enough to live comfortably with the people we love. That’s all we really need.”

“Yes! I feel as though people here in Rosewood Beach have realized that, and it’s why this place is so wholesome and uplifting. Even Ryan—well, I met a man here who feels the same way I do about working too much. We ended up getting coffee together, and even though he’s gone back to work now, I know he wishes he could stop overworking himself so much.”

“A guy named Ryan, huh? Hmm.” Dean gave her a teasing look. “Have some sparks been flying between you and this Ryan guy?”

She waved her hand through the air, dismissing his insinuation. “I just happened to run into him one time after we happened to meet one time before that. Besides, now he’s left town again, and gone back to his busy job.” There was a second of silence, and she hoped that Dean couldn’t read on her face that she was in fact interested in Ryan. “I just brought it up because my conversation with him got me thinking about the future, and what I want. I’m worried I’m going to fall right back into the trap of being a workaholic. That’s what it seems like Ryan is doing, and I want to make sure I avoid that mistake.”

“Don’t worry,” Dean assured her. “You know now what you need for yourself to be healthy, and you’ve got us to remind you how to take care of yourself.”

She smiled at him gratefully. “I have to admit, I’m afraid of what might be coming next in my life. In the past, I’ve always had a plan. Usually a highly-complicated, overly detailed plan.” She laughed. “Now that I don’t have a plan at all, I’m worried. Quitting my successful career because of an intense panic attack and starting over was never exactly on my list of goals.”

Dean nodded sympathetically, but his tone was optimistic. “Just trust where life leads you,” he told her. “My life hasn’t turned out the way I expected it too, but I’m still grateful for where it’s led me. I certainly didn’t plan to get osteoarthritis at this age, but in the most unlikely of ways, it brought me to Noelle. She’s without a doubt the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and I don’t think I would have met her if it hadn’t been for my diagnosis. And even though my osteoarthritis has been a challenge, it’s taught me to slow down and prioritize self-care in ways I probably never would have learned otherwise.”

“I’m happy for you, Dean,” she said. “I think your outlook is inspiring. And Noelle really is a wonderful person. It’s clear that she loves you a lot.”

Dean’s face lit up, and he looked like the happiest man in the world. “Yeah?” He grinned from ear to ear. “I love her a lot too.”

Faith and her cousin shared another smile, and she felt her heart lifting in hope. Dean’s words had reassured her that her future might be better than she’d ever imagined—even better than she could have planned.

“Hey, you guys!” Julia came out onto the porch. She was no longer wearing the hiking boots that she’d had on the day before, but she was still wearing the baseball cap, as if determined to make it a new part of her identity. Faith thought that her cousin was a very attractive woman who usually made impeccable fashion choices—but the baseball cap wasn’t one of them. It looked out of place on her, as if she’d been forced to wear it as part of a work uniform for a job she hated.

“Hey, Julia!” Dean smiled at her sweetly. “Do you want to sit out here with us? It’s a beautiful day. I’m pretty sure there’s more lemonade in the fridge.”

“Actually, I was coming out here to invite you both to come back inside.” Julia gestured with one hand. “Some of us—everyone who isn’t napping—were talking about getting a board game started. You want to join?”

“That sounds fun!” Faith was looking forward to playing another board game with her family, especially considering how fun the last one had been.

“Sounds fun to me too,” Dean said, “but you’re interrupting something very important here, Julia. I was just getting the tea on this mysterious guy that Faith has formed a spark with.”

“Yeah?” Julia’s face lit up. “A guy? Here in Rosewood Beach?”

Faith shook her head, feeling as though she was blushing. “It’s not like that,” she said, laughing. “Dean is just teasing me because I mentioned a guy I talked to a couple of times.”

“Hmm, I heard the word ‘coffee’ thrown around in there. I think talking while getting coffee isn’t quite the same as just talking.”

“I want to hear more about this mysterious guy,” Julia said, coming closer and leaning against the side of the house. “When did you get coffee? What’s his name?”

“It’s nothing, really.” Faith waved her hand through the air, dismissing their sudden fascination with her history with Ryan. “He’s not even in town anymore. He’s gone back to work in another state.”

“Oh.” Dean looked deflated. “A tourist.”

Faith bit her lip. She felt bad about not correcting him, since it felt like a lie of omission, but she didn’t want to open up the doors to more teasing. The truth was that she would have loved for something to be possible between herself and the handsome Ryan McCormick, but she didn’t want to think about it too much. After all, he was out of town and out of her reach—at least for the time being.

“Hmm, I still want to know more about him,” Julia said slyly, “but I’ll interrogate you later, Faith. Right now, I need an answer on that board game.”

“I’m in,” Faith said, feeling grateful instead of irritated that Julia didn’t want to drop the subject of Ryan. It made her feel special, as if her life mattered to her family.

“Count me in too,” Dean said. “But how about we play out here on the porch? It’s such a nice day.”

“Oh, good idea,” Julia said. “And then we’re less likely to wake up the people who are napping, anyway.”

“Let’s go inside and get the card table and some folding chairs,” Dean said, standing up.

“I’ll help,” Faith offered.

The three of them went back inside the cozy house. Fragrant savory aromas still lingered in the air after brunch, and the home had a peaceful, friendly atmosphere that Faith felt was balm to her soul. She and her cousins gathered up the card table and chairs and brought them out to the porch, where they set up the board game along with a small side table of snacks.

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