Page 39 of Guarding My Love

“It is,” Amanda said. “But you know, the past is the past and sometimes as much as you try you can’t block it out.”

“Tell me about it,” she said, snorting.

“So distract me, as I said. Tell me what is going on in your life. How is the house? The job? Any issues from Landon? Meet any new guys?”

“Wow, you want a whole book,” she said.

“And because you said that, it tells me there are a few chapters,” Amanda said. “Read to me.”

She laughed. “Okay. The house is good. I’m floundering there a lot, but it’s not horrible. I’ve had some help, but I’ll get to that.”

“That sounds like it might be the good part of this story,” Amanda said.

“I don’t know about that now.” Last week she would have said yes.

“Go on,” Amanda said.

“Work is great too. I went into the city over a week ago for the first time since I moved. It took me longer than I thought, but I wasn’t late. Just thought I’d be early.”

“Do you miss it?”

“You know, I drive in and park and then get a taxi to the office and I’m thinking, wow, it’s like I never left.”

“That could be good and bad.”

“It was both. Or more good. I had a great time. Went to lunch with a few coworkers, left and thought to myself, this sucks. I just bought this house and now maybe it wasn’t a good idea. Then the minute I picked Marco up at doggie daycare, got my kisses on the face, and pulled into my tiny driveway…my body almost sighed with relief.”

“There is the great part,” Amanda said. “Why do you think that is?”

“The calmness. I was so used to the craziness that I learned to live in it. But now I’m living in the calm and it’s so much better.”

“Exactly,” Amanda said. “That is why I moved here. I’m not sure if it’s the water, the people, or the small town vibe. I will admit I didn’t think you’d like it there.”

“I love it,” she said. “So I can get my fix when I go into the office but then return home and be happy.”

“Happy is what it’s about,” Amanda said. “Move onto Landon. Have you heard from him? You said he’s been texting you on and off, but you don’t reply.”

She sighed. “He texted me last week again. More of the same. Saying he misses me and wants me back.”

“You’re better off without him by the sounds of it. Why did you finally break up with him? You never said unless it was just a buildup of everything?”

“It was a buildup of everything and then it was talking to you that night.”

“Me?” Amanda asked. “What did I say?”

“Nothing and everything. It was the joy and laughter in your voice when you talked about Drew and Liam. Your business. The island. I just thought to myself, what you’ve been through and yet, you found what I’ve been searching for. I wanted to find it too and the longer I stayed where I was, the less likely it was going to happen. It was the best decision of my life now.”

Amanda squeezed her hand and it was a bit more forceful, letting her know the drugs might be kicking in on her sister. “You’re going to find what you’re looking for. I just know it. The last chapter of this story was if you met a guy. You said you’ve had some help around the house. Are they the same person?”

“This is the confusing part. I don’t know if I’m coming or going.”

“That is the start of it,” Amanda said, smiling. “Trust me, I know. Start at the beginning and just talk. I want to see your face as you do.”

“Huh?” she asked, frowning.

“Just do as I say as your big sister. Trust me. I’ll explain after,” Amanda said.

She told her sister about Easter morning and tripping over the ladder and Foster stopping to help, then being grouchy but explaining the right way to paint and she did so much better after.

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