Page 112 of Love on the Run

A quiet vibration tingled beneath Anna’s skin. Between Beau, Olivia, and Bella, she’d heard plenty of pep talks this week. Why was her stomach still flipping like a gymnast?

Brittany: What do you mean? What’s going on?

Anna’s five minutes were almost up. There wasn’t enough time to get into the story now.

Anna: I’ll tell you on our video chat tomorrow. I want to see your face.

Brittany’s response was immediate.

Brittany: Are you sure we can’t just talk tonight?

Anna: Positive. See you soon.

Anna closed her laptop and stood, pushing out adeep breath through rounded lips and brushing her hands over her charcoal-gray slacks. She made it all the way to her office door before she stopped with her hand on the knob.

“God, I need Your help this morning. I need Your strength and comfort. I can’t do this on my own, but You’ve asked me to trust You, and I’m doing all I can to follow You. Please give me boldness.”

Anna tightened her hands into fists before flexing them as she walked down the hallway. Her attention remained focused on the door at the end.

It’ll be over in just a few minutes.

They won’t hurt you.

It’s only words.

You are loved.

The words she’d repeated all morning were true, but the mind was its own entity. Why did it take so much to convince herself that there wasn’t a hungry bear waiting in her dad’s office?

Her mother’s loud voice drifted down the hallway to meet her before she stepped into the room and closed the door. Her mom stood by Anna’s dad’s desk with her arms crossed over her chest. The conversation died as her mother faced her.

Her dad checked the time on his monitor. “You have four minutes. I have a call at 10:15.

Anna clasped her hands, determined to stop the shaking. “I’m leaving the firm.”

Her mother didn’t miss a beat. “You’re what?”

“Leaving.” It was a miracle she’d gotten the words out without stuttering. “I’ll send you an email confirming my two-week notice, effective immediately.”

Catherine’s arms dropped to her sides, but her hands were clenched into tight fists. “You’re going to allow that piece of trash to disrupt our business. You’re more stupid than I thought.”

They’re words. Just words.Beau was so much more than a piece of trash, and Anna was not stupid. In fact, she was coming to believe she was making more intelligent decisions every day.

“If I’m being honest, I don’t like the work environment, and the firm’s goals do not align with my own.”

“No one asked for your thoughts!” Catherine shouted. “We have deadlines, hearings, and trials scheduled, and you think you can just leave because you’re running around with a filthy man who works on cars?”

Anna took a deep breath, refusing to react to the hateful words. “You don’t love me,” she whispered.

“What?” Catherine wasn’t quiet. The rage in her tone carried through the room. At this rate, everyone in the office was going to hear the news before the meeting was even over.

“You don’t love me,” Anna repeated slowly, clearer this time.

They were just words, but these did hurt. They ripped open her soul, leaving her empty and cold.

Her mom scoffed. “You’ve been making decisions that we don’t agree with. You’re not thinking clearly. You’re not being responsible or mature?—”

“I’m not doing everything you tell me to do. There’s a difference. I can make decisions for myself without your consent. I’m not a child, and you don’t own me. You kicked me out, then?—”

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