Page 129 of Spindrift

“Yes.And . . . I wanted something for myself. I needed something that was mine.”

“Somethingthat hadn’t been touched by the recent past,” said Shanti.

“Yes.”

“Wecan talk about how to move into a healthy relationship—”

“Thereis no relationship.” Morgan’s last words cut her open again.

“Butyou were ready for one, which is just as important. Before we get there,however, can you talk about why you want to stay in Seal Cove?”

Emilianodded, and the words poured out of her. Her new friends. The quiet. Hersailboat. The meadow and the distant surf and the connection she still felthere, to her father and Morgan. Morgan, despite what had happened in this room.Despite—or because—of the pain she’d seen on Morgan’s face.

“Youare not running away,” Shanti observed. “Good.”

“Ican’t run. Not from here.” She looked up from her computer as she spoke, hereyes glancing over the living room walls before focusing on her sleeping dog.Speaking the words made them somehow true. There was no place on earth shecould go to escape the depths of darkness she’d discovered within herself, but shemight learn to live with it if she gave herself a chance. She might relearn howto live.

Shantismiled at her. Her own lips responded, and despite the gulf in her world whereMorgan had been, she felt ready. She could do this. The road would be arduousand long, and she knew she would encounter things that would make her want toturn back, but that no longer seemed like a reason not to set out.

“Wellthen,” said Shanti. “Let’s get started.”

• • •

Morgan ranthe last of the mesh electric fencing along the line of fence posts. Olive’spasture was nearly complete. She’d checked it thoroughly for problematic forageand helped Stevie resurrect the old hoop house, which would act as hay storageand shelter for Olive during the winter. Stevie waved at her from the electricpanel they’d installed. “Ready?”

“No,”Morgan shouted. Electric shock therapy would not solve her problems. Shesecured the mesh and stepped back before giving Stevie the signal.

“Okay,it’s live.”

Morganplucked the tester from her pocket and stuck the ground line into the earthbefore checking the strands. All lit up. She paced the remainder of the pasturejust in case, but by the time she returned to Stevie she’d established a solidperimeter.

“Wegood?” Stevie asked.

“We’regood.”

Steviebeamed. Morgan still didn’t know how she felt about Stevie’s impromptu decisionto adopt Olive. Sure, the horse was sweet, and yes she had survived her bout ofcolic, but horses were expensive. She had no idea how Stevie was planning topay off Olive’s bills, let alone the cost of upkeep on her technician’s salary.Not that it was her business.

“Wantto go get her?”

“Hellfucking yeah. Let me get Ange.”

Steviesprinted across the field while Morgan followed at a walk. Lillian was still atwork or else she would no doubt have wanted to come too, but Morgan wasrelieved she could put off talking to Lillian for one more day. Broaching thesubject of Ivy Holden was the last thing she wanted to do. It was hard enoughkeeping her foul mood under wraps so as not to ruin Stevie’s happiness.

Angieand Stevie chattered the whole drive to Morgan’s parents. Morgan even managedto crack a real smile as Stevie expressed her concern that Olive wouldn’t likeher new home.

“She’sgoing to love it,” she said.

“Whatif she’s lonely?”

“Ooh,we can get a goat,” said Angie.

Morgangroaned. “This is how it begins; you know that, right?”

Theypulled into her parents’ drive, and she backed up to the trailer. Stevie jumpedout and began the process of hitching, calling out directions to Morgan.

“Lovethe way you back it up,” said Angie with a wink at Morgan.

Morgansnorted.

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