Lib Novel Page 10
“Dad, you don’t need to do that. At least not yet. How about we talk once I’m back, and you wake up on the rational side of the bed?”
“Now who’s the delusional one?” I can hear the smirk in his voice. “Rational was never my thing.”
We say our goodbyes and he promises me to not make any life-changing decisions without us talking about it first, and for the first time since I read those test results, I feel something change in me. I am still scared but I’m no longer destroyed over what Justin did.
Maybe him severing that last cord between us did the trick. Maybe it was my dad’s support.
Or maybe…it’s this weird, giddy feeling I’ve had in my gut ever since I bought this ticket.
The feeling of rightness.
As I hear my boarding group being called up and get into my seat, I feel almost excited for this new chapter in life. Something is calling my name in Loverly Cave, and I can’t wait to explore it.
2
Zoe
“Home is people. Not a place.” – Robin Hobb, Fool’s Fate
Welcome to Loverly Cave Town where love is the answer to any question.
Population three thousand one hundred and four.
Ifell in love with this quirky, little town the moment we hit the town limits, and got a glimpse of it from up the hill as the car rode down the curvy roads.
Loverly Cave was nestled in a valley between tall, bulging, lush green mountains protecting it from one side and a vast, powerful, and that kind of cold ocean that was giving me the chills from all those miles away was washing up the shores of the other side. The famous cave—which looked more like an arch—for which the town was named was standing proud and tall, keeping watch of all its residents.
It was rumored that if two people tied the knot under the cave their union would last a lifetime and then some, and I wish I was still the kind of person who believed in superstitions. This seemed awfully romantic.
And something I’d love to do before Justin happened in my life. Now all I wanted was to just get through the next seven months. But still, I could appreciate the beauty and love around me, wrapping me into a warm, fuzzy cocoon.
As we drove into the town the colorful buildings—and I literally mean every color known to mankind—greeted me. Ivy crawling up the sides of some lined every cobbled street. Silly-named stores and cafes like: Sip of Love coffee shop, Love & Peace bar, Fifi’s Goods, Tough Love gym, B&B (Bagels and Balance) Cafe, Peace-out Diner and more were scattered all over.
There were also three “therapy” cars driving around, offering their help free of charge. Those were: Love Car, Peace Car and Hug Car and they alone made me smile, not to mention all of the happy locals strolling around the town, smiling, laughing and waving at us like we are good friends.
After living for so long in a busy city amongst cutthroat professionals this type of behavior seemed almost foreign. And that moment was the first time I had asked myself if I wanted to raise my child in a big city surrounded by doom and gloom.
And for the first time I wasn’t sure anymore. But it would be crazy to add a move across the country when my life is already insane as it was, so I pushed that thought out my head and just enjoyed the day looking around, smiling, waving back until we arrived at the beach in front of three cottages.
One was blue, the other one yellow and the one I was being led to was the cutest bright pink cottage in the middle of them. This one—surprisingly—was Joy’s residence that she along with two of her sisters—Hope and Grace who got the other two – were conned into buying by their mom and her best friend but recently and very much surprisingly Joy’s life took a wild turn, one that brought a sexy Viking into it and what left me even more stunned was the fact that she actually moved in with the guy into his tiny house of all places.
What type of magic he wielded over her is a mystery to me but since she no longer uses this cottage she offered me. To keep. Like forever.
Well, she offered me the bare walls of a one-bedroom cottage from the seventies with an unfinished loft, puke-yellow kitchen and camping gear, but still I broke down in tears once again. Apparently, crying was the horrible side effect of my pregnancy.
As if all the vomit, breast pain and back ache wasn’t bad enough. No, Zoe had to be extra sensitive and having her friend show her kindness can drop her over the edge.
“Jesus Christ, what is it with females surrounding me and their never-ending Niagara Falls?” Joy mutters under her breath and placing her hands around my shoulders, shoves me down into a forest green camping chair.
“W-why? I-is there a-a camping c-chair inside the house?” I manage to get out through the sobs that still haven’t ceased.
I hate crying. But I would like some credit for keeping it together since the freaking airport. Because let me tell you, seeing your grumpy boss slash best and only friend waiting for you at the airport, standing there with her arms crossed across her chest, her foot tapping away and her face in a mask full of concern and worry was very cry worthy for me! She even promised not to start the mile long questioner until after I was settled even though she kept watching me with her narrowed eyes as if seeing all the secrets I was harboring anyway.
And then there was meeting Grace—Joy’s youngest sister—who came out to pick me up as well was strike number two against those tear ducts because no one else ever showed me so much kindness except my dad. She ran up to me, with a wide smile on her face, wrapping me in a bone-crushing hug even though we’ve never met before. And then the keep-the-cottage-if-you-want comment.
Yeah, that broke me. Just like that. She offered me her house just like that.
“There is a camping chair because miss ‘I-am-not-staying-in-this-town’ aka your boss Joy here refuses to get real furniture,” Grace answers and smirks at her older sister.