I stuffed the sweater in my messenger bag along with my wallet and phone, and headed for the door, feeling optimistic and free.
Ringing came from my bag as I opened the door, and I grabbed for my phone. Only a handful of people had my number, and I would happily talk to any one of them.
I didn’t recognize the number on the screen, and I answered hesitantly. “Hello?”
“Hey stranger! How’s Maine?”
“Sara!”
Lightness spread through my limbs at hearing her voice, and I realized how much I’d missed her. I’d gotten so used to seeing her every day.
“I didn’t expect to hear from you today. Shouldn’t you be resting after your trip?”
“I have a little jetlag, but nothing I can’t handle. I slept for most of the flight. Besides, I wanted to talk to you and see how you’re doing. Do you like the apartment?”
“It’s wonderful. Thank you so much for everything, especially the studio.” I didn’t mean to get emotional, but my throat tightened anyway. “It’s too much. I can’t ever repay you…”
“None of that,” she ordered softly. “What else should I do with my money if I don’t take care of my family? And you are my family. You couldn’t get rid of me now if you tried.”
I laughed as tears spilled down my cheeks. For so long, my life had been dark, an endless cycle of violence and blood. Sara not only saved me from that, she had shown me her enormous capacity for love, and she’d refused to let me withdraw into myself. Whenever I’d felt alone, she’d told me over and over that she and Nate were my family now. She’d made me believe there was something worth living for on the days I hadn’t wanted to.
“Don’t you cry because then I’ll start, and Nikolas will want to know what’s wrong. You know how he is.”
“Yes.” I swiped at my wet cheeks.
“It’s so weird that you’re living in my place, and you’ll be seeing all the people I used to know.”
“Does it bother you that I’m here? Because I can go somewhere else. It’s no problem –”
“No, I love having you there,” she rushed to say. “I hated the idea of the place being empty, so you’re actually doing me a favor.”
“Okay.”
“I guess it’s too early to ask who you’ve met there. You know I’m hoping you’ll change your mind about meeting Roland and Peter.”
I swallowed, thinking of the two werewolves standing in my bedroom doorway. “Um, I kind of met them already.”
“You did?” Excitement filled her voice. “You called them?”
“Not exactly.” I took a breath and told her what had happened last night.
“Oh, Emma, I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”
“I’m good now. I was a little freaked out last night, but I think they were too when they found a strange girl in your place.” A little freaked out. Talk about an understatement.
“What a way to start your stay there.”
I smiled. “Not what I expected, but I should have known better after all your stories about this place.”
“And now that you’ve met Roland and Peter you can see how great they are,” she pressed gently. “They ran in there to save you even though they had no idea who you were.”
I toyed with the strap of my bag that still hung on my shoulder. “They seemed nice...”
“But they’re werewolves,” she finished for me. “I understand, and I’ll try not to push. It’s just that they’re great guys and I think you’ll love them, too, once you get to know them. That’s all I’m going to say about it. I promise.”
“Thanks.” I let out a breath. “How’s Russia?”
“Amazing,” she gushed. “I met Nikolas’s parents, and they’re great. His dad looks so much like him they could be brothers. It’s a bit weird, actually. I think it’ll take some getting used to.”
“Two Nikolases? I can’t imagine.”
She laughed. “There can only be one Nikolas. And speak of the devil…”
I heard some rustling sounds on the other end of the line along with the unmistakable sounds of kissing. After a minute, Sara came back.
“Where were we?”
I chuckled. “You were telling me there can only be one Nikolas.”
“So true.” She sighed happily.
Nikolas spoke, and Sara said, “Give me one more minute.”
“You have to go?” I asked, feeling a pang of disappointment.
“We’re having dinner with Nikolas’s parents. His mom is making a special dinner to celebrate our mating.”
“That sounds nice.” I’d forgotten they were hours ahead of me, which made it evening there now. “Have fun.”
“I’ll call you in a few days, okay?” She sounded happy, but there was an edge of worry in her voice. Worry for me. “And if you need anything or just want to talk, call me anytime. I’m on the house phone now, but I have my cell phone.”
“I will. Don’t worry about me. I was about to go out and look around when you called.”
“Great! Go to Bill’s Bakery and have a chocolate croissant. You’ll thank me.”
We hung up, and I stood in the hallway, feeling a strange mix of happiness and melancholy. Sighing, I let myself out and locked the door.
Sara’s building was at the end of the row, and I stood at the corner, looking down the waterfront. A line of shops and restaurants ran down the left side of the road. To my right was the ocean. Ahead of me, the town waited to be explored.
The first thing I noticed was the small coffee shop next door to Sara’s building. I could only shake my head and smile. Why on earth would she buy me that fancy espresso machine with a coffee shop next door? She was determined to spoil me.
The sun was warm on my face despite the cool ocean breeze, and I stopped to turn my face to it for a moment before I moved on. For the last two decades, I’d been a creature of the night, too young a vampire to survive daylight. I hadn’t known how much I’d missed the feel of the sun on my skin until I was healed. At Westhorne, I’d spent every minute I could outside when the weather had permitted.
I started walking again, passing a bookstore, a pub, a drug store, a bakery, and a small grocery store that also sold souvenirs, based on the display in their front window. It was all so clean and quaint, the kind of place featured in one of those travel magazines. And people actually smiled and waved at me as I passed them. Where I’d grown up, I knew a lot of the people in my neighborhood, but strangers didn’t greet each other on the street.
I’m living in Mayberry, I thought as I returned the smile of an older man walking a Golden Retriever. I’d been outside for ten minutes, and already I was half in love with this place. Why would anyone ever want to leave here?
I reached the end of the waterfront and stopped, debating where to go next. The intersecting street wound up a hill where a white church steeple peeked above the tops of the trees. Feeling adventurous, I started up the hill, and five minutes later, I came to a Catholic church and a high school. This must be the school Sara had gone to. She’d mentioned it more than once.