Sally's POV
The four-hour journey stretches longer than expected because I keep missing turns despite the GPS barking directions at me. When we finally reach the town limits, something inside my chest loosens for the first time in weeks.
I ease off the gas pedal as the weathered wooden sign comes into view. "Welcome to Winslow" is carved in rustic letters that make my lips curve upward.
"We made it," I tell Warren, watching him press his face against the passenger window to drink in everything around us.
"Where's Auntie Jules?" His voice carries that eager bounce it gets when he's excited about something.
"She should be waiting at the house with the keys."
I navigate through the town at a crawl, savoring every detail. The houses look like something from a postcard with their painted shutters and wraparound porches. When I point out the playground and elementary school, Warren practically vibrates in his seat talking about making friends.
Our rental house sits on a quiet street lined with mature oak trees. Juliette waves from the front steps where she's perched next to a brunette woman I assume is Jackie.
"Auntie Jules!" Warren shouts the second I unlock his door, launching himself toward my sister.
"There's my favorite little man," Juliette catches him in a bear hug that lifts his feet off the ground. "I've been counting the minutes until you got here."
"You're gonna make my sandwich fall apart," Warren squeals, trying to squirm away while giggling.
"Come on, wait until you see what I picked out for your room," she says, wrapping one arm around me in greeting before tugging him toward the front door.
I stay by the car for a moment, letting the scene wash over me. The afternoon sun filters through branches heavy with leaves, and somewhere behind the house, a thick forest releases the sharp sweetness of pine into the air. Birds call to each other from hidden perches, and for the first time in months, my shoulders drop away from my ears. This place feels right in a way I can't explain.
"Mommy, you have to see this!" Warren bounces in the doorway, waving both arms at me.
I wave back and haul our suitcases from the trunk, dragging them up the walkway. Inside, everything smells like fresh paint and lemon cleaning supplies. The walls are painted a clean cream color that reminds me of a blank page waiting for our story.
The landlord mentioned a trial period before we can make any changes, which gives us months to figure out exactly how we want to make this place ours.
Upstairs, Warren gives me the full tour of his bedroom at the front of the house. It's smaller than mine across the hall, but both rooms have queen beds that make him look tiny when he flops down and spreads his arms wide.
"This is the best room ever," he declares, bouncing on the mattress. "It's huge compared to my old one, and look at this bed. It's like a trampoline."
"Want to unpack your clothes while Mommy and Auntie Jules bring up the rest?" Jackie suggests, and Warren nods eagerly.
"You're an angel," I mouth to her, grabbing the second bag and heading across the hall.
My bedroom faces the backyard, and when I look out the window, my breath catches. A small patch of grass gives way to towering trees that stretch as far as I can see. The window seat calls to me immediately. I can already picture myself curled up there with a book and a cup of coffee.
"Pretty incredible view, right?" Juliette settles beside me on the cushioned seat.
"It's perfect. This whole thing was brilliant. Thank you for pushing me to do this," I bump her shoulder with mine.
"You're going to flourish here, Sally. Billy was a complete waste of your time anyway, and Warren is going to love having space to run around. Plus, the eye candy situation here is off the charts. I swear every guy I've seen looks like he stepped out of a fitness magazine. Must be all that outdoor living," she grins wickedly.
"I'm officially retired from dating." I shake my head firmly.
"What, so you're switching teams? Because there were some stunning women at the grocery store too," she wiggles her eyebrows.
"No dating anyone, period. It always ends in disaster. From now on, it's just me and Warren," I say with finality.
"You've barely dipped your toe in the dating pool. Two relationships in your entire life doesn't count as experience. Mom always said you have to kiss plenty of frogs before you find your prince. You can't quit now," she squeezes my hand.
"Karl wasn't a frog."
"No, he was worse. He was a mirage. Forget both him and Billy. Your prince will show up when you least expect it. Now quit wallowing and help me finish this move," she claps her hands together and stands up.
I start to follow her when something flickers between the trees outside. I press closer to the glass, trying to make out what just moved through the shadows. Whatever it was seemed large and moved with surprising speed. Probably a deer or maybe someone's dog got loose. I shrug it off and head downstairs.
By evening, we've emptied every box and filled the refrigerator with enough groceries to last the week. Juliette and Jackie stay for dinner before one of their college friends picks them up to drive back to campus.
Being only twenty minutes from my sister feels like a gift after years of living hours apart. I missed having her close by more than I realized.
After they leave, I brew chamomile tea and settle into my new favorite spot by the bedroom window with my e-reader. The day has been a whirlwind, and I need to decompress before tomorrow brings new challenges.
I'm surprised by how steady I feel about the breakup. Maybe this town has some kind of healing magic, or maybe I never loved Billy the way I thought I did.
A strange sound jolts me awake, and my e-reader hits the floor with a thud. The noise sounded almost like a cry of pain echoing through the darkness. I check on Warren, who's sleeping soundly, then dismiss it as some wild animal.
The sensation of being observed creeps up my spine, raising goosebumps along my arms. I peer out the window but can't make out anything in the thick darkness. I yank the curtains closed, telling myself it's just nerves about sleeping somewhere new.
After double-checking every lock in the house, I finally crawl into bed. My dreams are filled with wolves racing through moonlit forests, their calls haunting the night.