The morning after Theo's departure was quieter than Lena had anticipated. The sun was brighter than usual, casting its golden glow across Brindle Bay, but Lena couldn't shake the empty feeling in the pit of her stomach. She had kissed him goodbye just hours ago, and now, in the silence of the bookstore, she felt the weight of his absence more keenly than ever.
Theo's promise to return echoed in her mind, but it wasn't enough to silence the ache. She was left with nothing but her thoughts—and the relentless pull of her responsibilities.
She ran her fingers across the old wooden counter, feeling the smooth grain beneath her fingertips. The bookstore had always been her sanctuary, her place of peace, but now it felt like an anchor, keeping her rooted in a life she wasn't sure she was ready for.
The bell above the door chimed, and Lena looked up to see her father standing there, his presence as commanding as ever. He was a tall, broad man with graying hair and a permanent frown on his face that only softened when he smiled at her—though that was rare.
"Lena," he said, walking over to the counter. "You're here early today."
She smiled weakly, not in the mood for his usual lectures. "Just needed some time alone."
Her father raised an eyebrow but didn't press her for more. He always knew when something was bothering her. But he wasn't the type to let her wallow in her emotions for too long.
"Lena," he began, his voice taking on the familiar stern edge, "you know your mother would've wanted you to have a family by now. You're not getting any younger, and this business of yours... well, it's all well and good, but it's not enough."
Lena tensed, her heart sinking. "Dad, we've talked about this."
He ignored her protest. "You need a husband. You need to settle down, have children. You can't keep running this bookstore forever. You have responsibilities."
Lena opened her mouth to argue, but the words stuck in her throat. Her mother had passed away a few years ago, leaving a gap in their family that her father seemed determined to fill with expectations. It was a constant reminder that Lena was expected to carry on the family legacy—of marriage, children, and a life rooted in the small-town values her father held so dear.
But Lena didn't know if that was the life she wanted anymore. Not now. Not with Theo, not with the love they shared that felt like it could stretch across time and distance.
"I'm not ready, Dad," she said softly, her voice quiet with the weight of her emotions. "I love what I'm doing here. I love the bookstore. It's mine. I don't need a husband to validate it."
Her father's gaze softened, though his words remained firm. "It's not about validation, Lena. It's about family. About having someone to share your life with. Your mother would've said the same thing."
Lena's throat tightened at the mention of her mother. It was always a sore spot. But she refused to let her father's words dictate her future.
"I know, Dad. I get it. But I can't just settle for anything, for anyone. Not when I'm waiting for Theo."
Her father's expression shifted, disbelief crossing his features. "Theo?" He shook his head. "Lena, he's gone. He's chasing some big opportunity. You can't sit around waiting for him to come back. Life doesn't wait for anyone."
The sting of his words hit harder than Lena expected. She wasn't sitting around waiting. She was living her life. But her father didn't see it that way. To him, her future was an incomplete puzzle without marriage and children.
"Dad, I'm doing this for myself," she said, her voice steadying. "I'm expanding the bookstore. I'm building something that's mine, not something you or anyone else can dictate. And Theo, he... he's part of my future. When he comes back, we'll figure it out. But I'm not giving up everything I've worked for just because of some idea of what a family should look like."
Her father studied her for a moment, his face unreadable. Finally, he sighed and shook his head. "I just want you to be happy, Lena. But happiness doesn't always come in the form of books and business deals. Sometimes it's in the little things—like a family, like children."
Lena wanted to argue, but she knew it would be pointless. He wasn't going to change his mind. But that didn't mean she had to give in to his vision of her future. She had her own dreams now, and they didn't look anything like what he expected.
"Thanks for the advice, Dad," she said, her voice softer now, though the frustration was still there. "But I'll find my own happiness."
Her father didn't respond right away, but there was a momentary flicker of something in his eyes—maybe regret, maybe understanding. But it passed quickly.
"Just don't wait too long, Lena. You might miss your chance," he warned, then turned and walked out, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
---
That afternoon, after her father had left, Lena took a deep breath and turned her focus back to the bookstore. She had work to do. She had plans to put into motion. She wasn't going to let anyone—least of all her father—dictate her future.
She had decided to expand the bookstore. It wasn't just about the books anymore—it was about creating a space, a community, something that people could connect to. She had an idea to open a café in the back, a cozy little nook where customers could come in, relax, and stay awhile. Maybe offer book signings, local author readings. It was a chance to grow, to make this bookstore a landmark in Brindle Bay.
As she looked over her plans, her phone buzzed, pulling her from her thoughts. She glanced at the screen and saw a message from Theo. Her heart skipped.
Theo: I miss you already. Can't stop thinking about you. I'll be back before you know it. Hold on, okay?
Her fingers hovered over the keys, and for a moment, she felt the weight of her father's words and the pull of Theo's absence. She wanted to hold onto him, to wait for him and let their love grow even across the miles. But she also knew she needed to be strong. For herself. For the life she was building here.
Lena: I miss you too. But I'm going to be okay. I'm expanding the bookstore. We'll both have something to come back to when the time's right.
She hit send, her heart aching but filled with determination. This was her life. She wasn't going to let anything—anyone—take that away from her.
As the day slipped into evening, she walked to the window and looked out at the ocean, where the sun was dipping below the horizon. It was a new chapter, one that was still being written. She wasn't sure where Theo's path would lead, or where her own would take her, but she knew one thing for sure—she wasn't waiting around. She was living.
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