“I will, Mom.”

“And Tina?” Edwin’s voice was serious. “Don’t let fear make your decisions anymore. You’ve come too far to turn back now.”

“I won’t.”

Jaylyn was also at the airport to see them off, and she was the last person Tina hugged before heading through security.

“Tell Bette I said she better give you a real chance this time,” Jaylyn whispered in her ear. “Because you’ve proven you’re not the same scared girl who hurt her ten years ago.”

“I’ll pass along the message.”

“And Tina? Remember why you’re doing this. Not just for Bette, but for yourself. For Carson. You deserve to be happy.”

As they walked through security, Carson’s hand firmly in hers, Tina felt the weight of the moment. Behind them was everything safe and familiar. Ahead was the unknown, the possibility of heartbreak, the chance that she was making the biggest mistake of her life.

But also ahead was possibility. Hope. The chance that love might finally be brave enough to overcome fear.

The flight was smooth, though Tina barely noticed. Carson pressed his face to the window for most of the journey, marveling at the clouds and trying to spot landmarks as they crossed the country. Tina spent the time alternating between reading the same page of her book over and over again and mentally rehearsing what she would say when she finally called Bette.

Hi, it’s me. Surprise, I’m in New York.

Bette, I know this is unexpected, but Carson and I are here, and I was hoping we could talk.

Remember when you said if I ever figured out what I wanted, we could talk? Well, I’ve figured it out.

None of the rehearsed speeches felt right. How do you tell someone that you’ve upended your entire life on the hope that they might be willing to take a chance on love?

As the plane began its descent into JFK, Carson grabbed her hand.

“Mom, are you nervous?”

“Very nervous, baby.”

“But good nervous or bad nervous?”

Tina considered the question seriously. “I think… good nervous. Like Christmas morning nervous.”

Carson smiled. “I think Bette’s going to be surprised.”

“I think you’re right about that.”

The New York skyline came into view, and Tina felt her breath catch. Somewhere in that maze of buildings was Bette, probably working late in her office, completely unaware that her world was about to change.

Please let this be the right choice, Tina thought as the plane touched down. Please let her be ready for this.

As they gathered their carry-on bags and prepared to exit the plane, Carson looked up at her with those serious hazel eyes.

“Mom?”

“Yeah, baby?”

“I think we’re home.”

Tina squeezed his hand, her heart full of love for this brave little boy who was taking this leap of faith with her. “I think you might be right.”

The doors of JFK Airport welcomed them as Tina Kennard stepped into her new life. Behind her was everything she had been. Ahead of her was everything she hoped to become.

Somewhere in this city was Bette Porter, and for the first time in ten years, Tina was brave enough to fight for her.

The girl who chose safety was gone. The woman who refused to let fear win had taken her place.

And she was ready for whatever came next.