Emerald Cove

Chapter 16

PART II- 14 years later

Charlotte's POV

I finished putting my stuff in my car. After 14 years I'm finally moving back to Emerald Cove. After four years of premed schooling, four years of med school, four years residency, and two years of working at a top knotch hospital in downtown Atlanta I am finally moving back to Emerald Cove.

Every second of it has been amazing, but I have missed my family. Over the past 14 years I have allotted very little time for family or friends. I've had random hookups and a few one night stands, but I've never let anyone get close because I didn't have time to juggle a relationship.

I closed my trunk and went back inside the house I've been renting. Most of the furniture I had already sold. Now with all my stuff in my car there wasn't much left. I've always been very fond of this house. I sighed to myself. I was a little sad to be leaving this little piece of my heart behind.

The drive back Emerald Cove was nice. It took around six hours which put me into town a few hours before sunset.

I pulled up to the sheriff station and before I could get out of the car Colin was there pulling me into a hug.

"I have missed your beautiful face," Colin said hugging me again. Colin and I have always stayed close over the years. He was also crushed with Katherine left and we took comfort in each other. We were never romantic, but rather he became like a second brother to me.

"I've missed you also! How is the wife?" I asked.

"Pregnant," he said with a chuckle.

"Oh by the way... that uniform looks good on you, sheriff," I said with a wink. He punched me in the shoulder. He handed me a set of keys and a piece of paper.

"The house is all set. I worked everything out with my friend. The address is on the paper. Do you need any help getting settled in?" he asked. When I told Colin I was moving back to Emerald Cove to go into practice here he was ecstatic. He offered to help me find a place and to handle all of the prep needed. Luckily he had a friend with a large house on the bay. This friend was looking to rent out a room there. The price was not bad and he promised that the friend wasn't some sort of psycho killer. The upside to rooming with someone else is that the house was fully furnished and is all I needed to bring was my personal effects.

"No, I don't have much. I'm just tired and ready to rest. I've got the next month off before I have to go into the clinic. We should do supper one night this week. I have plans with Mark, his crew, and momma and daddy tomorrow night, but other than that I'm free," he nodded. "Call me. Thanks again for everything. You are the best!" We said our goodbyes and I punched the address into my GPS and made my way to my new home.

The house was just outside of town. I smiled when I saw that the mailbox was a tacky pelican. It was adorable. The drive was gravel and surrounded by trees. Eventually the trees opened up into a beautifully manicured yard with an amazingly beautiful house on it. I parked and grabbed my overnight bag. The rest could  wait until later. I needed a shower and good night's rest.

I made my way up the stairs to the wrap around porch. I felt awkward at first and so I knocked on the door. When no one answered I used my key and made my way inside. The house was decorated beautifully. It was large and open on the inside, but it also had a warm, homey feel to it.