Chapter 26

Chapter Twenty-Six

The next morning, Abbie walked into Winters he had fought for the hope it represented. That memory stirred something deep within her—a reminder of why she had gone into law in the first place. Somewhere along the way, she had lost sight of that.

Her phone buzzed on the desk, pulling her back to the present. A reminder of her next meeting at Winters & Winters appeared on the screen. She stared at it for a long moment before silencing the notification. The thought of sitting in another meeting about profit margins and billable hours made her stomach turn.

Abbie grabbed her notebook from her bag, sat down at her now-bare desk, and began to write. At first, the ideas were scattered, her handwriting hurried and uneven. But soon, a vision began to take shape.

She envisioned a law practice that prioritized people over profits. A place where nonprofits, small businesses, and everyday people could find the support they needed to fight for what mattered most. She thought of her grandpa and the ranch, of the families who had relied on it, and of all the others like them who needed someone to stand up for them.

Jessup Peak seemed like the perfect location. It was close to the ranch, close to the community she wanted to serve. Her mind raced with possibilities as she outlined her plan: sliding scale fees, partnerships with local organizations, and outreach programs to educate people about their rights.

The more she wrote, the more energized she felt. The fear of leaving the stability of Winters & Winters still lingered, but it was outweighed by the excitement of building something new, something meaningful.

By the time she finished packing her office, the sun was setting, casting a warm glow through the windows. Abbie stood in the doorway, looking back at the empty room one last time. This chapter of her life was over, but for the first time in a long time, she wasn’t afraid of what came next. She was ready.

With her boxes in hand and her heart full of purpose, she stepped out into the evening, the cool breeze carrying with it the promise of new beginnings.