Something Like Home

Prompt: Story Summary Title (tentative): Something Like Home Esme, a bright and fiercely independent young woman in her twenties, has never set foot in Texas—nor had much of a relationship with her estranged father, Henry, who left her and her mother when she was still a child. But after years of moving around Europe, nursing old wounds from a deeply toxic relationship, Esme decides to take a leap: she travels to Texas for the very first time to visit Henry… and unexpectedly chooses to stay for an indefinite period. She finds herself in a small, sun-soaked town full of warmth, rhythm, and unfamiliar routine. She quickly grows close with Sarah, the witty and lovable teenage daughter of Henry’s best friend, Joel—a quiet, loyal single father who’s been raising his daughter alone since his wife walked out years ago. At first, Esme and Joel’s connection is easy, casual—built around their shared care for Sarah. But over time, their bond deepens, evolving into a powerful but secret romance, full of unspoken tension, gentle moments, and eventually passion. The age difference, and especially Joel’s friendship with Henry, makes it all feel too complicated to reveal. So they keep their feelings hidden—until the truth comes out in an explosive, emotional confrontation. Long chapters!