Chapter Three
MINDY
I woke to the faint hum of a radiator and a sliver of early morning light seeping through the curtains of Levi’s bedroom. For a groggy moment, I had to remind myself this wasn’t a dream: Connor, Cody, and I had spent Saturday night driving into Hope Peak, landed in Levi’s house, then navigated a surprising first full day yesterday—Sunday—with pancakes, snow forts, and more hospitality than I ever expected. Now it was Monday, the day the twins would start school.
Pushing off the covers, I glanced around Levi’s small bedroom. The walls were bare except for a single photo of a scenic mountain lake. A tall dresser stood in the corner, half-cleared to make room for my duffel bag. My heart pinched, remembering how he’d insisted I take his bed while he slept on the couch. Kindness from strangers like that wasn’t something I was accustomed to.
Yawning, I padded into the hallway. The office door sat ajar, revealing two lumpy outlines on the pullout sofa—Connor and Cody, still snoozing after their Sunday adventures. Yesterday they’d been so hyped about the snow fort and the leftover pizza dinner that they nearly forgot about being mad at Levi. Progress. I quietly shut the door so I wouldn’t disturb them yet.
A muffled clatter drew me toward the living room, which opened into the kitchen. Sure enough, Levi was up, rinsing out a mug in the sink. He wore a simple gray T-shirt and jeans, hair still a little messy from sleep. The couch behind him bore rumpled blankets from his second night in a row sleeping there.
He glanced up, offering a small smile. “Morning. Ready for day two? Or I guess day three if we count the day you arrived?”
I huffed a laugh. “I’m just trying to remember my own name at this point, but yeah—good morning. Sorry you’re on the couch again.”
Levi shrugged, turning off the faucet. “I’ve had worse. Coffee’s fresh if you want some.”
“Thanks.” I moved to pour myself a mug, inhaling the comforting aroma. “The twins sleep okay last night?”
A flicker of amusement crossed his face. “I heard them giggling around ten, but they conked out eventually. Must be excited for school.”
I sipped coffee, letting the warmth cut through my lingering nerves. “Yeah. Day one in a brand-new school is always nerve-wracking. But at least we had all Sunday to get a bit settled.”
Levi nodded. “They seemed calmer by yesterday evening. Maybe building that snow fort burned off the last of their energy.”
The corners of my lips lifted at the memory: the twins flinging snow while Levi gamely chased them. They’d fallen asleep last night talking about how cool the mountains were. That was a small but significant shift from their initial grumbling.
“Well,” I said, glancing at the clock on the microwave, “I’d better wake them soon. Don’t want to be late for their big day.”
Levi set his mug on the counter. “I’ll get breakfast going. Oatmeal? I have some microwave packets if you’re ok with that, or would you prefer cold cereal and milk? I can slice up some bananas too to put over top of the cereal.”
“Oatmeal with sliced bananas sounds perfect.” I said. “Thank you.”
He smiled. “You’re welcome. It won’t be pancakes and sausage, but it will still fill our bellies with something warm to start the day.”
Once the twins got dressed—grudgingly peeling off the cozy pajamas—Levi dished up breakfast, and we ate crowded around his small dining table. It struck me how different this morning felt from Saturday’s chaos or even yesterday’s confusion. Something about the routine of breakfast together made the house feel…almost normal.
Afterward, Connor and Cody wrestled on jackets, fussing over whether gloves were truly needed. Our second-hand store spree before leaving Chicago had armed them with a few extra layers, which I was grateful for.
“Mom, do I have to wear these puffy gloves?” Connor complained, waving them in the air. “They make my hands sweat.”
I tried not to laugh. “You’ll survive. It’s cold out.”
Levi, sipping his last bit of coffee, hid a grin. “Better to have gloves and not need them than freeze at recess.”
Cody rolled his eyes but complied. In a matter of minutes, we were all heading out the door, the morning chill nipping our faces. We hopped into my SUV, and Levi followed in his pickup so he could run errands afterward. The kids seemed to relax once we pulled up to the elementary school. Sunday had given them enough time to mentally prepare, I hoped.
The school parking lot was lively with families and kids. Connor tugged at his jacket zipper nervously, while Cody fidgeted with his backpack strap.
“Remember,” I murmured, turning in my seat to face them, “keep an open mind. New friends, new teachers—it’s a fresh start.”
Connor nodded, swallowing. Cody gave a small half-smile. “We got this,” he said, echoing what he’d insisted on the drive to our new home.
Levi parked beside us, stepping out with calm confidence. The twins hurried ahead, and we followed them into the bright hallway. The chatter of excited children bounced off the walls. A staff member directed us toward their classrooms; Ms. Brewster and Mr. Lang greeted the boys with welcoming smiles. I felt a pang of gratitude for small-town kindness, especially after the fiasco that had brought us here.
As the twins slipped into their classes, I knelt to give them each a quick goodbye. “I’ll be here at three, okay? Text me if you need anything. You’ll do great.”
Cody whispered, “Thanks, Mom.”
Connor gave me a wobbly thumbs-up.
They disappeared into the swirl of new classmates. My heart clenched in that universal parental worry, but Levi’s soft nudge on my shoulder steadied me.
“They’ll be fine,” he assured, voice low. “It’s a good school.”
I nodded, releasing a breath. “Thanks. I know.”
Stepping outside, the cold air felt bracing. Levi paused by his pickup, hooking his thumbs through his belt loops. “I’ve gotta check in at Skyline this morning—inventory, scheduling. But if you want to meet up for lunch, I can show you a few more local spots?”
My shoulders relaxed at the offer. “That’d be great. I still want to stop by the Hope Peak Visitors Bureau and give them my résumé. The director, Beth, seemed pretty open to hearing ideas.”
Levi’s mouth curved in a pleased smile. “Perfect. Your good to handle the morning on your own?”
“Yeah, definitely. I’ll see you around noon, maybe? The diner on Main Street?”
He nodded. “Sounds good.”
Within a few minutes, we parted ways—he drove off toward Skyline, and I headed back to his house to tidy up and send Beth an email. My thoughts bounced between the twins’ first day, the possibility of a local job, and the surreal notion that I felt more settled here after two days than I had in any other place for years.
A mountain with trees and stars Description automatically generated
Around noon, I parked on Main Street, scanning the few storefronts. Levi’s pickup was already in front of the diner. I spotted him through the window, chatting with a waitress. When I stepped inside, the warm smell of grilled sandwiches greeted me.
He smiled when he saw me, standing from the small table to pull out a chair. “Hey. How’d the morning go?”
“Productive,” I said, shrugging off my coat. “I sent Beth my résumé, tidied your place. Hopefully you don’t mind me reorganizing the pantry?”
He chuckled. “If you can figure out a better system for my random cereal boxes, go for it.”
We ordered sandwiches and coffee, the conversation flowing easily. Levi mentioned rearranging Skyline’s staffing schedule to ensure he’d have time off the rest of the week, and his assistant manager, Rachel, teased him about his efforts to make sure the “pretty new lady and her kids settle in all right.” My cheeks warmed at that, but Levi just brushed it off good-naturedly.
“You are certainly stepping in more than you had to,” I pointed out, half-apologetic.
He lifted a brow. “Don’t sweat it. I’m just…helping. Unless you want me to back off?”
My heart squeezed at his earnest tone. “No, I appreciate it. This is a big change, and having someone local on our side helps.”
He exhaled, looking faintly relieved. “Then we’re good.”
The waitress soon arrived with our sandwiches, and we dug in, shifting topics to the spring carnival Connor and Cody had heard about. Levi explained it was a small event but fun—a ferris wheel, fun house, and games, plus typical fair food and local crafts. I tried to imagine my city kids fully embracing the small-town tradition. To my surprise, it sounded kind of wonderful.
After lunch, Levi insisted on walking me down the street to the Visitors Bureau so I could hand off a physical copy of my résumé. Beth, an older woman with a silver bob, greeted us with a smile, rummaging in a filing cabinet. She beamed when I handed her the folder.
“Thanks, Mindy! I’ll review this tonight. Our next board meeting is Wednesday, so if you’re free, we could discuss your ideas for marketing.”
My pulse jumped. “Definitely free. Let me know when.”
With that, we parted. Levi led me back outside, where a light flurry had begun drifting from the gray sky. I shivered, pulling my coat tighter. “Think we should pick up the kids soon? School lets out at three, right?”
He checked his watch. “We have about half an hour. You want to swing by the library or grocery store first?”
I considered. “Maybe the grocery store. I can grab a few things for dinner. I figure it’s my turn to cook.”
An easy grin tugged at his mouth. “I won’t argue with that.”
We arrived at the elementary school just before the final bell. Through the glass doors, I spied Cody and Connor huddled near a bulletin board. They spotted me and Levi, waving excitedly.
“Mom! Levi!” Connor burst out as soon as we stepped inside. “Today was great. Ms. Brewster said if we keep reading, we could win tokens for games at the carnival next month.”
Cody nodded. “I met a kid named Logan who loves comics. He said we should all go to the library tomorrow after school!”
My chest flooded with relief. They were adapting so much faster than I’d dared hope. Levi offered them each a high-five, which they returned with broad grins.
“Nice job, guys,” he said. “Maybe we’ll all check out the library soon.”
We headed to the car. The boys chattered non-stop about their teachers, new friends, and the cafeteria’s attempts at taco pizza. Levi’s eyes met mine in the rearview mirror, sharing a silent moment of amusement at their excitement. I couldn’t help feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Just two nights ago, we’d crashed into his life with no plan. Now it felt like we were forging something…real.
Later, back at Levi’s house—our current home—Connor and Cody retreated to the office to work on their homework. I rummaged in the newly organized pantry for spices, planning to whip up a simple pasta dish. Levi hovered by the counter, offering to help chop vegetables.
As I handed him a cutting board, the familiarity of the scene struck me: a mom cooking dinner while an adult presence—a father figure maybe, helped in the kitchen? Only we weren’t a couple. We’d met by insane circumstance. Yet every passing hour, the arrangement felt…natural.
“So, you sure you’re okay with all this?” I asked softly, slicing onions. “I mean, I’m basically nesting in your house, rearranging your kitchen, getting comfortable…”
Levi set down the knife, meeting my gaze steadily. “I’m sure. I won’t pretend it isn’t unexpected, but you’re not intruding. If anything, it’s nice having some life around here.”
My chest tightened. “I appreciate that.”
Dinner came together quickly—pasta with a simple tomato sauce, sautéed veggies. We all ate at the small table, kids regaling Levi with school highlights. He listened with genuine interest, occasionally tossing in a playful remark. Afterward, the boys huddled in the office to watch some short videos on my old tablet.
While the boys wound down, I washed dishes. Levi dried them, standing beside me at the sink in companionable silence. I noticed his broad shoulders, the faint scent of his soap—woodsy and clean. Warmth fluttered in my stomach, and I forced my attention back to the soapy plates.
At one point, he cleared his throat. “You know, it’s only Monday, but if you want, we could do something fun this weekend. I dunno, go ice skating at the lake, maybe? It will probably stay frozen over for another week or two. The forecast said the spring thaw is just around the corner, so we may want to take advantage of cold weather activities in the meantime.”
“Really?” I asked, a smile tugging my lips. “They’d love that.”
He gave a half-shrug. “Then let’s plan on it.”
We finished the last of the dishes, turning out the kitchen light as we went. “I’ll say goodnight to the boys,” I murmured.
Levi smiled. Then, with a gentleness in his eyes, he added, “Tell them I said ‘night, too, Sweet dreams, Mindy.”
“Sweet dreams, Levi,” I whispered, a strange contentment settling in my chest.
I made my way to the office, where Connor and Cody were already half-asleep on the pullout. They both mumbled drowsy goodnights. Softly closing the door, I walked the short hallway to Levi’s bedroom—my borrowed room. Just two full days in this house, yet the loneliness I’d felt before arriving had eased.
As I settled into bed, I replayed the day’s events: the twins thriving at school, Beth’s positive reaction to my résumé, Levi’s unwavering kindness. A sense of cautious hope bloomed. Perhaps this move, insane as it was, might be leading to a life I never imagined could be mine. One where family dinners, mountain town living, and maybe—just maybe—someone like Levi could factor in.
I drifted off with that quiet, promising thought, Levi’s handsome form taking center-stage in my mind.