Chapter 1
Alexandra
I love the first night in a new place.
~ Ruth Rendell
“I’ll be right over,” I tell my cousin Lexi. “I’m knee-deep in boxes, hunting for shoes that possibly refused to cross state lines out of loyalty to the city that never sleeps.”
“I’m sorry! Moving is such a pain,” she says with her signature sympathy. “Do you want to borrow some of mine?”
“I’m a nine.”
“Okay, Bigfoot. Maybe I should call the National Park Service.”
“I know! The perils of my feet!” I open another box labeled KITCHEN. “Ah! Here they are! Movers, I tell you. I bet I’ll find my bathrobe in the box labeled OFFICE.”
“I’ll come help you unpack tomorrow,” Lexi promises. “Set all that aside. It’s time to have some fun! You are going to love my friends. And they’re going to love you.”
“I feel like I already know them with as much as you’ve told me. And I think you’re just excited for some time with grown-ups.”
“You know it! I love my kids and Trev, but a woman needs some girl time if she’s going to maintain her sanity.”
I barely met Lexi’s friends at her wedding.
And that was years ago. They were appropriately preoccupied with her marrying her childhood best friend.
I only flew in for the ceremony and flew out that same evening, so I never really spent time with this group of women that’s like a second family to my cousin.
“I’ll be right there.”
“How are you getting over here?” Lexi asks.
“The previous owners left a bike in the garage. I just had to sweep off some cobwebs and squirt the chain with the oil I found out there.”
“I can pick you up,” Lexi offers. “It’s freezing out. And they say we’re expecting snow.”
“Okay, if you don’t mind.”
“Are you kidding me? I haven’t seen you in years. And now you’re going to be living in Bordeaux! Give me a minute to kiss Trev and the kids goodbye. I’ll be right there.”
“I’ll be here.”
I hang up the call and set the KITCHEN box on my table.
May as well unpack this one. Eventually they all have to be tackled.
I landed today at the Columbus airport and took the bus to Bordeaux.
Movers came yesterday and dropped off all my boxes before I arrived.
My car should show up tomorrow—at least that’s what the website says.
I glance around my new house. It’s a far cry from my brownstone in Brooklyn.
The quiet here feels like someone hit pause after a lifetime of sirens, trucks, and voices beyond my window at all hours.
For a second, I almost miss hearing the neighbor who used to argue with her parakeet through my apartment wall.
This is an actual house—in a neighborhood. Feels more like being on Long Island with a front and back yard and a detached garage. I even have a porch.
I lift the plates out of the box and set them into one of the cupboards. I’m opening my third box when the lights from Lexi’s van flash through the kitchen windows. I grab my winter coat and scarf and head out to meet her on the driveway.
She hops out of the van and rushes at me, arms outstretched, face beaming.
“Alex!” Lexi wraps me in a hug, pinning my arms to my sides. Then she steps back, smiling warmly. “I can’t believe you’re actually here. How was the flight? Are you excited to start your new job? Do you like the house?”
I chuckle. “Good. Yes. And yes.”
“Sorry,” she shakes her head. “I’m excited.” She looks me up and down. “You look amazing for someone who traveled all day.”
“Thanks. It’s only a two-hour flight. And then the bus … I’m rested enough.”
“Your accent!” she gushes. “I love it. Ow-ah. Two ow-ah flight.”
I laugh. “Am I going to get a lot of that?”
“You’ll be an anomaly for a while. Our town gossips, but they mean well. It’s not malicious—more curiosity with a heavy dash of nosiness. And yes, people might mention your accent—and try to get you to date their nephews and sons. Be forewarned.”
“Thanks for the heads-up,” I say. “You look amazing too. Motherhood looks good on you.”
“I love it,” she admits. “Trevor’s the best. You met him at the wedding, remember? The man who spent half the reception rescuing our cake—and my dress—from goats?”
I laugh, remembering the fiasco.
Lexi grins. “We fondly refer to it as Goatmageddon.” She glances at the van. “We’d better get going. Laura, Jayme, Shannon, Em, and Ella Mae are waiting.”
“So we’re doing a scavenger hunt?”
“It’s kind of our thing—for birthdays, sometimes girls’ nights, and basically any excuse to escape bedtime routines.” She smiles and wags her brows like she’s getting away with something over-the-top mischievous.
“We used to just send the birthday girl on a hunt, but the older we’ve gotten, we’ve sort of fallen into all of us hunting. This time it’s Jayme’s birthday and it’s holiday-themed.”
“Sounds fun,” I say, opening the van passenger door while Lexi walks around to get into the driver’s seat.
“I always loved this house,” she tells me as she backs down the driveway. “Trevor’s mom is right down the next block if you need anything.”
“Small towns really do come with their own built-in safety nets,” I say, smiling. “Back in Brooklyn, we knew our neighbors, sure—but people mostly waved from stoops. Here, it sounds like they actually mean it when they offer to pitch in.”
“Are you going to miss New York?” Lexi asks.
“I was ready for a change.”
She nods, and thankfully she doesn't bring up Marco. My fiancé and I broke up over the summer. He was my supposed dream guy. Worked at the stock exchange. Wore designer clothes. Took me to the best restaurants. But when I decided I wanted to go into police work, he started grumbling about a woman being at home. I had no idea how traditional his values were. We never talked about women’s roles before.
I want to be a mom, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to pursue a career too.
I went ahead and enrolled in the academy, hoping Marco would come around. He didn’t.
When Lexi told me a position was opening here in Bordeaux, it almost felt serendipitous.
I’m over Marco—as over as you can be when someone promises you forever and ends up wanting to mold you into their version of that future.
He broke my heart, but I’m done handing pieces back to him.
New town. Clean slate. And, I’m going to be on the force.
Of course, I know there’s not much crime here, but a woman’s got to start somewhere.
Lexi and I haven’t spent a lot of time together as adults, but we were always close as kids. It feels good to be where she is.
We pull up in front of another house in a neighborhood that looks a lot like mine.
“This is Duke and Shannon’s place,” Lexi explains, killing the engine. “He’s a high school history teacher and co-owner of the gas station. She’s a dance instructor and she works at her dad’s accounting office.”
“Does everyone have two jobs here?” I ask.
“No.” She laughs. “But, come to think of it, a lot of us wear more than one hat. Jayme used to have four or five jobs. I lost count. Now she’s just an author.”
“Just?”
Lexi smiles an amused grin. “Meaning, she quit everything else when she married the town doctor.”
“Is he also the barber?”
Lexi bursts out in full laughter. “No! Oh my gosh. We must seem so rural and backwards to you.”
“I’m just kidding. It all seems quaint and sweet.”
“Are you ready?”
“To meet everyone? Yeah. Let’s do this.”
Now that she mentions it, I am nervous. In New York, people are everywhere—at all hours. If I didn’t click with someone, I could find another person who fit me and my personality. Here, the friend group is the friend group. If we don’t mesh, I’ll be on the outs.
I take a deep breath and follow Lexi up onto the porch. The door swings open before we even step up to knock. A beautiful blonde woman holds it open for us. “Alex! Welcome. We’re so glad you’re here. I’m Shannon.”
Not a moment later, I’m in the foyer, swarmed by women in their mid to late twenties, all of them hugging and welcoming me.
“Give the woman some air!” Laura says. Then she turns to me. “Sorry, we don’t get new people that often. They aren’t exactly housebroken for this.”
I chuckle. “It’s fine. I’m not used to celebrity status.”
“Foin,” Jayme says, imitating me. “Oh my gosh. I’m loving your accent.”
Lexi’s gaze meets mine and she mouths, “Told you.”
“I love yours too,” I say.
“Okay,” Laura claps. “Let’s get this party started!”
She walks further into the living room and grabs a stack of papers.
“On this list you will find twenty random things. We leave the specifics up to interpretation. For example: A reindeer could be an actual living animal—though, I don’t recommend that—or a stuffed reindeer or an ornament …
You get the gist. Also, you’ll see a few tasks on the list. Not optional.
You must find someone and sing a carol to them.
You must get someone to wear a Santa hat.
And you must do an interpretive dance to a Christmas song in a public place, like the town square or Bud’s.
First team back here by the deadline with all the items wins. ”
“Wins what?!” Shannon asks, excitedly.
“The grand prize!” Laura says. “Including free haircuts and styles with me. A dozen of Jayme’s cinnamon muffins for each of you.
And this beeee-utiful gift basket assembled by our own Shannon and Ella Mae.
It’s got foo-foo stuff like Christmas-scented candles, bath bombs, lotions, fuzzy socks …
the works.” She smiles briefly and then asks, “Questions?”
“Can we split up? Or do we have to stay with our partner?” Lexi asks.
“You can split up. But no enlisting your men or children … or Memaw.” She looks straight at Lexi.
“Awww. Memaw,” I say softly. She’s not my biological grandmother. Lexi and I are related through our moms, not her dad, but I remember Memaw and can’t wait to see her again.
“She’s over the moon about you moving here,” Lexi says quietly.