Chapter 6
six
. . .
Emerson
“Hi, sweetheart. Did you kayak this morning?” my mother asked as Winnie and I walked to town.
“Yep. It’s such a great way to start my day. I’m so happy I was able to find a house on the water. There aren’t a lot of boats in there, especially in the morning.”
“Did Winnie get in with you this time?”
“Nope. She dipped her big ole paws in and then ran and waited for me under the tree nearby.” I chuckled.
“This is good for you, baby girl. You needed to get away from everything and everyone. Fresh start, right?”
“Yep. It’s been very peaceful. I’ve been baking every night after work, swimming in the lake, watching the sun go down before bed. It’s been just what I needed.”
“I’m so glad. Everything works out for a reason,” she said.
I hated that saying. Because I wouldn’t necessarily say everything worked out, nor that there was a reason for the shit that happened most of the time. I’d lost two of the most important people in my life. And for what reason, exactly?
“Or sometimes, people are just assholes,” I said, and she laughed.
My mom and I were very close, and I’d always been able to talk to her about anything.
“That’s very true.” She paused. “How’s the job search going?”
“I started sending out my résumé to a few hospitals on the East Coast. Maybe I can get into a good program somewhere fresh. That’s the goal.
” There hadn’t been time when my life blew up with no notice a few months ago.
I’d scrambled, because I’d needed to get out of the city, and I’d found an opening here in Magnolia Falls.
I knew that it would buy me some time to figure out my new plan.
“Oh, I just hate the idea of you being that far away from me.”
“I know, but I don’t want to go back to a place where everyone knows my story, you know?”
“I get it. But let’s just give it some time. Don’t commit to anything yet. Is Collin still using other phone numbers to reach out to you?” Her tone turned serious. She knew I didn’t want to talk about him.
“He is. But I just block him every time.”
“He’s got some nerve. I ran into Sylvie at the grocery store.” Collin’s mom, Sylvie Waterstone, was one of my favorite people, so it sucked that now we wouldn’t be able to have a relationship. But when you give birth to the devil’s spawn, you have to know it might bite you in the ass, right?
“How’d that go?” I asked, as I walked toward Magnolia Beans to get my daily boost of caffeine.
“She cried. I cried. You know, it’s never going to be the same. She wants to reach out to you.”
“Please tell her I’ll reach out after some more time passes. I can’t talk to her right now, Mom.”
“I know, sweetheart. I just love you so much. Easton said he’s going to come see you soon, and I tried to invite myself along with him, but he played the twin card. Said he needed some alone time with you.”
I chuckled. My brother knew me well. He knew I wanted to be alone. They all knew it, so they called and texted daily to check in, and we kept it casual. I didn’t want to talk about it. I didn’t want it to be the topic of conversation anymore. My mother had taken it as hard as I had, if not harder.
“Yeah, and I’ll come home soon, I promise. I just need some time to settle into my routine here, okay?” I pulled the door open to Magnolia Beans, the cutest coffee shop in town, and stepped inside.
“You got it, sweetheart. And I can sneak away and come there any time you want.”
“You’d love it here. It’s so charming. I’ll call you later. Love you.” She said the same back, and I ended the call.
“There’s my Winnie girl,” Demi said as she came around the corner and bent down to greet my dog before hugging me.
I’d been shocked when she’d said I could bring her into the coffee shop the last time I’d been here, and I’d tied her leash to the pole out front. So now, this was our routine on my way to work.
It was slower here, more peaceful than anything I’d experienced in a long time.
Turns out, it was exactly what I’d needed.
Maybe my mom was right about things happening for a reason. Magnolia Falls was the first thing that actually made me think that staying might be right.
“Are you having the usual today?”
“Yes, please.” I reached into my purse and pulled out the little bag with the cookies I’d baked last night. “I made you my latest. Shortbread with raspberry jam.”
“Ahhhh… I swear, I’m going to have to come over so you can teach me some of these recipes,” Demi said, as she started making my iced mocha latte, before wrapping up a blueberry muffin and handing it to me.
We both shared an appreciation for tasty pastries.
Baking had always been my outlet. Before I’d gone to college, I’d been torn between pursuing a career in medicine or owning a bakery.
My brothers used to find it hilarious that I was so conflicted between two very different careers.
But in the end, I realized that medicine was my passion, and baking was my happy place.
“These should be illegal; they’re so good,” I said.
“I heard that, and I’m hoping that means you brought me a treat, too,” Peyton said as she came hurrying out from the kitchen. “Am I getting praise for my blueberry muffins?”
I chuckled, and Demi gaped at her. “Your blueberry muffins?”
“What? I helped make those.”
“You pulled them out of the oven,” Demi said over her laughter.
“Hey, they would have burned if I hadn’t been there, and then you’d be eating a burnt muffin, right?” Peyton smiled at me as I handed her the little white bag with a few shortbread cookies inside.
“Well, it’s absolute perfection.” I broke off another piece of the muffin and popped it into my mouth. They were both gushing about my cookies after they took the first bite and groaned, and we all laughed at how invested we were in our baked goods.
“And this is for Winnie,” Demi said, coming around the counter. She’d had my dog try some pup treats this week, as she thought Winnie would be a perfect guinea pig.
“You won’t get any argument there. This girl loves a treat.” I watched as she gently took it from Demi and devoured it as we all laughed.
Demi made her way around the counter to wash her hands before turning around and handing me my iced coffee. “So, you’re seeing Cutler today, right?”
I chuckled. I knew from what she’d shared that they were all really close, but they definitely seemed to be very involved in Cutler’s life. I was happy for him. He was a sweet kid, and I was thrilled to see how much love surrounded him.
“Yes. It’s just a follow-up to see how the new inhaler is working and how he’s feeling. He told you he was coming to see me?”
“Yes. We ride together on Saturdays. He loves it.”
“Ride?”
“Oh, horses,” she said with a laugh.
“My girl is a horse girl through and through. She’s got a barn full of them.” Peyton shrugged.
“I have two horses, not a barn full.” Demi chuckled, and it was easy to see how close these two were. “How about you? Do you ride?”
I sighed. It had been a while since I’d been on a horse. “Yes. I grew up riding. We have a ranch back in Rosewood River, and I used to ride all the time when I was younger.”
“You have to come ride with us next weekend. I’ve even got this one riding now,” she said, flicking her thumb at Peyton.
“Yes. But that’s only because I have major FOMO.”
“FOMO?” I asked, my gaze moving between them.
“Fear of missing out,” they said at the exact same time over a fit of laughter.
“Yes. I hate to miss a good time, and Demi, Ruby, and Saylor ride with Cutler on the weekends, so I had no choice but to join in. Demi’s parents and grandparents have a bunch of horses, so there’s plenty for everyone.”
“That sounds like a lot of fun.” I took a sip of my coffee.
“So, you’ll ride with us next weekend?” Demi placed her hands together like she was praying, and I chuckled. I was only going to be here for a short time, and making friends was not the plan, but it was almost impossible not to be drawn to these two.
“Sure. It’s been a while. But I’ll give it a try.”
“You’ll have to come to Whiskey Falls with us, too,” Peyton said as she clapped her hands together. “We’re going on Friday night. Come meet us for some beers and country music night.”
I hadn’t been out in so long. I wasn’t sure I was up for that much socializing.
“I’m working late on Friday, so I’m not sure I’ll be up for it. But I’ll keep it in mind.” I held up my coffee. “I need to get to work. I’ll see you both tomorrow.”
They both shouted their goodbyes, and I heard Peyton saying something about getting my phone number and Demi telling her to back off and stop being pushy.
I sucked in a long breath once Winnie and I were outside, and I made my way to work.
“You look nice today, not that you don’t every day, but I don’t know… something’s a little different today,” Lana said as she waggled her brows.
“What?” I said, looking down at my dark, dressy jeans and blouse, which weren’t that out of the ordinary for me. I usually shifted between dresses and pants and skirts, but it didn’t really matter once the lab coat was on. “I look the same as I always do.”
“Nope. Your cheeks are kind of flushed, and your hair looks a little bouncier.” She eyed my shoes. “Those have those red soles, don’t they? You brought out the fancy shoes!”
I was laughing hard. “I just thought they’d be fun with this outfit.”
So maybe I took a little more time getting ready today, knowing I’d be seeing Nash.
Not for any particular reason. He was just a good-looking man, and I didn’t mind the way his eyes raked over me that night I’d had a beer with him.
So yeah, a girl needs a boost every now and then, and he had a way of making me feel… boosted.
When he wasn’t growling or annoyed with me, that is.