2. Graham
GRAHAM
T he rumble of my truck’s engine fills the quiet morning as I roll back into Bardstown. The familiar roads twist and turn past the same green fields and weathered fences I’ve driven by a hundred times. I crack the window, letting the crisp air rush in. It’s good to be back, even if I was only gone a few days.
I slow down as I hit Main Street, where Bardstown is just starting to wake up. The sun glints off the diner’s windows, and the smell of fresh-baked bread drifts from the bakery down the block. People mill about the sidewalk, chatting in clusters, their voices mingling with the faint hum of morning activity.
I park in front of the general store, step out, and stretch. A group of locals sits on the bench near the entrance, their voices carrying in the cool air.
“A wedding!” Mrs. Harper says, her hands clasped around a steaming coffee cup. “It’s been years since Bardstown’s had one this big. Ethan, the city boy—well, he’s a townie now—and Riley are perfect for each other.”
“Perfect, indeed,” Mr. Willis agrees, nodding. “It’s the talk of the whole town. Three months from now, it’ll be the event of the year.”
I pause just outside the store, pretending to glance at the bulletin board as their conversation flows around me. I’ve seen Ethan around town—one of those friendly types who always has a wave or a quick smile. It doesn’t surprise me that the wedding has everyone buzzing. Bardstown loves its celebrations, and weddings are a rare treat here.
“They’re even talking about having it at the old Holloway estate,” Mrs. Harper continues, her tone full of excitement. “Can you imagine? That place hasn’t seen a party in decades.”
“That’ll take some work to get in shape,” Mr. Willis adds, shaking his head. “But I’m sure they will make it work. Riley has always been determined and headstrong. She always gets what she wants.”
I grab a bag of coffee from the shelf inside the store, the conversation still playing in the back of my mind. Weddings, venues, and local excitement—it’s all part of the Bardstown charm, the kind of thing I’ve grown used to since I moved here.
The truth is, I like it here. It’s different from the chaos of my childhood and my history. The rhythm of this town, the way people look out for each other, even the gossip—it feels steady, predictable. And after years of chasing work from one job site to the next, that steadiness is exactly what I needed.
Stepping back outside, I give a quick nod to Mrs. Harper and Mr. Willis as I pass. They smile back, still deep in their discussion about the wedding.
I toss the bag of coffee onto the passenger seat of my truck and lean against the door for a moment, taking in the scene. Bardstown looks the same as always—quiet streets, friendly faces, a town that feels untouched by the rush of the outside world.
But today, there’s a buzz in the air, a feeling that something big is on the horizon. And while I can’t quite put my finger on it, I can’t help but wonder how it might ripple through this little town—and my life.
I climb back into the truck, the coffee bag crinkling beside me from the passenger seat, and start the engine. Bardstown may thrive on the predictable, but something tells me things are about to get interesting.
The drive home is as uneventful as ever. Just me, the truck, and the road that winds past a couple of farms and a stretch of woods before opening up to my place. The small, single-story house sits on a decent patch of land—nothing fancy, but it’s sturdy and quiet, which suits me just fine.
I park in the gravel driveway and head inside, kicking off my boots by the door. The place is as I left it—neat but lived-in, with tools scattered on the workbench in the corner and a stack of unopened mail on the kitchen counter.
I glance into the pantry and let out a low sigh. Bare. Not even a can of soup or a bag of chips left. I toss the empty coffee tin into the trash and shake my head. Looks like I need more than groceries.
Back in the truck, I decided to stop by Riley’s hardware store. It’s always stocked with whatever odds and ends I might need—nails, lightbulbs, a wrench to replace the one I misplaced last month. And Riley’s good company, always quick with a smile or a joke about how I should’ve bought her out of business by now.
The parking lot’s nearly empty when I pull up. A couple of old pickups and Mrs. Norton’s ancient station wagon are parked near the front. I step inside, the bell jingling above the door, and spot Riley behind the counter, stacking some freshly delivered boxes.
“Hey, stranger,” she says, glancing up with a grin. “I was starting to think you skipped town.”
I chuckle, leaning against the counter. “Not quite. Just had a job two towns over. A couple of days of hammering out some designs and locking in a contract.”
“Must’ve been a big deal to drag you out of Bardstown,” she teases, grabbing a box cutter to slice through the tape.
“It was worth it,” I say with a shrug. “They’re building a new library, and they liked my ideas and designs for the outdoor spaces. Looks like I’ll be back and forth for the next few months.”
Riley raises an eyebrow, clearly impressed. “Fancy.”
“Something like that,” I reply, glancing at her hand as she adjusts the box. The diamond on her ring finger catches the light, sparkling enough to make me blink.
“They weren’t kidding about the wedding,” I say, nodding toward her hand.
She laughs, lifting her hand to show it off. “What do you think? Ethan did good, didn’t he?”
“I’ll say,” I reply, smiling. “Congratulations, Riley. He’s a lucky guy.”
“Thanks,” she says, her cheeks flushing slightly. “I’m pretty lucky too. However, between you and me, I think the town’s more excited about this wedding than we are. Every time I step outside, someone’s got a new idea for how to make it ‘bigger and better.’”
I laugh. “That’s Bardstown for you. Always ready to throw a party.”
“Tell me about it,” she says, rolling her eyes good-naturedly. “At this rate, I’ll need to build an extension just to store all the wedding gifts people keep dropping off.”
“And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The people of Bardstown love you, Riley. You should be used to it by now.”
She laughs, tossing some packing material into the trash. “So, what brings you by today? Don’t tell me you’ve finally decided to renovate that place of yours.”
“Not quite,” I say, scanning the shelves. “Just need a few supplies. Running low on everything—coffee filters, nails, maybe a lightbulb or two.”
“Typical Graham,” she teases, shaking her head. “Can’t let the house fall apart before you get that fancy library contract done.”
“Exactly,” I say with a grin.
She steps out from behind the counter and helps me grab what I need, chatting as we go. Riley’s always been easy to talk to, and even with the wedding looming, she’s the same as ever—down-to-earth and quick with a joke.
As I load the supplies onto the counter, she leans against it, crossing her arms. “So, are you coming to the wedding?”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” I reply. “The whole town’s buzzing about it already. Feels like Bardstown hasn’t had this much excitement in years.”
“Yeah,” she says, smiling softly. “It’ll be nice to have everyone together. And maybe, for once, I can sit back and enjoy it instead of organizing the whole thing.”
I laugh. “Good luck with that. Something tells me you’ll still be running the show.”
“Probably. But Mia is also involved, so I think it won’t be so hard. Speaking of, she should be here any minute now,” she admits.
Mia is coming here?
I need to make a run for it. Mia is too inquisitive for her own good, and she just makes me feel like my past cannot be well hidden around her.
I grab the last of my supplies from Riley’s counter and toss the bag over my shoulder. “Thanks, Riley. I’ll see you around.”
“Don’t work too hard,” she calls after me with a grin as she turns back to the boxes on the counter.
The bell jingles as I step outside, squinting against the sunlight. The parking lot is almost empty—just a couple of old pickups and the same red car I’ve seen dozens of times.
I freeze.
Mia’s car.
Bright red, freshly waxed, and impossible to miss. The driver’s door is still open, her large leather bag perched on the seat, like she’s just arrived.
My chest tightens. There’s no mistaking it’s her—Bardstown’s human lie detector.
I glance at the hardware bag in my hand, the truck just a few steps away, and then back to the store door. I could make it to my car, but Mia has a way of appearing when you least expect it.
Not today. No way.
I pivot on my heel and head back into the store like it’s a matter of life and death. The bell jingles again, and Riley looks up with a confused smile.
“Forget something?” she asks, holding a box cutter in one hand.
“Yeah,” I say quickly, ducking behind a display of garden hoses. “Thought I needed more nails.”
Riley blinks. “You just bought a whole box.”
“Well, another box won’t hurt,” I mumble, peering around the edge of the shelf just as Mia steps into the store.
She’s dressed in a sharp blazer and dark jeans, her curls bouncing as she walks toward the counter. Sunglasses are perched on her head, and her heels click confidently on the floor.
“Mia!” Riley greets her, her tone bright.
I duck down lower, clutching the hardware bag to my chest. Please don’t see me. Please don’t see me.
“Hey, Riley,” Mia says, leaning casually against the counter. “How’s it going? Wedding plans driving you crazy yet?”
“Not too bad,” Riley replies with a laugh. “Ethan’s been a big help. He’s even more detail-oriented than I am.”
Mia smirks, crossing her arms. “That’s surprising. I thought he’d be the type to show up and hope for the best.”
“Oh, he has his moments,” Riley teases. “But he’s been great with keeping everything organized. We’ve even got the venue booked already.”
I inch toward the side door as they talk, keeping my head low. My heart pounds as I hear Mia laugh—a warm, familiar sound that somehow manages to set off every alarm in my brain.
“Good,” Mia says. “Because if the wedding is happening in three months, you’ll need all the help you can get. Let me know if you need me to wrangle Ethan’s side of the family.”
Riley chuckles. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
I make it to the side door and slip out as quietly as possible, and I almost drop the bag I’m carrying in the process because my shoes hit one of the shelves.
“Is there anyone there?” I hear Mia’s voice ask, and I sprint without looking back. As soon as I’m outside, the cool air hits my face like a blessing. I sprint toward my truck, gripping the hardware bag like it might save my life.
Once inside, I duck below the dashboard, holding my breath as I glance toward the store. Mia is still inside, chatting animatedly with Riley, gesturing as she talks.
“Safe,” I whisper to myself, releasing a long breath. “Thank goodness.”
It’s not that I don’t like Mia. She’s smart, funny, and genuinely cares about her family. But the thing about Mia is that she has this… gift—or curse, depending on who you ask. She sees through people, straight to the parts they don’t want anyone else to know about.
I learned that the hard way the first time we met.
It was five years ago, not long after I moved to Bardstown. I was sitting in the café, minding my own business, when she slid into the chair across from me, her smile disarming but sharp.
“Graham, right? How are you doing?” she asked, wearing a bright smile on her face.
“Yeah,” I said cautiously, setting my coffee down.
“It’s not every day we see new people move to Bardstown. How are you enjoying it so far?” Her tone was casual.
“The first thing I’ve noticed is how close-knit everyone is. I guess that’s one of the perks of a small town,” I replied with a shrug, keeping my face neutral. Mia grinned as she nodded her head. I still haven’t completely let my guard down around her, but the conversation wasn’t so bad. It’s just that I would rather just be alone.
“You’re absolutely right. By the way, your accent…” she said, leaning in slightly.
This is precisely why I preferred to keep to myself—because she had noticed the accent already. My parents, the king and queen, made sure my brother and I sounded like royalty from the day we were born. And I always knew it would be the first thing to give me away, and that’s why I had subconsciously toned it down since I got here.
“What’s wrong with it?” I ask.
“Oh, nothing! It’s just not what we are used to over here, but it’s so nice to meet you, Graham. I have a feeling we could be good friends.” She smiled. “Are you here with your family?” She continued
Her last words were like a scalpel, even though she doesn’t know what I’ve left behind. The mention of me being here without my family opens old wounds.
“No. It’s just me.”
“Okay. But just in case you’re ever bored. You could stop by my flower shop or even join my book club. I run it with Dotty. Have you met her yet?” she asked as I shook my head.
“Her niece runs the hardware store, so you’ll meet her soon. I’d best be off then. I have to get to the shop. See you later.” She waved at me with a bright smile, and just like that, she walked away, leaving me sitting there with my coffee and the uncomfortable feeling that maybe she’d seen right through me.
Back in the present, I start the truck and pull out of the lot, glancing once more at the store as I drive away.
Dodged a bullet today.
Mia might still be inside, talking about wedding plans and family drama, but I know it’s only a matter of time before she crosses paths with me again.
As I drive, I let my mind wander, the familiar rhythm of the road lulling me into a rare moment of reflection. It’s funny how life works. A few years ago, my world couldn’t have been more different. Back then, I was surrounded by stone walls, sprawling grounds, and the weight of a name that came with more expectations than I could carry.
The castle.
That’s what people called it, though it felt more like a prison to me. Everything about it was too big, too grand, too full of reminders that I didn’t fit the mold I was supposed to. My father had built it as a legacy, a monument to our family’s success. But for me, it was just a place where I felt constantly out of place.
Every decision was made for me back then: what to wear, how to speak, who to impress. My days were a series of calculated moves; every moment was planned out to secure the future my family wanted for me. But it wasn’t the future I wanted.
I grip the steering wheel a little tighter, shaking off the memory. That life feels like a lifetime ago now, like it belonged to someone else entirely.
Bardstown is different. Here, I get to be me—not a name, not a title, just Graham. It’s not fancy, and it’s not always easy, but it’s real. And that’s enough.
The road curves past the open fields, the smell of freshly tilled soil drifting through the window. A few kids play by the fence line of a nearby farm, their laughter carrying on the breeze. It’s small moments like these that make Bardstown feel like home. There’s no pressure here, and no expectations are weighing me down.
I pull into my gravel driveway, the crunch of tires against stone breaking the stillness. As I park the truck and step out, I glance around at the house I’ve made my own before grabbing the hardware bag from the passenger seat and heading inside, the door creaking slightly as I push it open. The air smells faintly of sawdust and coffee, a combination that always feels comforting. I drop the bag on the kitchen table before opening the fridge and grabbing a soda.
I’ve settled into Bardstown fine, and my life has been simple and quiet, but why did I have this unsettling feeling like this is the calm before the storm? It feels like my past is running toward me, and I have no place left to hide. I wonder what would happen if the people of Bardstown discovered my real identity and that I’ve lied to them for seven years.
They better not. They can never find out; I’ll do everything in my power to maintain my false identity as Graham Cole.