Chapter 3 Aurora
CHAPTER THREE
Aurora
“Finn?” I murmur as I pat the bed beside me. “Why is it so bright?”
The words are slow, I’m trying to wake from a dream that feels too real to shake off.
I squint at the sunlight streaming through the window, squinting even harder because I expected to find Finn’s mess of hair on the pillow, or maybe his arm thrown across the bed like it had been last night. But nope.
The bed’s empty.
I sit up quickly, and then I realize, of course it is. Finn’s not the type to stick around. He probably slipped out in the middle of the night, right after I dozed off. I blink around the room, noticing that the space next to me is just, well, empty. It feels like the room’s been quiet for hours.
I can’t help but feel a little bit of a total idiot.
Of course, it didn’t help that last night was… well, honestly, probably too much of everything.
Grief, heat, laughs, good vibes. It was a romcom without the predictable ending.
Finn and I? We didn’t even make sense. But in the heat of the moment, it felt like maybe we did.
And here I am, alone, with only the faint smell of whiskey in the air to remind me that I probably shouldn’t have let him kiss me the way he did.
Or smile at me the way he did. Or look at me the way he did.
But it’s fine. It’s all fine.
I reach over and find the little note he left on the pillow.
Had a great time, Aurora. Don’t worry, I’m not the kind of guy to make things weird. Don’t be a stranger. And don’t forget to keep laughing, okay? Finn.
I stare at it, a weird little smile tugging at my lips.
It’s almost too polite. But I can’t deny the way it makes my chest feel a little fluttery in the most ridiculous way possible.
The note isn’t just sweet, it’s almost a perfect little Hallmark ending.
The guy leaves, but it’s with a wink and a promise to not make it weird.
I tuck it into my wallet, folding it carefully.
I’m definitely not keeping it for sentimental reasons, right?
Even if it’s with my special things. It’s just a note.
A polite, kind note from a guy I met last night.
Totally nothing special. I definitely won’t think about it all day and then re-read it tonight when I’m alone in my cabin… nope. Not at all.
I shake myself out of that thought, standing up and moving toward the window, throwing on my boots like I have a whole life planned out. Gotta keep moving.
Today’s about her. About Evie.
I’m here to do what I came for: see the places she loved, and finally give her the kind of closure I’ve been putting off for far too long. The market square. The trailhead sign. The places that were just part of her life but now feel they’re part of me too, whether I like it or not.
I step out into the bright morning, taking a deep breath of the pine-scented air. It feels a little too good, but I push it down, focusing on the task at hand. I’m not here to get distracted.
I wander to the market square first. It’s small, but there’s something nostalgic about the way it all fits together.
A little flower shop with fresh bouquets of daisies and lavender, just as my grandmother used to buy.
A baker’s shop with homemade loaves of bread that smell so good.
The kind of place where everyone knows your name and makes you feel you’ve just stepped into a cozy romance movie where no one ever has a bad day.
I stop by the flower stall and smile at the memory of Evie telling me how much she loved flowers. She used to say, “You can never have enough flowers in your life.” I can picture her walking by here every Saturday, no matter what, picking up a bouquet.
I know she left when she got married, and I’ve only ever known her living in the city, but it kinda works. I can imagine her here…
Just then, I hear a loud, overly enthusiastic voice behind me.
“Well, well, well! If it isn’t Evie Harper’s granddaughter.”
I turn around, surprised, and there’s an older woman, hands on her hips, her huge sunglasses perched on top of her head like she’s about to deliver some kind of life-altering speech.
“I… yes, I am…”
“Dottie,” she declares with her hand outstretched. “Ever since I heard you were in town, I’ve been wanting to meet you.”
I shake her hand, recalling Bill telling me about this woman. Clearly someone who knew Evie well.
“Evie was always telling me about you,” Dottie says, lowering her voice. “Every time she came through town, we’d end up talking about you. She’d tell me about all your accomplishments, and how proud she was of you.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “I didn’t know she said that.”
“Oh, she did. Your grandmother wasn’t the kind of woman to brag. But about you, wow, she did.” Dottie’s eyes soften as she grins. “She was a force of nature, wasn’t she?”
I nod, feeling a sudden lump in my throat. “She really was.”
Dottie puts her hands on her hips, studying me.
“Well, don’t just stand there in the market square looking like you need a cup of coffee, darling.
Come on, I’m taking you to the Coyote Cup for a drink, and we’ll chat.
I’ve got stories about Evie from when she lived here, and you’re going to want to hear them. ”
I raise an eyebrow. “Really? Sounds like a lot to unpack.”
“Oh, it is,” Dottie says, her eyes gleaming. “And don’t you worry, you’ll leave here feeling like you’ve lived in Coyote Glen for years.”
“I’m not sure I’m ready for that,” I say, but my smile betrays me.
“Oh, trust me, dear. You’re ready,” Dottie says, grabbing my elbow and leading me toward the café.
As we walk, I glance around at the town square, the quiet beauty of it.
It’s hard not to feel like I’m stepping into something new here.
It feels almost like a second chance. Maybe it’s because of Evie.
Maybe it’s because I’ve been running from things for too long.
Whatever it is, I feel the pull of this place, Coyote Glen calling me to stick around just a little bit longer.
We reach the Coyote Cup, and the door opens with a soft jingle. The warm, inviting aroma of freshly brewed coffee fills the air, making my stomach rumble. I look up to see a woman behind the counter, and her face lights up when she sees Dottie.
“Well, if it isn’t the queen of Coyote Glen herself,” she says, winking at Dottie as she fills a coffee cup. “And who’s this?”
I laugh. “Aurora Harper”
“Lani Riviera, nice to meet you.”
Dottie tugs me toward a booth in the corner, and we sit down, both of us cradling our cups. She leans in, dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
“You know,” she begins, “Evie had a soft spot for the underdogs. She was always helping people, even when they didn’t ask for it. She was fierce, protective. There was this one time…”
I settle in, ready to listen, knowing I’m about to hear stories about my grandmother that will shape the way I see this town, and maybe even myself.
Coyote Glen, with its secrets and stories, is starting to feel like a place where I can finally let my guard down. And Dottie? She’s the perfect guide to lead me into it.
I sip my coffee, letting the warmth settle in my chest as Dottie continues to recount one of Evie’s many legendary adventures in town.
Her stories are vivid and filled with details I’ve never heard before.
My grandmother, this strong, independent woman I’d always admired, had so many layers I didn’t know existed.
Dottie’s eyes twinkle with mischief as she talks about the time Evie got into a heated argument with the mayor over the town’s flower beds, all because she thought the daffodils didn’t “suit the place.”
It’s funny, the way these little glimpses into Evie’s life make her feel closer, like she’s not really gone.
In a way, she’s here in every story, every corner of Coyote Glen.
The idea that this small town was so much a part of her makes me feel like maybe I’m not just passing through.
Maybe I’m meant to be here a little longer, learning about the life she lived that I never got to see.
After a while, the conversation shifts. Dottie’s laughter slows down, and she turns more serious.
“You know, your grandmother was the kind of person who always had a plan,” Dottie says, tapping her fingers on the edge of her coffee cup. “She knew what she wanted, even when no one else did. That’s why I think you’re here for a reason.”
I pause, taking in her words. “What do you mean?”
“Well,” Dottie says slowly, “I think Evie left you a little more than just memories. She wanted you to understand something about this place… about her life here. I’m sure you’ve felt it, too, right? The pull?”
I nod, not really sure what to say. I do feel it. There’s something magnetic about this town, about Evie’s presence in every corner. The way everything feels both familiar and new, like it’s been waiting for me all along.
“I think you’re right,” I say quietly. “There’s something here… I don’t know exactly what it is yet, but it feels like I’m meant to be here. At least for now.”
Dottie smiles knowingly, but she doesn’t press me further. Instead, she stands up, dropping a few bills on the table. “Well, sweetheart, I’m going to leave you to think on that. But remember, I’m here if you need anything. Coyote Glen has a way of making you realize things when you’re ready.”
I thank her, and we exchange a warm hug before she heads out, leaving me alone in the cozy café with my thoughts.
I haven’t read my grandmother’s letter yet. I haven’t been ready. But maybe after this chat, I’m finally getting there.