Chapter 6
She pushed open the door of Espresso Yourself and was greeted with a bright and earthy welcome of percolating coffee and cinnamon, cutting through the dry western air outside.
The quiet hum of conversation mixed with the hiss of steaming milk, and for a moment she just stood there, letting the cool A/C chill her sunbaked skin.
The décor was moody, a little bit country and little bit rock-and-roll, standing out like a little rebellion in the heart of the Old West in a town that otherwise seemed frozen in shiplap and aged brick.
“How was your first day of preschool?” Sutton asked her daughter.
“I already told you about school,” Lynlee said, swinging her little arms and skipping side to side.
“I know, but I love hearing you tell it.”
That was all the invitation Lynlee needed. “I drew ponies with Parker, and he has freckles just like us, and he said he can come to my birthday party ‘cause he’s not goin’ anywhere!”
“Who’s Parker?”
“He’s the Best to Friend! He likes horses and we built a huge block tower. Like taller than me!”
Sutton felt a rush of relief wash over her as she watched Lynlee chatter away, eyes bright and hands waving wildly.
Day one and her daughter had found a friend, who drew, built block towers and liked horses. It was a small thing, but to Sutton, it felt enormous. It was proof that she hadn’t made the wrong decision in coming here.
“And my teacher, Miss Molly,” Lynlee went on, lowering her voice as though sharing something important. “She smells like old crayons sometimes and sings the ABCs really fast and kina’ loud. But that’s just a fact,” she added seriously. “Not gossip.”
Sutton bit back a smile. “Thank you for the clarification.”
“And guess what?” Lynlee rolled up on her toes, her eyes bright enough to outshine the string lights above them. “We gots to play pony today and Miss Molly said my neigh was perfect.”
She proudly demonstrated with a soft little chortle.
“I believe it,” Sutton whispered. “I absolutely do.”
“Next,” the barista called and Sutton and Lynlee stepped up to the counter.
A woman with a sleeve tattoo of a peony leaned against the counter.
Jet-black hair peeked from the back of a scuffed ballcap that read Coffee Bean Whisperer.
A pin was stuck to a black tank top that clung to her willowy frame, declaring her name was Jo.
The edges of her ripped black jeans frayed over red combat boots that had clearly seen better days.
She looked like a mix of coffee-shop rebel and biker-gang charisma.
“What can I get you?” Jo asked.
“A white chocolate mocha.”
Jo didn't write it down. Didn't even look up. Just studied Sutton for one long, unhurried second the way a doctor studies an X-ray.
"Aged Tuscan roast," she said. "Single origin, bright finish. No sugar."
Sutton blinked. "I just said white chocolate—"
"You want white chocolate, go to Starbucks. I don't take orders, I read people. You'll thank me in about four minutes."
"That's—not how coffee shops work," she said.
"This one does." Jo leaned over the counter to look at Lynlee. "How about you, Half Caf?"
Lynlee pressed her sweaty little hands on the display case that housed all kinds of bakery goodies, her nose fogging up the glass with every breath.
“Can I haves a slice of that?” Lynlee pointed.
“The banana nut bread or pumpkin bread?” Jo asked.
Her mini-food critic poked her tongue out the side of her mouth, deep in thought. After much consideration, she exclaimed, “I wants pumpkin, cause orange is my favorite color.”
“Pumpkin it is.”
“I’m Lynlee and you’re Jo.”
Jo looked at Sutton, brow raised. “She can read?”
“I can spells too so trying to spells out dirty words will still cost you a dollar.”
“Good to know.” Jo looked genuinely unsettled, which Sutton suspected didn't happen often. “I’ll bring your order to your table when it’s done.”
Sutton handed over a twenty. When Jo passed back her change, Lynlee slipped a piece of construction paper onto the counter like she was presenting evidence to a very important judge.
“What’s this?” Jo asked.
“It two horsies.”
Sutton smiled despite herself. Horses were her emotional support animal.
“Two horses? Wow!”
“Uh-huh!” She presented a second drawing. “These are dragons. Parker says my dragons are the bestest dragons ever in the whole wide world!”
“I’ll bet they are. Do they have names?”
“Sparkleflame and Smiles, cause she smiles insteads of growling.”
“Well, these deserve to go up with the other art.” Jo pointed to a wall covered in pieces of art from local artists. “Come on.”
Before Sutton could even protest, Jo effortlessly hopped over the counter like a pro vaulter and Lynlee’s mouth fell open. She looked up at Jo like she had just witnessed an Iron-Man-level feat of strength and bravery.
Jo walked over to the wall, Lynlee following her in a near trance, feet barely touching the ground.
After handing Lynlee a piece of tape, Jo hoisted her up on her hip and steadied the first picture with her free hand.
Lynlee concentrated hard, tongue poking out again, as she pressed the tape into place. They did the same to the second one.
“Perfect.” Jo set Lynlee back on the ground. “I bet they’ll sell by the end of day.”
Lynlee wrapped her arms around Jo’s legs and swayed back and forth, all instinctive affection and zero hesitation.
Jo froze, then gave an awkward pat to Lynlee’s head like she was unsure what the appropriate protocol was for spontaneous child affection in a public space.
Tattooed, unbothered by nothing, and apparently allergic to being hugged by a four-year-old.
“Um, how about we have a secret handshake instead,” Jo said.
“What’s that?”
Jo launched into creating their own handshake, and said, “Tap-tap, spin, pinkie lock, and a dramatic double clap.” It took three tries but eventually Lynlee mastered it. “Now, point at me with two fingers, like you’re watching me.”
“How’s this?” Lynlee pointed to her own eyes, then Jo’s.
“Put it together. Tap-tap, spin, pinkie lock, a dramatic double clap, and point. Now, you say “Ride or die.” And I say, “No prisoners.””
“Ride or die,” Lynlee said proudly.
“No prisoners.”
“Will you come to my birfday party?” Lynlee asked.
“Um, sure?” Jo said, clearly uncertain what the right answer was but too decent to say no.
One four-year-old, zero effort, and Bridlewood's most terrifying barista had just RSVP'd to a pony party. Sutton made a mental note: use Lynlee for all future negotiations.
Sutton placed a gentle hand on top of her daughter’s head. “Why don’t we go sit down and let Jo get back to work.”
“See ya, kiddo.”
Lynlee waved a big, enthusiastic goodbye as they took their seats in a booth and glanced out the window, which opened up out onto Main Street.
Downtown Bridlewood was a mix of old charm and small-town grit.
Brick storefronts with faded signs lined narrow streets, colorful awnings adding splashes of life.
The scent of fresh bread drifted from the corner bakery, and string lights crisscrossed above, twinkling even in the afternoon, giving the thoroughfare a softness that made the town feel like it had been waiting for her.
Oh, how she hoped that were true. Her daughter’s world was counting on it.
Sutton had spent a week last summer in Bridlewood, quietly trying to get a sense of what kind of man Lynlee’s birth dad was.
With the little sleuthing she’d done, she’d only learned that he was well-respected around town for his Doctor Dolittle talents and he was one of the legendary Callahan brothers.
“Sutton?” someone said from behind, her voice full of surprise and uncertainty.
Sutton turned. The woman had her long blonde hair pulled into a ponytail and wore a flowered sundress and pink cowgirl boots that looked like they belonged walking down Broadway in Nashville.
Sutton blinked, piecing it together. It was the woman who had been so kind to her last summer when Sutton had visited the town. A real smile bloomed. “Vivi?”
Vivi’s blue eyes sparkled as recognition hit. “I knew it was you!”
“Oh my god,” Sutton said, a small laugh escaping before she could stop it. “You’re still here.”
“And it looks like you came back. Just visiting again?”
Sutton glanced down at the table, then up again. “We just moved to Bridlewood last weekend.”
“I’m Lynlee.”
“I remember. You played with my necklace,” Vivi said, tugging gently on Lynlee’s hair bow. “I’m Vivi.”
“Wants to come to my birfday party? Parker’s coming cause he’s got nowhere else to go. And Jo’s coming and did you see my artwork?”
Vivi crouched slightly to meet her at eye level. “What a beautiful picture.”
“You can buy it if you wants. Jo said my art will sells by the end of the day.”
“I bet it will. As for the party, I’d love to come,” Vivi said.
Lynlee clapped her hands with excitement. “Yay! Justs so yous know, it’s a horse party but you don’ts have to bring your horse to come.”
“I love horses.”
“Me too.”
“So, you’re here to stay?” Sutton asked when Vivi straightened.
“It’s my forever home. I fell in love here,” Vivi said softly. She extended her left hand and Sutton looked down, catching the glint of an elegant engagement ring.
“Wow,” she breathed. “It’s gorgeous. Now I get why you stayed. Looks like you found that happiness you were chasing.”
Vivi smiled, and it was as bright as her diamond. “You know, you’ll have to bring Lynlee over sometime. We can do barbecue.”
Sutton felt her chest tighten. She didn’t mind lying to a man she didn’t know. But Vivi? The woman’s openness made her feel guilty. Especially with Colter now in the picture. She wanted to be honest, wanted to tell Vivi the truth, but for now, she nodded. “You don’t have to do that.”
“Us city girls have to stick together.”
“Do yous have a pool?” Lynlee asked.
“We sure do,” Vivi said. “And it’s heated.”
Lynlee rubbed her hands together. “I love pools almost as much as I like horses.”
“Well, we have some of those too.”
Lynlee’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. “Real ones or stuffed ones?”
“Real ones.”
“Did you hears that Mommy? She’s got real ones! And a pool! Can I ride your horsey and swim?”
“Anytime. That is if your mom says it’s okay.”
Sutton was about to say Vivi didn’t have to do that when the café door swung open.
She froze for a second, trying not to breathe too loud or look too obvious. Her hands gripped the arms on her chair like it was a lifeline. She prayed that the corner booth was enough camouflage so as not to be seen.
Camouflage. In a coffee shop with three customers and a wall of construction-paper horses. She turned her chair slightly so her back was to the café. She was really committing to this.
“Mister Colter!” Lynlee called, waving him over and Sutton sank lower in her chair.
In the reflection of the window, she could see Colter’s mossy-green eyes sweep the room, landing on Lynlee with a small smile.
Then they flicked toward Sutton. And Sutton felt it—like a spark had caught fire just from a single glance.
Heat pooled in her chest and there was this unfamiliar pull that made her cheeks warm—not to mention other parts going damp.
Colter moseyed on over then crouched slightly to meet Lynlee’s eye level. “Hey there, Princess.”
“Colter.” Her daughter jumped up and threw herself into his arms. “I’m having a birfday party. A pony one. Want to come?”
Sutton glared at him, begging him to say no. She wanted to get to know him, but on her terms, her ground, her timing.
He tapped Lynlee on the head. “You bet I do.”
Sutton exhaled quietly, trying not to show the flutter of nerves—and regret—building inside her. This was going to get more complicated than she anticipated. She could feel it.
“You two know each other?” Vivi asked, eyes bouncing back and forth.
“She’s my new vet tech,” he said at the same time Sutton said, “I’m his intern.”
“Sutton helped me deliver a pony today,” he clarified.
Lynlee gave a chortle of a horse then neighed.
“Help is a strong word,” Sutton said.
“You got placenta on you, didn’t you?” he asked. “Take the win.”
To her utter annoyance, she smiled as if he’d just said she was the prettiest lady in the room.
“She was totally graceful about it. No screaming, no running for the hills.”
Sutton rolled her eyes, trying to hide the twitch of a smile. “Oh, yes. I was practically a professional. You know, if grace under grossness were a competition, I’d have a trophy.”
Vivi looked between the two of them, then smiled. “I was just telling Sutton about the barbecue at the ranch next Saturday.”
His gaze slowly met hers, and there was a look there that she couldn’t decipher. Good? Bad? Hell if she knew. All that mattered was that it irritated her.
“You guys should come,” he said making sure to look at Lynlee when he offered the invite.
“Can we mommy?”
Sutton gave him a hard look. “I’ll think about it.”
“No thinking in these parts. Someone invited you to dinner, you say “What can I bring,” he said.
“What can I bring?” she deadpanned.
“Cantaloupes,” Colter said, and she nearly hit him. How was she ever going to be able to look at a fruit again without her thighs quivering?
Instead, she laughed and hated herself for it. Before she could tell him to fuck off, he was gone and the coffee shop noise filled back in around her like nothing had happened.
Lynlee was already asking Jo something about the horses on the wall, and Sutton sat for just a moment with her hands around her cup, the warmth of it the only thing that felt uncomplicated.
She did the math without meaning to—the way she always did when nobody was watching.
Rent. Groceries. The birthday party Lynlee was already planning like it was a state dinner.
The final exam for her vet tech licensing, which she was studying for at midnight when Lynlee was asleep.
The medical degree that kept moving further and further down the list.
She pressed her thumb into the seam of the coffee cup and told herself the plan was still working. It was. It was all still working. She just needed to stop sitting in coffee shops doing math and start believing it.