Chapter 29
CHLOE
The bell rings above the door, announcing me as I walk into Chapters and Crumbs.
I’ve been meaning to come in since I arrived in town but haven’t found the time.
The place is just how I pictured it. It’s cozy and has a welcoming lightness to it.
The scent of freshly ground coffee and sugar wraps around me like a warm hug.
My attention jumps around the room, taking in every detail.
Three wooden bookshelves line the wall to the left as you enter.
They’re stacked with a mix of old and well-read books and crisp new spines.
The sign fixed to the wall above the shelves tells you to take a book to enjoy with your order, and for a moment, I picture myself doing just that.
The counter on the opposite side of the room, with its glass display, is filled with what looks like homemade pastries and cakes.
I’m kicking myself for not having been in before today and taking full advantage of the delicious-looking treats.
At the back of the room, where two oversized armchairs sit, is an exposed brick wall covered in black and white framed photos.
I squint, trying to make out what they’re of before deciding to get a better look before I leave.
A woman with long, flowing chestnut brown hair stands behind the counter, chatting to a customer as she finishes up their order.
I zigzag my way across the room, heading for the display, eyeing up the treats and deciding which one to have as I wait to be served.
Maddie isn’t here yet, so I’ll grab a drink and get myself organized.
Maybe the butterflies that have been fluttering in my stomach all morning will go when I’m settled.
A lot is riding on this meeting and I have no clue what to expect.
When their order is complete, the customer ahead of me picks up their items and turns to leave.
I step up to the counter, still deciding which of the pastries is going to be my mid-morning snack.
They look almost too good to eat. Almost.
“What can I get you?” the woman behind the counter asks, her features soft as she patiently waits for me to answer.
“I’ll have a coffee and one of the blueberry pastries,” I reply, digging my teeth into my bottom lip as I stare longingly at the display case.
“You know, you can have more than one. It’s called free will and having at least two pastries a day is the best use of it.”
I drag my gaze away from the sweet treats and grin at her. “I couldn’t agree more, but my waistline would not thank me for it, so I’ll have to get the other one I’m eyeing up next time.”
The woman busies herself with making my drink before asking, “Are you in town for long?”
I lift a shoulder, unsure how to answer. “Honestly, I don’t know. I was supposed to be leaving on Tuesday, but I’m having a meeting with Maddie from the Hartlands’ ranch about some work.”
The woman raises a brow. “What sort of work do you do?”
“I’m a photographer,” I reply, rocking back on my heels as I puff out my chest.
“That’s so cool. Maybe you and I can chat once Maddie is done with you? I could do with getting some fresh shots done for my website. I’m thinking of branching out into catering as there are a lot of corporate companies moving into the city not far from here.”
I look down at my feet, trying and failing to keep my grin at bay. “I’d really like that. You’ve got a great place here.”
If everything goes to plan, I might get more work in Coldwater than I bargained for.
Wiping her hand on the dish towel tucked into her apron, she holds it out to me and smiles. “Thank you. I’m Autumn.”
I slide my hand into hers, giving it what I hope is a confident shake, but I can’t be sure my hands aren’t a little clammy. “Chloe. It’s nice to meet you.”
“And you too. Do you have somewhere I can follow you?”
Pulling out my phone, I load up my social media and then reel off my new website address.
Autumn notes it down and my phone vibrates with the notification announcing that Chapters and Crumbs has followed me.
I’m about to open up my app and follow her back when the bell above the door rings, announcing another customer.
“Talk of the devil and she will come,” Autumn teases, jutting her chin in the direction behind me and to the person who’s just walked in.
I turn, a ready smile on my face, as my eyes land on Maddie.
“Are you badmouthing me?” Maddie asks, a playful tone to her voice.
My focus jumps between the two as Autumn chuckles. “I’ll leave that up to Wyatt. But no, I was just telling Chloe here that I might have some work for her too.”
Maddie runs a hand through her hair as she comes to a stop beside me. “You two have met then?”
“Just now,” I reply.
“Has Autumn told you that she’s Kade’s cousin?” There’s a hint of mischief in Maddie’s eyes when she asks the question but nothing on her face to give away that she saw Kade and I at dinner on Wednesday.
I clear my throat and stand a little taller. “No, she didn’t mention that.” My voice comes out a little pitchy.
“Oh, you know Kade?” Autumn asks, genuinely curious.
Swallowing around the lump in my throat, I search for the right words. I can’t tell her that he pretended to be my boyfriend, can I? That feels like something Kade should be telling his family himself, if he ever feels the need to. God, what do I even say? She’s going to have questions either way.
Thankfully, Maddie comes to my rescue, looping her arm through mine as she turns me toward the couch by the window. “Chloe and I have lots to discuss, so maybe you can fill her in on all of Kade’s bad habits later.”
Autumn grins, arranging two huge coffee cups onto a tray along with my pastry before replying, “I can’t wait. I hope you’ve not got anything else planned.”
Maddie pulls me onto the soft cushions of the couch as she falls onto them. “The juicy details about you and Kade can wait; right now, we have exciting business to discuss.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I reply, jerking my chin as I refocus my attention.
Pulling my laptop from my bag, I load it up as Autumn sets the tray of drinks and pastries down on the low coffee table in front of us, brushing Maddie off when she goes to pay.
“These are on me.”
I busy myself with pulling up the website that I made the other day.
I’ve loaded it with pictures I’ve taken back in Seattle from my fashion days as well as most of the ones I’ve taken during my time at Coldwater.
Thankfully it wasn’t difficult enough for me to have to hire it out, but if I do end up freelancing, it can be something I’ll invest in.
“Thank you for making the time to meet with me. I know that you’re technically on vacation, so it’s appreciated,” Maddie says.
“Of course, it’s my pleasure.” I pull in a breath, centering myself before continuing, “Why don’t you tell me what you’re looking for and we can go from there?”
Maddie sets down her coffee mug and leans back into the couch cushions as she turns to face me.
“Like I said when we spoke the other day, I need someone to take some new shots for the ranch. Essentially, that will cover our website, brochures and any advertisements we do online. If you’re looking for some more long-term work, our usual wedding photographer, Lisa, is going on maternity leave soon for a full year and I’ve not had much luck finding someone.
Weddings are one of our biggest forms of revenue and we average around thirty a year, so I’ll need a photographer to cover that while she’s off. ”
I want to say yes, to tell her whatever it is she needs to hear, because this could be life-changing, but I also don’t want to set myself up for failure.
Thinking over my next words carefully, I reply, “I’ll be honest with you. My expertise lies in fashion. For the past five years I worked at Glow, the magazine, and while I’m comfortable photographing anything and everything, it’s not something I normally do.”
Maddie nods reassuringly. “You have some pictures I can look at now? Ones that will show your range?”
I turn my laptop toward her and we fall quiet as she scrolls through the images. Those butterflies from earlier are back in full force and I take a sip of my coffee, more to give myself something to do than anything.
It feels like an eternity before she speaks.
“These are all so good, Chloe. I might be jumping the gun, but I’d love to bring you on board.
” Elation washes over me from head to toe, but I bite my tongue to hold it back as Maddie continues, “I can offer eight hundred dollars per shoot day for the ranch photos as we operate on a day rate and then we offer Lisa one thousand and two hundred dollars per wedding. Would that work for you?”
Counting back from five before replying, I try to calm the excitement and glee threatening to burst from me. “Yeah. That works for me. I’ll have a few things to figure out before I can confirm, but would it be okay to let you know by Tuesday?”
I’d have to figure out things back in Seattle, as well as somewhere to stay here, and saying yes without a plan feels a little too reckless for me.
It’s far too soon to even think about moving in with Kade, if I do decide to stay, given we barely know each other and as much as I love the cabin on the Hartlands’ ranch, I can’t imagine that Maddie will give up potential income for me to stay there.
As if she’s reading my thoughts, Maddie replies, “Of course, I know this will be a huge change, so take as much time as you need. In terms of accommodation, we do have it at the ranch, but I don’t think staying with a bunch of ranch hands is what you’d have in mind, so I would suggest talking to Autumn.
She has a place upstairs that she rents out occasionally and we can loan you a truck if you don’t have your own vehicle so you can get out to the ranch. ”
I follow her gaze to where Autumn is standing behind the counter cleaning the coffee machine. “Thank you. I’ll think everything over and work out the logistics and make sure to give you a final decision by Tuesday.”
With a quick jerk of her head, Maddie stands, holding a hand out to me. “I hope you say yes. It’ll be great fun having you on board, I can tell.”
Staying in Coldwater feels like a no-brainer, but at the back of my mind I still have this niggling sense of doubt.
What if I don’t end up liking it here because it loses its vacation shine?
What if I stay and Kade and I don’t work out?
Am I really ready to give up my apartment and the comfort I’ve built for myself these past seven years in Seattle, even if I have very little waiting for me there?
Those are the questions that plague my mind as I talk to Autumn about what she’d like photographed.
When I leave Chapters and Crumbs and browse the stores on Main Street, the questions are still lingering.
The more I think about it, the more it starts to feel like this is my chance for a fresh start. To do something all for me.