Stop thinking about him,she scolded herself.
She grabbed her stuff and headed out to her car. It was snowing lightly, masking the transition of the gravel lot into the grassy field and making the whole thing look soft and pretty, almost like Trinity Falls was trying to help her remember that she was happy to be home.
As a child, she’d never imagined wanting to see the world outside this sweet little town. But when her brother and Jensen and so many others turned to the military or went away to college, or both, it was hard not to wonder if having an adventure away from home was the right thing to do.
For the most part, her time away had given her context for how much she loved it here, and how special the community was.
Willow got into the car, which somehow seemed even colder than it was outside.
She heard her mother’s voice in her head, telling her to be nice to the old girl and warm her up for at least five minutes, so she sat there with her teeth chattering andthe engine rumbling for three full minutes before giving up and pulling out.
The homes at the north end of town were larger—big stone colonials and Victorians on more spacious pieces of property. As she drew closer to the village, the houses started to get a little closer together. Christmas lights twinkled all over town, the soft light reflecting in the snow.
She couldn’t help thinking back to the days when Mom bundled them up and took them out to drive around and see the Christmas lights before bed. She and Ransom would sit in the back, gazing out at the beautiful decorations. She could picture her brother now, back when his cheeks were soft and rounded, the warm glow of the streetlamps lighting up his face.
She couldn’t help wondering if he took Travis and Mae out to see those same lights. Hopefully, she could offer to do it with him one of these days.
She pulled into town and found a parking spot in the lot by the library. Getting out, she spotted her friends being seated at a table in the front window ofBowl of Joy. They were smiling and chatting, and she got a warm feeling in her chest at the reminder that she still belonged here.
“Willow,”Mal called out happily when she stepped into the fragrant warmth of the restaurant.
Colorful paintings and hangings brightened the walls, and each table had a pretty little candle glowing at its center.
“Hi, guys,” Willow said, shrugging off her coat andhanging it on the rack before sliding into the remaining empty seat.
“Willow, this is Ana,” Mal said, indicating the pretty dark-haired girl across from her. “She and her mom run the dress shop on Ambler.”
“Hey, Ana,” Willow said. “It’s nice to meet you. I hear great things about your shop.”
“Thank you,” Ana said with a friendly smile. “We love it here. The town has been good to us.”
Mei, the owner of the restaurant, stopped over to take their orders. It was clear that she knew the other three women well. Willow wondered if they came here often. The group decided to order a couple of different dishes and share it all family-style.
“Does everyone feel ready for Saturday?” Ana asked, leaning in.
“We got a lot done today,” Mal said. “My booth will be fine, and I helped a bit with the trains.”
“I was on general crew,” Valerie said, shrugging her shoulders delicately. “I think we have everything set up pretty nicely.”
It was hard for Willow to imagine Valerie setting up chairs or moving booths around. Valerie had always been incredibly elegant. Growing up in a farming village like Trinity Falls, the height of fashion for most girls was well-fitting jeans, warm sweaters, and maybe a pretty dress for church.
But Valerie had always been a fan of sleek black outfits that would have been more at home on the runway or a Manhattan street than out here in the sticks. When Willow heard that Valerie had opened aboutique jewelry store here in town rather than moving to Paris or something after high school, she had been stunned.
But this week she had seen the shop.
“I walked past your shop the other day,” she told Valerie. “The display is gorgeous. Did you do it yourself?”
“Visit anytime,” Valerie said, nodding. “It’s on the busy side this time of year, but I can show you around.”
“It wouldn’t be so busy if you opened more hours,” Mal scolded Valerie lightly.
“No way,” Valerie said with her signature sniff. “I would have to hire someone, and I don’t want anyone else in there.”
“She refuses to upsell,” Mal said to Willow, shaking her head.
“The whole point is the right piece for the right person,” Valerie said, not seeming to care at all what her friend thought of her business practices. “If you’re selling trinkets and you can push a little extra merchandise, fine. But I’m helping people make once-in-a-lifetime purchases. The key is to get it right, and that means being there myself.”
Willow smiled at Valerie’s passion for her work. It was nice to think that her sophisticated friend was so dedicated to her customers.
