She exchanged glances with Reva, who raised her eyebrows in her direction. Jason was certainly impulsive. After years of dating Charlie Grace, he suddenly, and without any warning, proposed to her. And in public.
Of course, Charlie Grace realized they were not a good match and soon broke off the relationship.
“He’s engaged?” Reva asked Oma, trying to confirm what she’d heard.
“That’s right.” Oma grunted, shifting to find a more comfortable stance. “Took long enough, but my Jason finally found a woman smart enough to snatch him up.” A hint of wistfulness flickered across her face as she added, “Could’ve been Charlie Grace, but I guess some things aren’t meant to be.”
“Well, that’s wonderful!” Betty said, though her voice wobbled as she tried to keep herself upright.
Dorothy, still struggling to hold her half-squat, let out a breath. “Well, bless her heart. Jason’s always been…a lot.”
Oma beamed, oblivious. “She’s an accountant—smart, capable, and lucky to have him. They met at his bookstore. They share a love of bird watching. And she adores his cat, Agatha Christie.”
Betty and Dorothy exchanged a knowing glance but nodded in agreement, tucking away the truth for the sake of their friend.
Just then, the side doors burst open, and Charlie Grace came running in, her hair windblown, her cheeks flushed like she had sprinted from the ranch.
“Sorry I’m late!” she announced, dropping onto a mat near Lila and Reva.
Lizzy beamed. “Welcome, Charlie Grace! We’re just moving into Pigeon Pose.”
Charlie Grace blinked. “Yeah, I’ll be skipping that.”
Reva, who had given up entirely and was now just sitting on her mat, raised a brow. “What’s got you so flustered?”
Charlie Grace grinned. “I have news.” She paused dramatically, looking around at the group. “Treasure Pickers is coming to the ranch to film an episode.”
For a second, there was silence. Then the Knit Wits exploded.
Betty gasped. “On your ranch? A real TV show?”
Dorothy clutched her chest. “This is the biggest thing to happen in Thunder Mountain since they remodeled the bakery!”
Oma nodded sagely. “I’ve watched that show. They seem to make a big fuss over nothing. TV folks love to overdramatize things.”
Charlie Grace quickly nodded. “I’m counting on it. But I’m getting paid handsomely, no matter what they find.”
Betty wiped her forehead with her forearm. “Well, as long as it’s not bad news—like the IRS showing up or something.”
Charlie Grace laughed. “Nope, just a reality show invading my barn.”
Lizzy, who had been watching the exchange with wide eyes, suddenly clapped her hands. “Ladies! Let’s focus! Warrior Pose!”
Reva groaned as she pushed herself off the mat. “I’d rather battle a real warrior than do this again.”
Charlie Grace just laughed, stretching her arms as if she had no intention of actually participating.
Reva sighed. Maybe yoga wasn’t so bad after all—especially when it came with a front-row seat to good gossip. For once, Nicola Cavendish had missed the scoop, and that alone made enduring downward dog almost worth it.
17
Lila pulled her coat tighter around her as she climbed the familiar path, her boots crunching softly over the dusting of snow that had settled overnight. The air was crisp, the kind that burned her lungs just enough to remind her she was alive, that she was still here. The trees stood tall and silent, their bare branches reaching toward a pale winter sky streaked with the last traces of sunrise.
It had been too long since she’d made this trek, too long since she’d come to talk to Aaron.
At the top, she found her usual spot—a flat rock that overlooked the valley, the town of Thunder Mountain nestled in the distance. She exhaled, watching the vapor of her breath disappear into the cold air.
“Hey, you,” she said softly, brushing away a thin layer of snow before sitting down. “Sorry I haven’t been by in a while. Life just…got away from me.”
