“Jill,” I called out. I glanced at her over my shoulder and nodded at Gabe. “Do you mind fixing another coff
ee and grabbing another muffin for me?”
A sad smile spread across her face. “Of course.”
Grabbing the extra coffee and muffin, I took it all outside. Gabe was still sitting on the bench, so I set his coffee and muffin down beside him. With a heavy sigh, he looked at it and then up at me. “You are a miracle, son.”
Chapter Two
Layla
When I decided to rent the house in Friendship, I knew it was going to be in the middle of nowhere, but I didn’t realize how far away it was from the main town. There was a dusting of snow on the ground, and it terrified me to drive on it. As long as I was in my house before the snowstorm hit tonight, I’d be fine. It wasn’t that I was scared of how people would drive around me, it was the fact that I was afraid for them given the way I drove in the snow. I’d end up in a ditch somewhere, stranded in the freezing cold.
I was used to the bustling streets of big cities. I’d lived in New York for a while during college and then moved back to my hometown of Charleston, South Carolina. I already missed the smell of the ocean and the feeling of the warm breeze dancing around me. Moving to a place as desolate as Friendship really put in perspective how sad my life had become. Luckily, in a small town, there was a ninety-nine percent chance no one would know who I was.
I pulled into the driveway and looked up at the house. The place was small, just three bedrooms and two baths, with dark blue siding and a burgundy front door. It wasn’t what I was used to, but it was quaint and by the river with not a neighbor in sight. All I wanted was some peace and quiet to rejuvenate my mind. My career depended on it.
A woman walked out of the house, dressed in a navy pantsuit with her brown hair in a bun. She waved as I got out of the car. “Good afternoon, Ms. Aberdeen. I’m so glad you made it safely.”
“Me too,” I said with a laugh. I walked toward her and held out my hand. “You must be Jane?”
She nodded and shook my hand. “I am. I wanted to welcome you to Friendship and make sure you got settled before I leave. My husband and I are spending the holidays in Bermuda. We wanted a change of scenery this year.”
“Nice. It’s amazing down there. You’ll love it.” I’d been a couple of times over the years.
Jane held up the keys and dangled them in the air. “Here are the house keys.” She pointed at the second key. “This one opens the back door.”
“Thanks,” I said, taking them from her. “How is cell service around here?”
She waved me off. “You’re not that far from everything. Cell service can be pretty spotty out here though. The closest supermarket is fifteen minutes away, and so is our downtown square. We have tons of shops and an amazing bakery. We’re also having a tree lighting tomorrow night. Might be a good way for you to meet some of the locals.”
It sounded exciting, but I didn’t know if I was ready to be around the public. “I’ll think about it. I still need to get settled in.”
We walked into the house, and it smelled like cinnamon apples. I breathed it in and smiled. It made me feel like I was at my cabin in the Appalachian Mountains. Unfortunately, I had to sell it when my business started to tank. I followed Jane into the living room, and there was an amazing view of the river. The furniture was made of brown leather, and the whole place had a warm, yet rustic feel.
“Does everything look okay?” Jane asked.
“Yes,” I said, turning to face her. “This house is amazing.”
A wide grin spread across her face. “Great. I hope you enjoy it here. Friendship is an amazing little town. I’ve lived here all my life.”
I shook her hand again. “Thanks, Jane. I’m sure I’ll love it here as long as I have cell service. Have fun in Bermuda.”
“Oh, I will. Take care of yourself, Ms. Aberdeen.”
She walked out, and I stood at the door, breathing in the clean, frosty air. The sun shone across the snow, making it glitter and shine. It was breathtaking.
Once Jane was gone, I brought in my suitcases and unpacked. Since I had no food in the refrigerator, I left to find a grocery store. Jane was right, the cell phone service wasn’t that great, so I drove around and finally got good reception when I reached downtown Friendship. It was like I stepped into a Hallmark movie. I parked on the street and got out. The wind had picked up, so I buttoned my jacket. I definitely wasn’t used to the cold.
The general store was up ahead, so I decided to check it out. I always loved the ones in the mountains back home. It was a place you were for sure going to run into some nice people. That was what I loved about small towns. I walked in and looked around at all the provisions. I grabbed a few jars of homemade apple butter and pickled vegetables. My grandmother used to make them both on her own until she passed away. My favorite was her pickled beets.
Arms full of goodies, I walked up to the front and set them on the counter. The man at the register looked at me, his face wrinkled with age and his snow-white hair combed over. I smiled, only he didn’t smile back. In fact, he looked uninterested in talking to me at all. “It’s cold out there today, isn’t it?” I said, hoping to strike up a conversation.
He snorted. “It’s December. What’d you expect?”
There were other people in the store, staring at me, clearly not welcoming either. Was it my Southern accent? It was obvious I was an outsider. Clearing my throat, I paid for my things and hurried out of the store, only to run right into someone.
“Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry,” I shrieked. The man had fallen to his knees, and I grabbed his arm to help him up. “Please forgive me. I came out of the store too fast.”