Her face falls. “Jealousy.” She swipes at the tears now falling freely. “No matter how many times I showed up at The Bait Shop or invited Nate to lunch, he wouldn’t ask me out. It was subconscious, but if everyone else was as miserable as me, maybe I’d feel less like a failure.”
“I’m not ready to forgive just yet. But I’m willing to move past it as long as you stop all this.”
I stand, heading for the door, when she calls out to me. “Hallie? Thank you. For not being as cruel as we both know I deserved.”
“You can thank Brooke. She reminded me that holding grudges is exhausting.”
Outside, the winter air hits me sharp and clean. I lean against the brick exterior of The Tea Spot, the rough stone catching on my jacket as I pull out my phone. Down the street, The Kindly Crumb’s parking lot is full with the morning rush, still standing despite everything Liz tried to tear down. I text Colt.
Me: Made peace with Liz. Long story. Involves embezzlement and business deals.
Colt: That’s my girl. Dinner tonight? Need to hear it all.
Me: It’s a date, Cowboy.
Colt: Cupcake, every night with you is a date. I’m just making it official.
I’m adjusting my seatbelt when Brooke’s text comes, a grin I can’t suppress lighting me up from the inside.
Brooke: Did you survive??? Do I need to call my lawyer cousin???
Me: Survived. I’m semi-confident there will be peace.
Brooke: Peace?! With the she-devil herself?! This better be good. Bringing wine in five.
Me: Make it sweet tea. I’m having dinner with Colt later.
Brooke: Can I be the best aunt in the world to your cute little blonde babies yet?
Me: BROOKE.
Brooke: That’s not a no.
Epilogue
Colt
Six Months Later
The late May sun beats down on my shoulders as I lean against the pasture fence, watching Maisie’s twins chase each other through the tall grass. Six months old now, they’re all I hoped they’d be. Strong, healthy, full of spirit.
The blue roan filly inherited her mama’s coloring and temperament, while the bay colt got his sire’s build and his grandmother’s fire. We named them Noel and Holly, a nod to the Christmas season when everything in my life changed.
“They’re getting big.” Hallie appears at my side with two bottles of water. As she hands me one, I pull her close, breathing in the vanilla scent that always clings to her.
“Yep. Joel thinks Noel’s gonna be a champion. Got that same elegant gait of Maisie’s.” This operation couldn’t run without our ranch manager.
Hallie leans into me, fitting perfectly against my side as if she was custom made for the spot. “And Holly?”
“Holly’s gonna be trouble. Just like another girl I know.” I drop a kiss on top of my girl’s strawberry-blonde hair, grinning when she swats my chest.
The twins race toward the far end of the pasture, where Maisie grazes peacefully. The birth had been touch and go. Joel and I spent eighteen hours in that barn, with the vet on standby. But Hallie had been there the whole time, bringing coffee and cookies for Maisie, sitting with me in the quiet moments when I was too anxious to do anything but wait.
When Noel finally came, slick and gangly and perfect, I’d looked over at Hallie with tears in my eyes. And when Holly followed twenty minutes later, smaller but just as fierce, Hallie had been the one to hand me a towel, her own eyes wet.
“You thinking about that night?” she asks now, like she can read my mind. Hell, maybe she can. We’ve gotten pretty good at that over the last six months.
“Yeah. Scary as hell, but worth every second.” I turn to face her fully, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “You know what else was worth it?”
