Page 19 of Crossroads

“Sterling and Finnian?” I asked. There had been two sets of twins in the family, but everybody called the youngest the twins. I wondered what they had called Bodhi and Malcolm. That wasn’t something I would ask.

“Yes. With Finnian being a dad, he’s constantly texting to check in with his co-parent and then texting us. And Sterling was out of state for a long time, and while in school, he would text us. By the way, the younger twins were always ‘the twins’. Bodhi and Malcolm, as the first set of twins, came with their own deeply different personalities, and we called them by their names. I don’t know why we started calling the youngests ‘the twins’. It just happened. Maybe because they were the second set.”

Thankful that she had answered my unasked question, and feeling awkward, I leaned back into the seat, trying to take in the town of Ashford Creek.

Ashford Creek was so named after the creek that split the town itself. There were four main streets, with multiple offshoots and tributaries of driveways, and many streets that led to homes and different properties. There was another creek or maybe even a river to the west that people fished and played in. There was even an outdoor recreation area where you could rent things. I didn’t know what things because I was not an outdoorsy girl, but I had seen it the first few times I had been up here with Briar.

The main street itself held many of the buildings you would think of when you thought small town. A bakery, a bar and grill, a coffee shop, and other things like that. They were either cute and catchy, having to do with what they sold, or mountains.

“Sterling owns The Range,” Teagan said as we drove by what looked to be a nice restaurant. “I’m so proud of him. He saw a need in the community and filled it. We’re heading to Altitude Diner.”

My lips twitched. “So it’s either mountain names or Ashford itself?” I asked, voicing my thoughts.

“We’re nothing if not original. Oh, Felicity did text, so we are meeting at the diner.”

“Who all are we meeting?” I asked, feeling oddly insecure in that moment. I hadn’t been around many people in over a week other than Bodhi, and before that, it was usually around my band, our team, and countless people who seemed to want something from us. It was nice just to be Kiera again.

When I had joined the band, I hadn’t really thought of what would happen if I had made it in. It had just been a hope, a dream. Now people knew my face, my name. They wanted me to sign things, and little girls would come up to me with their drumsticks, asking me to sign them, telling me I was their inspiration. And I knew the headache in the parents’ eyes probably blamed me, versus thanked me.

I didn’t know what to do with fame. I had never expected it. But I was going to have to figure it out soon, especially as my bandmates all began to settle down, leaving me slightly behind.

“Felicity, Elizabeth, and Tess. Tess will probably have her daughter, Wren, with her. She’s three and adorable.”

“You’re going to have to tell me who a couple of those people are,” I said with a laugh.

“True enough. You know Felicity. She’s Callum’s girlfriend, and honestly, my friend. Elizabeth is a local and a friend as well. She’s lived here all her life. Tess is the only one new to town, and I’m grateful for that. The town needs new blood.”

We got out of the SUV after she parked in front of the diner, and I was grateful that nobody gave me a second look. Everybody was moving about their business, either tourists or town members, I couldn’t tell. We inhaled the clean mountain air as we headed into the small diner that had comfy leather seats, white tables, and people milling about with milkshakes, burgers, or just anything that screamed diner food. The waitstaff wore cute outfits, but instead of paper and pen, they all had those digital screens that could take your credit card right there. It was nice to see some things stay the same while other things finally caught up to newer technology.

“Anyway, Felicity is in the corner, so we’re going to go meet her. But she is Felicity Carter of the Carters.”

“I don’t know what that means.”

“As in her brother owns the grill, her dad’s the former fire chief, her mom is on every committee, and her other brother is an NHL goalie.”

I snapped my fingers. “Oh, right. I knew that.”

“Come on. I want you to see meet Elizabeth and the others since it seems like we’re the last ones here.”

We moved forward, and Felicity bounced up and wrapped her arms around me before I could even say anything.

“It’s so good to see you. I’m just so glad that you’re here. And Teagan could abscond with you.”

“Nice word,” Teagan teased as she sank into the booth.

“I’m glad that I’m here too. I’ve been craving a burger. And I have no idea how to make one.”

“Bodhi knows how to make great burgers. You should have just asked him,” Felicity said as if that made total sense.

“I’m Tess, by the way,” a woman with honey brown hair and light brown eyes said as she smiled at me. She had what seemed to be her mini twin on her lap, the little girl playing with some form of fidget toy, all her attention on the bright colors versus me.

“Hi, I’m Kiera. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Oh, I know who you are. I love the band, which I promise I won’t bring up again… I’m the town nanny,” she said dryly, and the woman next to her snorted.

“And I’m Elizabeth,” a gorgeous woman with auburn hair and bright eyes said as she gave me a small wave. She was too far into the booth to shake my hand. “Also, I love that Tess is calling herself the town nanny, but honestly, it’s not far from the truth.”

Confused, I sank into the booth by Felicity, with Teagan on my other side. “What do you mean?” I asked, as I looked down at the full menu of so many options, that my mind whirled.