Page 69 of Crossroads

Everybody cheered and said hello like this was a PTA meeting or something, and I settled into my chair, positioning my leg for an easier angle. Kiera leaned into me, and the ache eased.

“I own and operate High Country Bed and Breakfast, and am, of course, the innkeeper, who sometimes sleeps.” Everybody laughed. “Keely is our chef, head cook, head pastry chef, and pretty much everything rolled into an amazing bundle.”

People clapped, and Kiera sat up straighter.

“We are here to announce that we will be having a celebration soon, right on our property, and just for the town.”

“What is it about?” an unfamiliar voice asked.

“Keely is coming into the business as a partner. We will now be co-owners of the bed and breakfast, and that means we are going to party.”

Everybody cheered, and I stood up and used my fingers to whistle loudly. Finnian did the same, his phone in his hand as he recorded the whole thing—presumably for the girls who were with their grandparents.

“We really wanted to thank everybody for being here, and for seriously helping me figure out how to do this whole thing when I first started. Keely has been a godsend, and well, I’m just so grateful we can be partners in this.” She wrapped her arm around Keely’s waist, and the two of them grinned at each other. Keely moved forward and tapped the mic.

“I’m terrible at this whole public speaking thing, but Ashford Creek has truly welcomed me to this town. And I know you’ve done it for a few of us.” She winked over at me and Kiera. “And well, I’m just so happy to be here. And please come to our event, where you’ll be able to see all the details on the flyer that we hand out, and it’ll be on the town website and the bed and breakfast website. I promise I will have the cupcakes you all desire.”

“And I’m bringing the muffins!” Bronwyn called out, and Keely held up both thumbs and winked.

Bronwyn had bought the bakery from Fiona a little while ago, and the Sweet & Tart Bakery was open for business and apparently doing damn good.

I had missed so much when I had been riding in the mountains, trying not to think about healing or what a future could be. This town was slowly thriving. And perhaps it was because we didn’t have to watch dark corners for our father to show up at any moment. But we were making it work.

Keely and Promise went to sit down, and Kellan slipped to the side, forcing his teenagers to actually sit together, and made way for the girls to sit next to him.

“Good job. Does this mean that you’re going to need some part-time help?” he asked.

“Are you trying to push your kids off on me again?” Promise asked.

They were all in the row in front of us, and I couldn’t help but listen.

“Please. I beg you.”

“Anything for you, Miss Promise,” Beau crooned, and I pressed my lips together since the kid was terrible at flirting.

Promise did the one thing sure to hurt the teenage boy’s ego. She leaned over and patted him on the head. “Lucas and Olivia have already asked if I need any help for this event, so you should join in. You too, Adam.” She shook her head. “Purely on a volunteer standpoint.”

“There will be cupcakes. Extra ones just for you,” Keely promised.

I tried not to laugh at the crestfallen look on Beau’s face, but he rolled his shoulders back and looked pleased with the development.

While there were more than a few faces I didn’t know in this town hall as the event continued, we were surrounded by the people who had been with our family since the beginning. The Ashfords may have been part of the founding families, but we weren’t the only ones. The Carters had been there, as well as Thatcher’s family, the Bowens. We were all enmeshed in the town, and frankly, I had been hiding from it for too long.

The next phase of business was discussing the Christmas, Hanukkah, and other holiday events occurring in December, and I tuned out, considering it was still months away. After forty-five minutes on that path, my ass hurt from the small seat, and I was grateful when they called an end to all of the volunteering and organizing.

“Thank God we might be out of town,” I mumbled.

Kiera snorted. “Right? I mean, I’m all for volunteering and helping the town, but please don’t make me dress as a snowflake.”

“You would think they would want the kids to be snowflakes,” Elizabeth said as she came up to Kiera and hooked their arms together.

“They apparently want multiple-sized snowflakes. I want nothing to do with it.”

We led the procession out of the town hall, and it took another half hour before we were finally out of the meeting and heading toward Callum’s house. It was a family dinner, and it felt like it had been far too long. Although Briar wouldn’t be there, everybody else would.

I pulled in behind Callum’s truck, and we all piled out of our respective cars and went inside. I had dropped off food earlier, a layered dip that Kiera and I had made together, and I hoped that it would taste good. Callum and Felicity were already there, making out in the kitchen. I clucked my tongue at them, and they broke apart—albeit slowly.

Felicity’s ears pinked, and she cleared her throat before going to the fridge and continuing to take things out.