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“I heard there’s a new coffee shop up at the lodge,” Kinley suggests.
I hold up the certificates. “The spa opens in an hour.”
“Then let’s go!” Aurora declares.
For a brief moment, it feels like we’re actually sisters. Though we’re all only half awake, the prospect of a full day of pampering is enough to make us giddy and giggling as Kinley drives to the lodge at the top of the highest point in town.
Black Bear Coffee—a coffee shop I don’t remember from three years ago—is attached to the side of the cedar log lodge. Its artistic sign, complete with a cartoon bear holding a steamy cup of Joe, sits beside a sign forMountain Top Spa. Seems the little town I was convinced was dying a slow death has found new life. If only I could find a way to buy that theater. But I’m not making anything beyond tips right now. Thank god my waitressing skills are a league above Aurora’s, or I’d be completely broke.
We pile out of the SUV and rush for the door.
For several minutes, the three of us sit at a round table and sip our precious nectar of the gods. The warmth of the coffee floods my veins, helping to clear away the grogginess.
“What’s all included in our spa day?” Aurora is the first to speak post-coffee consumption.
I study the gift certificates, but there’s no clue beyondthe all-day pampering spa experience. “I guess we’ll find out.”
Kinley stares at me in that uncomfortable way that makes me squirmy. “You have spa days all the time, don’t you? I imagine as a busy actress you need the pampering and skin care.” She doesn’t sound as bitchy as her words would suggest. There’s a challenging twinkle in her eye though.
I consider lying. Again. But that really hasn’t done much for me. Besides, I’m not returning to California. Might as well rip the Band-aid off now. “My agent fired me. I don’t have any roles coming up.”
“I thought you were playing the lead—”
I sputter a laugh and almost choke on my mocha. “The only lead role I’ve played in the last two years is for a hemorrhoid commercial.”
“No!” Aurora gasps, cupping her mouth with both hands.
“It’s true.”
“I have to see this.” Kinley fishes out her phone and her fingers immediately start to fly.
“You won’t find—”
The familiar jingle echoes in the mostly empty coffee shop, and I cringe. I cover my face with my hands and sneak peeks at the terrible commercial as my sisters watch with rapture. Their mouths hang open through all sixty seconds—thanks Kin for finding the long version…
When it ends, there’s an awkward silence, followed by a burst of obnoxious laughter. Frombothof them.
“Guys, come on! It’s notthatfunny.”
Aurora starts laughing so hard she squeaks and coffee comes out her nose. Which makes Kinley laugh so hard she doubles over and falls out of her seat. At this point, it’s impossible not to join in the giggle fit. Several annoyed customers stare us down, but each time one of us tries to stop laughing, it backfires and we all laugh harder.
My sides hurt and tears are streaming down my cheeks when it’s over. I wipe away the moisture, feeling oddly…good.
“Did we just act like sisters who actually like each other?” I ask in a conspiratorial whisper.
“I think we did,” Kinley says.
“Since we’re acting like sisters who like and support each other,” Aurora says, tracing circles on the table with her finger, “I have a confession. I got fired for knocking over a display shelf of glassware and secretly moved into Grandma Rose’s guest room. She doesn’t know I’m not leaving. Oh, and I think the police chief hates me.”
“You think that’s bad?” I chime in. “My agent fired me when I landed in Anchorage, seconds before I found out Mason was my private pilot. Oh, and she told me I needed to lose weight.”
“Bitch!” Kinley mutters. “What is going on with you and Mason, anyway? You obviously slept with him, but—”
“You did?” Aurora whisper shouts.
“Are you really surprised?” Kinley says. “The two spontaneously combust whenever they’re within a hundred feet of each other. But is itgoinganywhere? That’s what I want to know. Because if you plan another wedding, you better leave that note for someone else to find.”
“There won’t be a note next time,” I say, meaning it. “I’m staying in Caribou Creek.” My sisters snap their heads up and stare at me like I’ve grown a second head. “I have no home and no acting prospects to return to. And honestly, Hollywood isn’t as glamorous as I thought it would be. I missed people being kind. I really took this place for granted.”
