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I swipe at a tear running down my cheek as Holly opens her tiny mouth and searches for her fist.
She’s hungry.
“Don’t worry, okay?We’re going to make this work.I mean, this isn’t my first rodeo, and my parents live close by.Heck, you have three uncles and an aunt close by, too, so there are plenty of grown-ups to take care of things.”
I sigh and lean in to press my lips to her forehead.
“But, my sweet girl, your mama didn’t make it.I’m so sorry.”
I swallow hard and cuddle Holly against my shoulder as I wonder what in the hell I’m going to do.
“I’m so damn sorry.”
ChapterOne
Erin
“You’re changing the sign!”
I grin up at the man who’s screwing in the new sign.
Welcome to Bitterroot Valley, Population 8,746.
“The population changed again,” he calls down to me, and I nod.
Yeah, I am one of the new residents who has changed the population from 8,731.I moved here in December, and since then, three babies have been born, along with a couple of new families that moved to town.
Just in the past four months.
“How often do you change it?”I call back.
“Once a year, when it’s warm enough to climb up on a ladder without freezing to death,” he informs me.I nod, look at the sign once more in satisfaction, and then keep walking, on my way to work.
It’s official.I’m a citizen of Bitterroot Valley, Montana.I mean, sure, I’ve technically been that since December when I came here with all my cousins for a vacation and decided to stay, but it feels extra official now, and I couldn’t be happier.I knew as soon as we landed here that this was my home.
With a little more bounce in my step, I make my way down the sidewalk.It’s finally springtime, which means that the bitter cold from winter seems to be over.We still have a little snow on the ground, and I’ve been told that the mountains will have snow until early summer, but it’s finally warm enough to walk to my job at Bitterroot Valley Coffee Co.
Ilovemy job.I’ve met so many people already, thanks to the coffee shop.I have my regulars who never miss a day, and the best part is, I’m still meeting new people all the time.I’ve never really considered myself to be a social butterfly, but I admit that it was hard to move away from my huge, loud family to a place where I knew absolutely no one.But I’ve started to weave myself into the community, and it’s only made me love this little town more.
Not to mention, my new friend, Millie Wild, works with me.Actually, she worked there first and helped me get the job.We became fast friends, and now I can’t imagine my life without her.We’re roughly the same age, and it’s as if we’ve been friends forever.
I tip my head back and take a deep breath, pulling in the crisp spring air, and smile.
Yeah, this is exactly where I’m supposed to be.
Before long, I’ve crossed the imaginary line from residential to downtown blocks, and I walk into the warmth of the café.The smell of freshly ground coffee meets me, along with a wave from Millie.
“Good morning.”I grin at her and walk behind the counter, hurrying to the back to stow away my things.Once I’ve grabbed an apron and tied my hair back, I return to the counter and take in the number of people already sipping coffee, having conversations, or typing away on their computers all over the space.“It’s busy in here for a Thursday morning.”
“I know,” she replies with a sigh and wipes her forehead with the back of her hand.“I should have asked you to come in earlier.”
“I totally would have.Why didn’t you?”
She turns and gives me a grin.“I know how much you like to sleep in.Besides, it’s not normally like this, especially in the middle of the week.Anyway, there seems to be a lull now.How are you?”
“I’mgreat.” I tell her about the population sign change, and she laughs, shaking her head at me.“What?It’s a big deal.”
“You’re just so cute.I love how much youloveliving here, Erin.It reminds me to be thankful for it, too.I guess I forget, since my family has been here for more than a hundred years.”
