“At least he’s still showing up. That takes courage.” She took a sip of her hot chocolate.
“More than most people have,” Annie agreed. “Your father told me Beckett was thinking of leaving town after his program ends next month.”
The news hit her like a punch to the stomach. “He never mentioned that to me.”
“Maybe he doesn’t want to,” Annie said gently. “Sometimes it’s easier to slip away without goodbyes.”
Before she could respond, the town bell rang out, signaling the market’s opening. Almost immediately, shoppers began flowing into the square, bringing with them laughter and holiday cheer.
“Tessa Grant. Is that you?”
She turned to find Mrs. Hughes, her high school English teacher, beaming at her. The woman looked exactly the same, down to her silver-rimmed glasses and colorful scarf.
“Mrs. Hughes! It’s so good to see you.” And it was, she realized. There was something comforting about being recognized and having history in a place.
“I heard you were back in town. How wonderful that you’re here for the holidays.” Mrs. Hughes accepted a cup of peppermint hot chocolate from Annie. “We’re all so proud of you, you know. Our hometown girl saving lives in the big city.”
She felt a flush of embarrassment mixed with something like pride. “Oh, I’m just doing my job.”
“Nonsense. It takes a special person to do what you do.” Mrs. Hughes patted her arm. “Your mother would have been so proud.”
The mention of her mother should have stung, but instead, it warmed her. “Thank you. That means a lot.”
As Mrs. Hughes moved on, Tessa found herself smiling. Throughout the morning, similar encounters repeated themselves. People she hadn’t seen in years stopped by, not just for coffee and books, but to say hello, to welcome her back, to tell her they’d heard about her nursing career. Some asked about her father’s health, expressing genuine concern.
For the next few hours, she found herself too busy to dwell on thoughts of Beckett’s potential departure. She rang up purchases, wrapped books in festive paper, and chatted with townspeople who remembered her from before.
“Remember when your mom organized that summer reading program?” Mrs. Snyder asked as Tessa handed her a package of specialty teas. “My Tommy never picked up a book willingly until she got him hooked on those adventure stories. Changed his whole school experience.”
“I didn’t know that,” she admitted.
“Oh yes. She touched so many lives here.” Mrs. Snyder patted Tessa’s hand. “You have her smile, you know. It’s lovely to see you again in Sweet River Falls.”
As the woman moved on to the next booth, Tessa realized she had been smiling for hours without having to force it. The tightness that had lived between her shoulder blades for months had loosened slightly. Her hands, which sometimes trembled when she was overwhelmed at the hospital, were steady as she counted change and arranged displays.
“You’re a natural at this,” Annie commented during a brief lull. “Sure you don’t want to trade emergency medicine for small-town retail?”
She laughed, surprising herself with how genuine it sounded. “I don’t think my student loans would appreciate the career change.”
“Fair enough. But it’s nice to see you enjoying yourself.”
Was she enjoying herself? She considered the question as she rearranged a display of bookmarks. The constant pressure of the ER, where every decision could mean life or death, was absent here. So was the gnawing anxiety that had plagued her in Denver, the fear that she wasn’t good enough or that she would make a catastrophic mistake.
Here, selling books and hot chocolate at a Christmas market, the stakes were beautifully, wonderfully low. No one would die if she recommended the wrong novel. The world wouldn’t end if they ran out of peppermint cocoa before noon.
“I guess I am enjoying myself,” she admitted. “It’s been a while since I did anything just for the joy of it.”
Annie nodded, understanding in her eyes. “Sometimes we forget there’s more to life than just surviving it.”
By noon, Tessa’s cheeks hurt from smiling, and she realized with a start that she was actually enjoying herself. When was the last time that had happened? Here, in the crisp mountain air surrounded by familiar faces and the scent of pine and cinnamon, she felt something unfamiliar stirring inside her. She felt contentment.
“Earth to Tessa,” Annie waved a hand in front of her face. “You were a million miles away.”
“Sorry,” she said, refocusing. “Just taking it all in.”
Annie smiled knowingly. “It’s different coming back as an adult, isn’t it? You see things you missed before.”
“I guess I never appreciated how connected everyone is here.” Tessa refilled the cookie tray with gingerbread stars.
