And as soon as she began walking down the street she felt even better because she recognized the view. The Tudor-style storefronts had been in the photo of Sam and Amelia—she was sure of it.
She hurried down the street, scanning all the signs on the shops. The big front windows were so beautifully decorated that it took discipline not to just stop and admire the pine and holly boughs, colored lights, and cotton batting snow.
The only thing that didn’t fit into the sweet holiday scene was Evangeline herself, in the borrowed black leather jacket and biker boots. With everything else going on it was probably silly to feel self-conscious about her clothing. But it was hard not to when everyone else around her looked like they belonged on a Christmas card.
An older couple who seemed to be bundled up and out for a stroll smiled at her as they passed.
“Hello,” the woman said in a friendly way, not thrown at all by Evangeline’s clothing.
“Oh, hi,” Evangeline replied, surprised.
Do I know these people?
But the couple continued on before she could place them, and the young woman she passed next nodded to her and smiled.
“Cold enough for ya’?” a little old man asked her on his way by, giving her a wink.
She laughed weakly and smiled back at him.
Something about the situation was familiar, and it hit her suddenly that this was a bit like walking down her old block when she was a little girl, waving a polite hello to all the grandmas sitting out on their porches.
Her heart ached with homesickness for a life that was lost, and she focused her eyes on the storefronts again, determined to find Sam, or at least her place of work.
Just as she neared the end of the first block of town, she spotted a sign on one of the doors.
The Hero Center
By some miracle, light spilled out from inside. Evangeline pushed open the door immediately, as if she thought it might lock before she could step inside.
“Hi, there how can I—Evangeline?” a familiar voice said.
And there was Samantha Green, sitting at the main desk with Amelia curled up on a chair behind it, her nose in a book.
“Hey, Sam,” Evangeline said, suddenly realizing that she had no idea what to say next. “How are you?”
“Well, I’mgreat,” Sam replied. “I’m happy to see you. What brings you to Trinity Falls?”
“I’m looking for work,” Evangeline heard herself say calmly. “I thought maybe you could point me in the right direction.”
“That’s wonderful,” Sam told her, without missing a beat. “You watch kids, right?”
“Yes,” Evangeline said.
“Babies?” Sam asked.
“Yes,” Evangeline agreed immediately, though she really hadn’t watched kids younger than toddlers before.
I can do it,she told herself firmly.I can do anything I set my mind to.
“Listen, I want to hear all about what’s going on with you,” Sam said. “But this is too good to pass up. I literallyjusttalked to someone who needs your help. It must be some kind of a sign for you to show up right now.”
“That’s great,” Evangeline said. “Should we call her?”
“He was headed over to the firehouse,” Sam said. “Maybe we can catch him. Come on, Amelia.”
Her little sister dutifully got up, put a bookmark in her paperback, then set it down on the chair.
“Hi, Amelia,” Evangeline said.
