“Soon, I’m not sure. Lauren said we should close any day now.”
“Well, I was gonna wait to give this to you, but I want you to have it when you get the keys, and with the wedding and everything, I know things are crazy this week.” Zion took a small gift bag out from under his photographer’s bag.
“What? What is this?”
“It is to celebrate you becoming an official Hope Falls resident.”
“You did not have to get me anything.”
“Yes, honey.” He nodded in an exaggerated fashion. “I did.”
Poppy opened the bag and pulled out a mug. It was one she’d seen at the coffee shop Brewed Awakenings many times and had wanted to buy for herself but felt silly doing so.
“Oh, my gosh. I love it.”
“Now that you are official, the HFE juju can start to work.”
The side of the mug had the definition of The Hope Falls Effect on it, which was something that Poppy was sure was just created for tourism, but she, as an eternal optimist, had always secretly believed in its magic.
HOPE FALLS EFFECT™
Hope Falls:
noun (place)
1. a small, picturesque town tucked in the Sierra Nevada with an idyllic landscape backdrop of lush, deep green pine trees and dotted with colorful aspens. The heart of the town, Main Street, is a five-block stretch of small storefront businesses, lined on each side with wooden sidewalks filled with a cast of colorful characters sure to enrich your life.
Effect:
verb (action)
1. someone who never thought they would ever fall in love or fall in love again, and suddenly they meet their soul mate
2. a person who thought that their career was over suddenly gets a new opportunity that changes their life forever
3. someone who is running from something bad in their past or has issues with their family, they move here and the situation resolves itself
4.those who are lonely find support from the community
5. things magically fall into place in the following areas: love, career, friendship
6.saves people
7.heals people
8.is the missing puzzle piece in people’s lives
She felt herself starting to tear up as she wrapped her arms around Zion and hugged her mug close to her chest. It was silly, but this made her feel like she belonged, and it did actually give her hope. “Thank you!”
“Of course, my love. I got you.”
As she tucked the mug carefully back in its bag, Phoebe walked over to join them.
“I’m so proud of you for starting over like that at your age. That’s so brave,” her sister Phoebe proclaimed as she bounced Bristol, Poppy’s seven month old niece on her hip. “It just goes to show, it’s never too late.”
Poppy knew Phoebe meant well, but her good intentions didn’t do anything to dull the sting of her condescending tone and sentiment. First of all, Phoebe was six years older than Poppy, so why she would refer to her as ‘at your age’ baffled the mind. Second, and even more frustrating, was someone recognizing Poppy’s ‘bravery’ from the creature comforts her husband’s million-dollar bank account afforded her. Phoebenever had to worry about her future. Even if, God forbid, something happened to Roger, she’d be taken care of. Just like when their father died, his entire life insurance policy went to his wife and their daughters. She and her mom didn’t get a dime.
“I agree. It’s so exciting,” Lina chimed in, and everyone nodded as if on cue.
