Zack nodded. “Well, this explains a lot.”
As they ate in silence, Holly wondered if it explained enough. Would she need to tell him more to find the peace she sought? It had actually felt good sharing with him about it, especially since Zack had seemed to understand. Was the little she’d told him enough for her to stop running and finally heal?
“Hey, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about something,” he finally said when they were cleaning up after the meal.
“Something else?” she asked warily.
“Nothing heavy or personal,” he assured her. “You must have heard people talking about the Winter Festival. Has Kathy mentioned needing your help?”
“She did, and I’m excited to get involved finally.” Holly hadn’t expected to look forward to anything related to the holiday, but volunteering to help the community heal appealed to her. “Maybe it will help me want to celebrate the season.”
Zack scanned her empty living room. “I don’t have any Christmas decorations either. We should go shopping together.”
Memories from last year came rushing back. Holly’s throat tightened, making it impossible to speak. If Brett hadn’t been a lying cheater, they would have been preparing to celebrate their first wedding anniversary. But she was done letting him steal the pleasure from her life, so she nodded.
“I would like that.”
CHAPTER 3
When Holly woke the next morning to the bright light, a sense of peace she hadn’t experienced in far too long filled her. Months ago, when she promised Zack to give Canyondale a chance, she had struggled with doubt. Nothing in her experience prepared her for the warm welcome she had received.
At the time, Holly hadn’t met very many people in town and had no idea about the problems simmering beneath the surface. But the shooting had shocked everyone, softening the stances between Newcomers and Oldtimers. Regardless of the promise Holly had made, she knew she would have left if the town hadn’t come together.
Though it was still early morning and there was a chill in the air, it sounded like someone was moving in next door. Her building had a mix of one-bedroom units like hers alongside studio apartments. The adjacent buildings, circling a grassy central gathering area, included two-bedroom apartments and three-bedroom townhomes.
The complex’s clubhouse had already been decorated with a tree and lights, along with items for both Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. It seemed their drive for inclusiveness extended toeverything. With a communal space that included amenities like strategically placed pavilions with built-in barbecues, a children’s play area, and a fire pit with benches around it, Holly thought this should be a fun place to live.
“Careful there, Zack,” a male voice called. “Let me help with that.”
Holly leaped from her bed and dashed to her entry window to peek outside. Zack had his truck backed into a stall in front of the apartment next door. Was he helping someone else to move? Since she wanted to give back to these people who had been so welcoming to her, she figured she’d better get dressed and offer to help.
After taking a quick shower, pulling her long hair into a ponytail, and grabbing a heavy sweater, Holly stepped out into the bright sunshine. It was colder than it looked, and she wondered if she should have grabbed her coat instead.
“Hey, Holly.” Zack stepped out of the adjacent door and gave her a hug.
His embrace warmed her, and like it had last night, her body had a mind of its own and snuggled closer. He smelled so good, and she actually sniffed his neck! Embarrassed, her face turning hot, she stepped back, unwilling to look at him.
Instead, she met the gazes of two tall men—one black with a shaved head and the other fair with a blond military cut. They exchanged knowing glances, both trying to bite back smiles. Holly decided she didn’t even want to know what they were thinking.
“You must be Ike and Marc. I’ve seen your helicopter,” she said, extending her hand, and they each shook it.
“Yes, ma’am,” Ike, the black man, said. “Kathy talks about you all the time and says she got you to promise to help set up for the festival.” His phone pinged. “We have to bounce. We’re ontweenduty.”
“See ya, Zack.” Marc glanced at Holly and then back at Zack. “Let us know if you need any more help.”
“I got this.” Zack scowled at his friend, his cheeks flushed.
“What’stweenduty?” Holly asked when the two men had driven away.
“Hasn’t Kathy mentioned how McKenzie and her brother Ike are raising their half-brothers?”
“Oh, yeah.Tweens. Duh.” Holly pointed to the open door behind him. “Are you helping someone else move in here?”
Zack’s ears turned red. “I’mmoving in here.”
Why hadn’t he said anything yesterday? Holly took a step back, suspicious. For nearly a year, she had questioned why Brett had said nothing about his doubts about marrying her or his growing feelings for Ivy.Hehad proposed to Holly, after all, not the other way around.
“Why didn’t you say so last night?” she asked, moving closer to her door.
