“Happy Thanksgiving. I’m so glad you’re here!” Grace’s eyes found mine over Ollie’s head, her eyebrows lifting in a silent question. I gave a tiny shake of my head.
Yes, Ollie was here, instead of with his dad like we’d planned.
And no,let’s not mention it.
Because Grace was my best friend, she understood all of that without a single word. “Get in here, you two.” She grabbed the bag I was carrying. “I was just about to serve up the spiced apple cider. Maisie’s in the backyard throwing the tennis ball for Stella. Or maybe building a snowman? Not sure. And Ashford and Dane are arguing about the football game on TV in the living room.”
“See, told you they were already having fun,” Ollie muttered before dumping his backpack of comic books and board games right there in the entryway. I nudged it aside with my foot, smiling fondly at Ollie’s back as he ran deeper into the house.
“Thank God we’re here,” I said with a sigh.
“Come on. Let’s get you some spiced cider. Or wine?”
“Definitely wine.”
Grace’s kitchen was slightly more organized than mine. Probably because it was a lot bigger. Grace and her boyfriend Dane had renovated the house after moving in almost a year ago, putting in top-of-the-line gadgets and appliances while keeping a rustic, upscale-mountain feel.
Maybe a little too much like the ski resort that Dane owned, but nobody had asked me.
Turkey roasted in the lower oven, and yeasty rolls overflowed the baking pan in the upper one. The place smelled incredible.
I set my casserole on the counter, saying hello to Emma—Ashford’s wife—who was ladling hot apple cider into cups. As soon as my hands were free, it was hug time. A big hug for Emma, and another for Grace.
Grabbing the wine bottle, Grace pushed her glasses up her nose and pursed her lips into a frown. “So. Ollie’s hot springs Thanksgiving trip with his father…”
“I should’ve known Danny would find something better to do.”
Emma set a mug of cider on the counter with a thump. “Better than spending time with his kid? What is wrong with that man?”
“I’ve asked myself that question more times than I can count. Some mysteries have no answer. But we’re with all of you lovely people, and that’s what matters.”
“Hear, hear,” Grace said. “Now let me find my biggest wine glass for you.”
“Have I told you how much I love you?”
While we cooked and laughed and gossiped, I let myself sinkinto the moment. The stress from earlier began to melt away, replaced by the easy comfort of being surrounded by the people I loved.
Over the years, we’d all had our ups and downs. Once, I’d jokingly named our group of friends the Lonely Harts club so we could all commiserate over our bad luck when it came to relationships. We all lived in Hart County, so the pun practically wrote itself.
I could never resist a silly pun, as Ollie would probably attest.
But one by one, the Lonely Harts had been falling in love. First it was Ashford falling for Emma, who loved his daughter Maisie like her own.
Then Grace caught the bug. She and I used to have a no-dating pact, back when we were both cynical about love and convinced we were better off without it. But then she met Dane, the billionaire playboy from New York who only had eyes for her.
My brother Teller succumbed next, quitting his job as Silver Ridge Chief of Police so he could be with Ayla Maxwell, international pop star. They were spending their first Thanksgiving as a couple in Los Angeles.
It was obnoxious, really. What right did they all have to go proving romance could be healthy, fulfilling, and downright magical?
Kidding aside, I was the first to cheer all of them on. I’d even played a key role in some of their love stories, if I said so myself. But seeing most of my closest friends and family pair off hadn’t changed my resolve one bit.
I wouldnevermake the mistake of falling in love again.
About an hour later, Callum and Zandra showed up. Our latest adorable couple. I’d thought Callum would hold out and stay single like me, but that was until Zandra came back to Silver Ridge.
“We’re here!” Callum announced. “Party can officially begin.”
Maisie and Ollie tried to tackle him, while Callum held his precious pumpkin pie out of harm’s way. I wrangled the kids intothe living room for Ashford and Dane to manage, and Zandra and Emma went to finish decorating the dining table.
