CHAPTER 1
Sarah Hart had watched the sun crest over the ridge of Snowdrift Summit countless times in her life, but today’s daybreak felt different. The landscape of the tall pines crowded close together, their sagging branches weighed down by a fresh blanket of powder, seemed to reach out and greet her with the welcoming arms of an old friend.
She was well aware it was silly to think of the landscape like that—a tangible, personified being—but goodness, how she could use a familiar embrace right now. Not that her sweet daughter, Laney, wasn’t a pro cuddler. Her toddler gave the fiercest hugs. Tight, enthusiastic ones that often made Sarah struggle for breath. Their nightly story-and-snuggle time was Sarah’s favorite part of the day. Most of that was due to the quiet, precious moments shared with her daughter, but the other portion Sarah attributed to her deep love for books, even children’s ones.
This affinity for literature of all kinds was why—after years away—she found herself back in Snowdrift.
The opportunity to work at the community library she’d spent so many youthful days in, tucked away in the aisles, nose in a book, was something out of a dream. Which she supposedshe deserved, considering her reality had been a bit nightmarish lately.
Sarah never anticipated being a single mother, raising her daughter without a partner by her side. But when her husband decided to trade their little family for a woman he’d met online—leaving Sarah in Sacramento with few ties to the community other than a book club she’d joined with other wives from Darren’s work—she knew it was time for a fresh start. Without regret, she’d closed the book on that chapter of her life.
In truth, Sacramento never really felt like home. Maybe that was because she didn’t have any roots there and instead struggled to intertwine her life with Darren’s already established one. She always felt on the periphery, forever attempting to insert herself into his hobbies, his friend groups, his extended family. They’d matched years ago online, but she often wondered if there had been some glitch in the software program because the deeper into their relationship they got, the less compatible they seemed to be. She should have trusted her gut, but by the time they’d wed and almost instantly gotten pregnant with Laney, it was too late.
And as it would turn out, Darren never did take his profile down from that dating site. Sarah knew she deserved better.
And that better life was waiting for her in Snowdrift Summit.
Coming home was like nervously dialing up a long-lost friend, only to pick up right where she’d left off as though no time had passed at all. In many ways, it was as if the entire town had anticipated her return. Her favorite drink, the Fireside Frappe, was still on the menu at Bitter Cold Coffee Bar. The knitting circle at In Stitches had a seat saved just for her. And today, when she and Laney made their way down the stairs of her parents’ mountain cabin, the nostalgic aroma of peppermint hot chocolate pancakes sent her straight back to junior highwhen she and her brother, Holden, had perfected the unique recipe, marshmallows and all.
Life had come full circle, and she was thrilled to be in the very center of it.
“Mornin’, Libby.” Zeke Hart scooted back from his barstool tucked beneath the granite island to place a kiss on his daughter’s forehead. He’d given her the nickname back when she had interned at the local library as a high school sophomore, a moniker she’d shrugged off at the time. But when she’d returned home the week prior, he’d playfully resurrected it, testing it out to see if it would still get the eye roll she used to respond with. Today, she just leaned into his affection and smiled.
“Morning, Dad.”
Sarah switched Laney from one hip to the other. At two years old, her daughter could easily walk on her own, but Sarah held onto Laney’s babyhood with a fierce grip. She wasn’t ready for the inevitable independence that accompanied the toddler years. The distance that would grow between them as time went on until one day, Laney would ultimately set out on her own adventure. Sarah knew it was what every parent prepared for, but she just couldn’t imagine the day ever coming when Laney wouldn’t be by her side. The closeness of family was everything.
“Got a fresh batch of pancakes on a plate under some tin foil near the stove if you’re hungry,” Zeke Hart said with a nudge of his head toward the cooktop. “Mom whipped them up before heading out to meet Paula for coffee to discuss wedding details.”
Sarah had to chuckle at that. Up until a year ago, the two women were archrivals and holiday adversaries. But she supposed things changed when your children fell in love. The mothers had to play nice, especially since Holden had proposed to Rachel last month.
Sarah couldn’t be more thrilled to finally have the sister she’d always wanted. And watching her brother find true happiness made her swell with joy, even if there was a smidge of jealousy wedged in there, too.
Singlehood felt permanent for Sarah. A year ago, she thought things might be going somewhere with Lance Major, her brother’s best friend and business partner at Major Hart Mountain Sports. But when Sarah returned to Sacramento after the holiday season, whatever connection they’d established had been completely cut off. She understood. Long distance was difficult, and it wasn’t like Lance was the sort of man to ever settle down. Certainly not with a woman who had a young child.
Still, Sarah longed to find someone to share her life with. A glutton for punishment, her reading genre of choice was always romance. She loved the promise of happy-ever-after, the commitment to true and everlasting love. If she couldn’t manifest it in her own life, she supposed living vicariously through characters on the page was a good second option.
“You going to the library today?” Zeke hoisted Laney from Sarah’s hip and raised the young child into the air before spinning around like a merry-go-round. The baby squealed with glee, her cherub cheeks dimpling in a huge grin as she circled high above her grandpa’s head.
“I am, but only if you’re still okay with babysitting Laney for a couple of hours. It won’t be long. I told Dahlia I could only work a half day.”
“I’ve told you countless times, Libby, it’s not babysitting. I’m her Papa. It’s an honor to spend the morning with this little cutie.” He left a smacking kiss on the crown of the toddler’s golden curls before he brought her back down to his middle. “I got the tug rope on the sled restrung, so I was thinking I’d give her a ride around the property before naptime.”
“She’d love that. Her jacket and gloves are in the hall closet. I haven’t had a chance to get her a new pair of snow boots, but her sneakers should be fine until I can make it over to the mountain shop to see what they have in stock.”
“You know, you could just ask Holden to bring a pair by. Heisat the store every day.”
Sarah transferred a pancake onto an empty plate and then pulled on the refrigerator door handle, its suctioned grip releasing with apop. While some pancakes called for syrup, these required a heaping mound of whipped cream.
“I really should bring Laney in with me to try them on. She’s been growing nonstop lately. Nothing from last month even fits her anymore. I have no idea what her shoe size would be.”
“Childhood is like that. Blink and you’ll miss it.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.” The whipped cream made a hissing noise as the pressurized stuff released from the can. Sarah squeezed a generous portion onto her pancakes, topping them off like a delectable dessert. “I’ve got my eyes wide open, savoring every moment that I can.”
“Me too. Which is why your mother and I are so thankful to have the two of you under our roof again.”
“It’s not permanent,” Sarah reiterated, emphasizing a point she had made clear when she initially asked if it would be alright to crash at the cabin until she found suitable housing of her own.
