“Gia Huy, you okay?” her mom asked over her shoulder as she prepared the hot soup.
“Huh? Oh, yes. I’m fine.” She gave her mom a thin smile, but judging by the skeptical look on her face, Gia didn’t think she was very convincing.
It was odd being back in town after so long.
On one hand, she felt like a complete stranger looking in through a dirty window at its inhabitants. Or as if she were holding a snow globe and could see everyone but not really be a part of the town. Some townsfolk had been welcoming when they saw her waiting at their table. They’d started talking to her as if she had never left at all.
It felt…nice.
For the first time in a while, she felt the pieces of her shattered heart mending together.
Was being out of LA all I needed to heal?
It hardly made sense, since Willowbrook held some of the most painful memories of her life.
Memories she’d fled to LA for—and yet she’d been back in town for hardly a week, and she already felt… at home. Dare she say… safe?
What was the healing magic of Willowbrook? Or was it the people in it?
Whatever it was, she couldn’t dwell on it now.
There was still so much about her life she needed to figure out.
According to the messages Kim left, Jerry had been hounding her for Gia’s whereabouts. Grimacing, she shoved thoughts of her horrid agent out of her mind.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Because right now, she was not Gia the superstar. She was just Gia, the waitress working in her family restaurant. And it felt satisfying to do something she had practically grown up doing.
Between her parents, herself, and Minh, they were like a well-oiled machine, keeping the crowd happy with their food and clearing the tables for the next group of guests. Thao used to do most of the busing of the tables, but between her and Minh, they cleared them quickly.
She missed him, even though a photo hung in the waiting room. Sometimes, it felt like he was staring at her from his vantage point. Like he knew all the secrets she was trying to hide from the rest of the world, and was only waiting for the moment when she’d crack.
She didn’t know it yet, but she was about to lose her grip on reality.
Twelve
JAKE
Willowbrook was a peaceful town with beautiful views from almost every corner, and various seasonal activities for all to enjoy.
Winters often brought historic snowstorms perfect for activities like building a snowman, sledding, or—if you were on the wealthier side of town—snowmobiling. Moonshadow Falls and its trails acted as an unofficial skiing and snowboarding location for the locals. When Crystal Hollow Lake froze over, it transformed into a large skating rink.
In the springtime, once winter released its icy grip on the town, Willowbrook came alive with color to chase away the dreariness of winter. The birds chirped in the early hours of dawn. Flowers bloomed on every corner of Main Street. The mountains practically shook with glee as their leaves sprouted with life like a verdant wave.
The cool temperatures of spring eased into the hot and humid summer. Most of the town spent their time at the lake, beach, or cove. The hiking trails became a favorite stomping ground, with their variety of walkable paths or more challenging hikes. Family picnics and camping were popular activities.
In the past year, since Marley had moved in with him, he’dwatched her come out of her shell little by little. With the extra daylight hours, Marley grew like a wildflower stretching for the sun.
This past summer was the first time Alina had brought back the summer carnival, which had been one of his fondest memories when he was younger. He’d forgotten what it was like to be filled with childlike glee surrounded by neon lights and cotton candy. Jake hadn’t realized Marley had never been to a summer carnival, and vowed to make it a tradition to take her every year.
But his favorite season of all was autumn. He loved it when the summer fever faded, and there was a cold bite to the air. The leaves all changed color into vibrant hues.
Fall reminded him of his two favorite people in the world the most. Often, he’d hike up Moonshadow Falls and sit on the bench and talk to his old friend. He’d pack them a picnic consisting of their favorites: a peanut butter and grape jelly sandwich for Thao, one with strawberry jelly for Gia without the crust, and an apple for himself. He’d pretend they were there with him as he told them about his summer activities and caught them up on the latest gossip. Occasionally, Marley would join, but she’d rather sunbathe at the picnic spots near the main trail.
Marley used to think Jake was crazy for talking to himself, but seemed to understand it was a ritual he needed to do. Jake suspected it was the real reason she preferred to wait for him at the bottom.
After Gia dropped him off in front of The Lotus earlier, he’d walked the rest of the way home. He probably should have told her to drive him to his house, but watching her wrestle with her feelings had been too irresistible. A part of him hadn’t wanted to get out of the car at all. He’d have to get his car at some point, having left it in the commuter lot.
