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Shortly after, people begin filing out and saying their goodbyes, and I’m flooded with an overwhelming sense of relief.

I’m finishing stacking a row of chairs when I hear Luka approach me from behind. “Since when do you keep up with the weather?”

I shrug, not turning around as I lift another stack of chairs. “Since when do you participate in town meetings you’re not responsible for?”

“I thought I should be here in case you had any questions.”

I quirk a brow. “You mean you wanted to watch me suffer so you could rub it in my face?”

Luka holds a hand over his heart as if I’ve wounded him. “Now why would I do something like that?”

“Because you want to pay me back for sabotaging you last year? You want more ammunition to feed your house so he can impersonate me again? I don’t know what kind of twisted shit gets you off these days.” My shoulder bumps into his as I push past him.

“I told you that wouldn’t happen again. L.O.K.I.’s very sorry, and he’d love to make it up to you.”

“And exactly how would he do that?”

“I don’t know…” He gestures broadly. “You seem pretty overwhelmed at work. Why don’t you let him find you a new assistant?”

I pause mid-chair stack and look back at Luka. He’s watching me like he can see the stress I’m trying so hard to hide.

Maybe I haven’t been as discreet as I thought.

“And how exactly would he go about doing that?” I ask.

Luka takes a step closer. “He could post the job, do the preliminary interviews, and filter out all the unqualified candidates. That way all you have to do is make the job offer.”

“He’d really be willing to do all of that?”

“Hell, yeah. He’d love to. Besides, he’s been dying for a chance to make it up to you. He hates knowing you’re still upset with him.”

I refrain from pointing out that he’s a robot, that robots don’t have human feelings. Because the truth is, that sounds wonderful. I don’t have time to do my work, plan this festival, and find a suitable assistant.

“I’ll email you with the requirements tonight.”

“You can email him directly.”

Did I really just hand over hiring duties to the same robotic house that stole my identity and got me accused of dating three women?

I must be more desperate than I thought.

CHAPTER FIVE

Kira

I round the curve of the mountain as the Welcome to Ashford Falls sign comes into view, and I feel my shoulders begin to relax.

I’m finally here.

It won’t be long now, and I’ll finally get to hug my sister.

I didn’t realize how much I’ve missed her until now. I blink to fight off tears as I take in all the details of the quaint downtown that looks exactly how I remember, yet somehow even more charming.

After all these years, I’d convinced myself that my memories were exaggerated, that I’d idolized this quirky little town beyond what it really was. But seeing it here and now, it’s nice to see my memories were right all along.

“Well, Matilda, what do you think?”

As if perfectly understanding me, she turns her head and glances out her window. I watch her ears twitch as if she’s sizing up the place.