Page 13 of Friends are Forever (Teton Mountain #6)

R eva powered off the vacuum, the final hum dying into the warm hush of her mountain cabin.

She stood for a moment, letting the stillness settle.

Outside, the sun was dipping low behind the pines, casting gold across the windows and washing the reclaimed timber floors in a glow that made everything feel a little softer, a little more forgiving.

She had personally designed every inch of this house.

Local river stone wrapped the fireplace, where a low fire flickered.

Thick beams spanned the vaulted ceiling, their rugged elegance matched by the buttery leather sofas and wrought-iron fixtures she’d carefully chosen.

It was mountain chic at its finest—refined, earthy, strong.

Reva paused, eyes drifting to the windows that framed her view of the Tetons. The peaks stood majestic, silhouetted against the last pink blush of twilight, and for a moment, it hit her all over again—what she was about to leave.

This house wasn’t just beautiful. It was a sanctuary.

Every stone and beam had been chosen with care, not just for style but for the life she had built inside its walls.

She and Kellen had created a home here. Lucan had taken his first steps on this floor.

Late nights of laughter and long talks with her girlfriends had echoed through this kitchen.

This wasn’t just a house—it was part of her story.

And soon…she would close this chapter.

She swallowed hard as she wound the cord around the vacuum and rolled it into the hall closet before heading toward the kitchen, the soles of her Golden Goose sneakers squeaking on polished wood. Her pace quickened a little. The girls would be arriving soon, and tonight had to be right.

The kitchen island gleamed, the slate and pearl swirls in the granite countertops a stark contrast against a bank of deep walnut cabinets.

She opened the brown bag Kellen had dropped off an hour ago.

Inside was the spread she’d ordered from Whistling Grizzly in Jackson, an array of hors d’oeuvres that made her stomach growl in anticipation.

Smoked steelhead dip with crisp crackers.

Elk tartare, garnished with a quail egg and tiny capers.

Bison bone marrow, roasted and glistening in its little ramekin boats.

And her personal favorite—Cowboy Pops. Tender chunks of braised beef, marinated until spicy and sweet, grilled to perfection, then skewered and served on sticks.

She arranged everything on her largest charcuterie board, lit a few candles, and stepped back to assess.

Yes, she’d gone way beyond normal. But she wanted tonight to be special.

After all the emotional whiplash of the past few weeks, she needed this. A night to catch up with her girlfriends, to circle the wagons. To escape the outside world and be reminded they still had each other.

She reached for a bottle of sparkling water and popped the top.

As the fizz settled, so did she, breathing in the scent of lemon and pine from the diffuser she’d tucked on the sideboard earlier.

The front door would open soon. The laughter would start.

And for a little while, the world might just feel normal again.

Reva set the last glass on the counter and stood back, smoothing a wrinkle from her blouse with a swipe of her palm.

Everything was ready—candles flickering, playlist humming low in the background, and the spread from Whistling Grizzly arranged just so.

She took one last look around, then paused as the soft glow of headlights swept across the living room walls.

There they were.

An engine cut off, followed by the sound of doors opening and the unmistakable cadence of familiar voices layered in laughter and overlapping chatter. Reva smiled to herself, her heart warming at the sound. No matter how much was shifting beneath her surface, this part—this right here—was solid.

She stepped toward the front door just as the doorbell rang, more out of habit than necessity.

When she opened it, the mountain air spilled in, crisp and scented with pine.

Capri stood in front, bundled in a shearling coat with her long blonde hair tumbling around her face, talking over her shoulder to Lila, who was hauling a casserole dish and giving Charlie Grace a look that clearly meant don’t you dare drop that bottle of wine .

“Evening, ladies,” Reva said with a slow smile. “You’re just in time. The elk tartare is chilling, and I’m two seconds from pouring the Prosecco.”

“Girl,” Charlie Grace grinned as she stepped inside, the warmth of the house rushing around them. “You always set the bar.”

Lila handed off the dish—sweet potato puffs, by the smell of it—and leaned in to hug her. “It smells amazing in here.”

Capri was last through the door, eyeing the interior with a casual glance that tried too hard to look unimpressed. “Okay, Mayor. Hosting game strong.”

Reva laughed, motioning them in. “Come on. Coats in the hallway, drinks in the kitchen, and I fully expect each of you to gush over my ridiculous overspending.”

The kitchen filled quickly with the kind of ease that came only from years of friendship. Charlie Grace uncorked the wine, Lila grabbed plates, and Capri, despite claiming she wasn’t hungry, immediately reached for a Cowboy Pop and moaned as she bit into it.

“I take it back,” she said, chewing. “This was worth whatever you paid.”

Reva smirked. “That’s what I told Kellen. He didn’t blink—just asked if there’d be leftovers.”

Lila passed out the plates. “So, where is Kellen tonight?”

Reva placed a napkin holder on the counter next to the food. “He took Lucan to story time at Bluebird Books.”

Lila nodded. “Ah, a favorite for all the little kiddos in Thunder Mountain.” She reached for a cracker and dredged it generously through the bowl of smoked steelhead dip. “It’s possible there won’t be leftovers,” she warned.

“I second that,” Charlie Grace said, leaning one hip against the counter as she reached for the elk tartare. “I’ve never tasted anything so good.”

Reva glanced over. “How’s Jewel doing since the wildlife officials came and took the wolf pups?”

Charlie Grace’s smile softened. “Better than I expected, honestly. The first few days were hard—lots of tears. She kept asking if they were scared without her, if they missed her singing at night.”

Capri set down her glass. “Poor kid. That’s tough.”

“It was,” Charlie Grace said. “But Fish and Game has been amazing. They let her visit the pups yesterday, and she got to help bottle-feed one of them. She’s already talking about what she’s going to wear when they let her be there for the release back into the wild.”

Lila smiled. “That’s special. What a memory she’ll have.”

“She calls it ‘graduation day,’” Charlie Grace added with a laugh. “She’s making each of her babies a ‘certificate.’ Hand-drawn and laminated.”

“Oh, I love that,” Reva said warmly. “She’s such a bright light.”

Charlie Grace nodded, her voice quieter. “She really is. And she’s learning something important, too—about letting go, and still loving.”

For a moment, they all sat with that—because they knew the lesson, too. Especially Reva.

Lila grinned, then grew thoughtful. “Speaking of babies...I want to throw Camille a shower.”

Reva smiled at that. “That’s a lovely idea.”

“Nothing fancy,” Lila said quickly. “Just something sweet before the baby comes. I thought we could do it at the community center, maybe serve brunch? Or should we wait until after she delivers?”

“I say before,” Charlie Grace said. “Give her something to look forward to. You know we’ll help.”

“Definitely,” Capri added, sipping from her glass. “And we’ll make her laugh, which she needs.”

“I know I was shocked when I first learned about the baby,” Lila told them.

“And goodness knows, it took a little effort for me to recalibrate what I imagined for my daughter’s future.

But now that I have…well, I’m looking forward to the arrival of her little one.

And to being a grandma. The first amongst us, I might add.

” She grinned. “So let the party planning begin!”

The warmth around the island grew as the friends continued passing appetizers and tossing out ideas—decorations, games, whether Capri could be trusted not to spike the punch.

Then Lila’s gaze settled on Reva. “How’s your grandmother?” she asked gently. “Your earlier texts were encouraging. You said she was still hanging on.”

Reva stiffened slightly, her fingers tightening around the stem of her glass. “She is. No real change. I’ll probably head back again soon.”

There was a quiet beat, an expectant silence hanging in the space between the words. The question behind the question lingered in Reva’s mind, but she didn’t answer it.

There would soon come a time…but not now. Not yet. For now, the decision would remain tucked between Kellen and her only.

Instead, she cleared her throat and reached for the serving spoon. “But I am worried about someone else right now.”

All three women looked up.

“Fleet Southcott,” Reva said. “I’m afraid he’s been showing disturbing signs of memory loss. I planned to talk with him about it today, but he missed his afternoon meeting. His wife called him to remind him—it was on his calendar—but he still didn’t show. This isn’t the first time.”

Charlie Grace frowned. “I heard from Nick that he came into the production office last week asking about permits he’d already signed months ago. Twice.”

Capri leaned forward. “And he showed up to the school fundraiser wearing his pajama bottoms.”

Lila’s eyes widened. “Oh no.”

“Oh yes,” Reva said softly. “It’s very troubling. His wife has made an appointment with a specialist in Cheyenne. But I think we all know something dreadful is going on with him.”

The mood shifted, heavier now. Charlie Grace’s voice dropped. “Do you think it’s dementia?”

“I do,” Reva said. “And it’s getting worse. I’m already putting temporary precautions in place. Once confirmed, I’ll have no choice but to replace him.”

They were quiet a moment, all of them processing.

“But replacing Fleet?” Lila finally said. “That’s a big deal. He’s been sheriff since...”

“Twenty-two years,” Capri said. “We were barely out of high school. And he swore Reva in as mayor, remember?”

“I remember,” Reva said, her voice softer now. “Which is why this is gutting me.”

Charlie Grace folded her arms. “If it were anyone else...but Fleet’s the real deal. He loves this town.”

“He is this town,” Lila added.

“But what if someone gets hurt because he forgets something important?” Capri asked. “That’s the part I can’t shake.”

They all nodded, each feeling the weight of it. The mix of loyalty and responsibility. Of heartbreak and leadership.

Reva drew in a breath. “It may come down to me having to make the call. But I need your support when I do. Not as mayor—but as your friend. As someone who’s going to cry her eyes out the day I tell him.”

Charlie Grace reached across the island, covering Reva’s hand with hers. “You’ll have it. All of it.”

One by one, the others nodded, the silence now something sacred. A moment of truth among women who’d weathered many storms together—and were preparing, once again, to hold each other up.