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“And we all know that you’ve fallen hard right along with him. I can see it in your eyes, sweetheart. You love that boy. I can see it whenever you’re together.”

I nod, a wry smile curving my lips. “Of all the places he could walk into–all the towns he could move to–he came here. I never thought I’d find him again.”

Birdie lifts his glass to make a toast. “Cheers for Riddles calling his grandsons to Timber Falls.”

“He hasn’t wavered ever since we reconnected, not once.

It’s surreal. What are the chances that you meet a man and just talk all night, then when he walks back into your life and he’s exactly the man you thought he was?

No games. No ulterior motives. Just an honest-to-goodness gentleman who wants me for me. ”

“He’s a good one, that’s for sure,” Mom says, holding up her water to clink with our wine glasses.

“A great one. A perfect one,” I whisper.

“The perfect one for you , Iz,” Birdie adds, nudging me with her shoulder.

“Can we at least agree that you need to take more time for yourself ? I’ve got Betty next door, and there are always those in-home care nurses we looked into. I want you to have a life , Lala. And that includes sleepovers with your boyfriend. OK?” Mom says.

“OK,” I reply, feeling something settle within me.

“Good. Because you’ve had me worried the last few days. You seem exhausted.” Yeah, because I can’t sleep and have been binge reading romance books about the Mountain’s Call!

“You do look a bit pale,” Birdie says, her brows pinched. “Did Case give you one of my Aster books to read?”

“He did. And I might’ve read it that first night.” Her smile widens. “I might’ve also downloaded the rest of the series.” Birdie’s lips twitch and I narrow my eyes at her. “Don’t even start with me, B. I know you’ve been at me to read them for years. And before you say it, yes you were right.”

She makes a show of cupping her hand around her ear. “I’m sorry, can you repeat that? I’m not sure I heard you. Did you just say I was right ?” she gasps melodramatically, making Mom and I both snort.

I roll my eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Enjoy it while it lasts.”

“I plan to,” she replies. “Back to the books though. Aren’t they amazin’?”

“I’ve read three books in two days now, B. What does that tell you?”

Birdie squeals and claps her hands. I swear if she could bounce in her seat, she’d be doing that too. “But you still don’t believe it, do you?”

I shrug and I don’t miss the way she squares her shoulders before nodding at the package. “I think it’s time you open it.”

Reaching for the mailer, I slide my chair back to give me more room. “I thought you didn’t know what it was, Birdie Walker?”

“I don’t. I just have an inklin’. And if I’m right, whatever she has sent you is bound to be helpful.”

That’s not cryptic at all.

I rip the mailer open, reaching inside before pulling out a paperback. Turning it over, I take in the yellow-tinted cover with a lush mountain forest background, noting a label on the top corner of the cover stating it’s a special review copy.

“That must be a new one,” Birdie says. “I don’t think it’s been released yet.”

My head snaps her way. “Are you sure it’s for me?”

She arches her brow. “Unless I forgot that I’m Miss Isla Murray, I don’t think so. I know I’m in weddin’ plannin’ mode and all of that but nope, I’m definitely Birdie Walker–soon to be Cooper.”

Mom leans forward, grabbing the empty packaging and looking inside. “Is there a note inside or anythin’?”

Opening the front cover, I find an ornate piece of paper covered in mountains and swirls, with AHG written in silver foil script in the top corner. “I think this is a letter.”

Both Mom and Birdie are leaning toward me now. “Well? Are you goin’ to read it or just stare at it for a while?” Birdie teases.

Isla,

I suspect you’re wondering why I’ve sent this package to you. Before I explain that, I want to say that you’ve been my most intriguing heroine to write about so far.

You have a heart the same size if not bigger than Birdie’s.

Whereas she loves to help people, you were born with the need to care for people–your mom, patients at the hospital, Birdie and her dad, as well as your neighbors and co-workers.

Then there’s Cayson–a layered, loyal, genuine man who feels deep and puts everything he has into everything he does.

By now I suspect–OK, hope–you’ve been given one of my stories to read. I hope that has gone some way to assuage your curiosity about the Cooper family lore and the mountain’s Call.

If it hasn’t and you’re still wondering how people can think the Call is real, that’s OK. I think I might respect that even more.

I want to tell you that it’s OK not to believe something just because your best friend does.

Same as with that handsome stranger you met over pecan pie in a non-descript Anchorage diner.

The man who became your world for a night when you needed him to be.

The same one who returned to his family’s hometown after decades away, who spent months worrying that he’d missed his chance at love, only to find out you were there in Timber Falls all along.

You don’t have to believe that you and Case have been brought together by a mountain spirit that loves love and relishes in rewarding the keepers of her land with their soulmates.

All you have to do is trust your feelings and who you’re feeling them for. Trust in what you can see and what he’s told you. His actions, his words. The most important thing is to believe in yourself.

Listen to your heart, listen to your soul.

Those butterflies that flutter when you just look at him? That’s a sign. The way your pulse spikes when you’re near him and when you touch? That’s another one. The way you’ve been feeling ‘off’, unable to sleep, itchy, achy, and not settled since he left town? Yes, you got it. It’s another sign.

But if you still don’t believe that you could be his reward—and that he is yours–read this book.

I don’t think I’ve ever written a book so fast–and I’ve penned a lot of these love stories now. Then again, it’s kind of inevitable when I’m constantly inspired by real-life, real-time events that deserve to be memorialized in words. I blame my husband for being my forever muse.

I have one last request. Ask yourself this–if you believe that everything in life happens for a reason, could it also be true that there could be one person put on this earth that’s destined for you?

And if so, what are the chances that you met them when you both needed each other the most, then months later—he literally becomes the man that walks into a bar?

I believe in you, Isla. All that’s left for you to do is believe in it.

Love, Aster.

I stare at the letter in silence, giving my brain a chance to catch up with my heart before I fold it carefully and slide it back into the mailer. All the while, I feel two sets of eyes watching me closely.

“Do you believe in soulmates?” I ask Mom, part of me hoping she’ll tell me no. I mean, my birth father never stuck around. How could she still believe in true love after that?

“After seein’ you and Case together, there’s no way I couldn’t .

Do I think there’s a mountain spirit rewardin’ the Coopers with women?

I’m not sure I’d be much of a feminist if I said yes, but again—I do believe that there have never been two people more meant to be than you and that man.

You’re two halves of a whole. Your soul and his. ”

“I feel that too. I think I always have. I just didn’t let myself see it until I saw him again.”

Birdie sniffs, waving me off when I catch her glassy gaze. “Don’t mind me. I just love , you know? And knowin’ I’ve found it and now you’ve found it. I’m happy. These are happy tears.”

Mom leans forward, holding out her upturned palms and curling her fingers around my hands when I slide them into hers.

“Don’t question it, sweetheart. You love him and we all know he loves you.

If you’re lookin’ for a reason not to believe that the universe, a mountain spirit, or some voodoo magic made your paths cross again, you’re not goin’ to find one.

My question is, do you need to believe in the mountain’s Call to love Case? ”

And there it is, Mom slapping me in the face with a proverbial wet fish.

“No,” I answer.

“There’s my bestie,” Birdie murmurs before adding her hands into the mix on top of ours. “This calls for a toast.”

That’s when I get an idea. “We definitely need more wine,” I say as I carefully extricate my hands from the pile and move to my feet. “Because I’ve got a date/sleepover/and love declaration to plan. And I’m goin’ to need your help.”

Mom’s lips twitch. “I’ll help with everythin’ but the sleepover bit. We had that talk years ago, Lala. If you don’t know what happens by now, you never will.” She says with a wink. “But don’t worry. One look at Case and there’s no doubt in my mind that you’re in good hands.”

My eyes pop out of my head. “Mom!”

Birdie–of course–just sits there and giggles. “She’s not wrong. I was here for that talk too, remember.”

“I’m gettin’ the wine. You two–” I point between them, “behave yourselves.”

It’s not until later that night when I’m wrapped up in bed and waiting for Case to call that I flip open the book Aster sent me.

That’s when I laugh because if I didn’t believe in the Call, or the mountain spirit, or of there being some kind of higher being, there’s no way I can deny it when I see the title page.

“Mountain Needs an Anchor: Case and Isla”

And yes, I did start reading it, and yes, I was unable to stop until I got to Chapter 20. That’s when the story suddenly stopped, ending with just three words.

“To be continued…”