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CHAPTER ONE

Paxton

Ever since I was little, I’ve loved building things.

I remember when I was four, I asked Santa for a LEGO set.

I saw a commercial and was convinced I needed one.

When Santa brought me my LEGO set, I played with it all the time.

I hated when I had to take it apart to make something new.

So my parents bought me more sets and I kept building things.

Then one day my dad built me a little workshop and started showing me how to use different tools. I was in heaven. I was never allowed to use them alone. But I didn’t care, as long as I was able to build things.

I was lucky because the general store that we own has a hardware department and sells lumber too.

So I had all the tools and wood I wanted to make things.

When I was in high school, I took all the woodworking classes I could.

And when I graduated, I immediately joined our local carpenters union.

It took me three years to become a journeyman carpenter.

It was less than the five years it usually takes because of the woodworking classes I already took in high school.

Five years ago, we lost our parents to a freak avalanche.

We almost lost our oldest brother, Lukas, too.

When we found our parents, they were huddled together with three others in a small cave.

There are days that I still can’t believe they’re gone.

Before we lost them, I was making a dollhouse for my sister, Felicity.

It’s a replica of our home and the store.

I stopped working on it after the accident.

It was hard to look at it and not think of our parents.

The other day I finally started to work on it again.

My sister doesn’t know that it’s for her.

I told her that it was something I was doing for fun.

I’m hoping to finish it soon and give it to her for her birthday.

That’ll give me a few months since her birthday is in October.

I’m even making little people that resemble our family.

I spend most of my days at the store, unless I get called to a job. My union allows me to take the smaller jobs that need a union carpenter. That way I still have time to help my siblings run the store our parents loved so much.

My project for today is to make a book display. My brother Rhett’s fiancée is bringing her friend to Wintervale. And so I’ve been asked to make a display because she’s a romance author and they want to put her books out. Yay.

Piper

I’ve decided I’m never listening to my best friend again.

A year ago, she convinced me to publish a book I’d written.

Now here I am at a book signing, staring at all these people walking by my table.

I told her that it was too early to do signings.

I only have five books out, but she insisted that it was the perfect time.

The only reason I’m still talking to her is because she’s sitting next to me.

“Stop smiling so much.” I frown at Emiko Yamaguchi. My soon-to-be former best friend.

“No, you stop being so grumpy. No one wants to buy books from someone who’s not smiling.”

“No one knows me. Why would they want to try my books?”

“Your books are going to be on best seller lists soon.”

“Yeah, right.”

I stand up and smile at the people walking towards my table. Some come over to ask about my books, and there’s a few that even buy some.

“I’m really proud of you, Piper.”

I bump Emiko with my shoulder. “It’s thanks to you. I would never have published that first book without you.”

“I think you would’ve. No matter what. Your stories need to be out there.”

“I’m always so afraid people will be like ‘what is this crap?”

“Oh my god. It’s not crap. Do I have to smack you?”

I shrug my shoulders at her and stick my tongue out.

Emiko and I met in kindergarten. Back then, she was the shy one and I was the outgoing one.

Somewhere along the line, we switched roles.

When we were fourteen, she met Seth Summers.

Emiko and Seth got pregnant when we were sixteen.

At the same time, my dad got a job in Maine.

Emiko and I talked every week, and she would send me pictures of her baby bump.

I hated that I couldn’t be there for her.

Especially when Seth’s parents disowned him.

We ended up losing touch for the last few years.

And I hated that too. Seth and Emiko lived with her parents and had their twins, Kaito and Miyuko.

Then a little over a year ago, Seth was killed on the job.

He was a State Trooper. When Emiko called me and told me what happened, I knew I had to come back to be with her.

After the signing is over, we pack up and head to a restaurant to eat.

It’s been seven years now and this is the first time I’ve been able to spend real time with her.

After she lost Seth, it took her a while to find her way back.

Now she’s engaged to Rhett and they not only have the twins, Kaito and Miyuki, they’re also expecting a baby boy, who they’re naming ‘Raiden.’ I can’t wait.

I finally get to be here for her. My plan is to stay in Wintervale with her until the baby’s here. She’s due in five months.

“Are you sure Rhett doesn’t mind me staying with you? You all live with his brothers and sister, right? How do you do that? Just living with my brother, sister and parents was hard.”

Emiko laughs. “I’m sure. And it’s easy to live with them. It’s the house they all grew up in and they love it there. But if you want to, I still have the house I rented, and like ten more months on the lease. We’ve been trying to find someone to sublet it. But it hasn’t been easy.”

“I don’t mind doing that. I can pay the rent there.”

“You don’t even know how much it is.”

“Whatever it is, I’m okay with it. Because it means I get to be with you when you have Baby Raiden.”

“I love that you’re back. And I can’t wait for you to meet my Rhett and our twins.”

“Me too. I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to visit you. I should’ve been there with you before.”

“It’s okay. I know that you would’ve come back if you were able to. Besides, you’re here with me now.”

I smile at her. I love that we are able to just pick up where we left off with our friendship.

Even after we haven’t seen each other in years.

It’s like we never had any time apart. I watch Emiko text Rhett and I suddenly wish I had someone like that.

Someone who would make me smile that way.

Make me feel like I’m the most important person to them.

I’m twenty-three years old and I’ve been in love exactly one time.

The only guy I saw a future with was Harris, I met him my senior year of high school and we spent the next three years together.

He’s the reason I wrote my first book, it was a way to heal my heart. Because he turned out to be a cheater.

“I’m really glad that you have Rhett.”

“Now it’s your turn to find your person. Maybe you’ll find him in Wintervale and then you’ll never leave.”

I smile at her. “That would be nice. I’ve missed being able to see you and hang out.”

“Me too. And I’m not gonna be happy if you leave again.”

I chuckle. “I’ve missed my bestie.”

“I’ve missed you too. I’m sorry for what Harris did to you. No one deserves that, no matter who they are. You deserve so much better than him and I know you’ll find him.”

“You’re still in your little love bubble and that’s why you think I’ll find my person. After Harris? I don’t know if that’s in the cards. No matter how much I want it.”

Emiko stares at me. “‘Love bubble.’ I like that and I don’t ever want to leave my love bubble. But I know for a fact that you’ll find him.”

I love that she believes that one day it could happen. Until then, I’ll try to be content spending time with my bestie and her family.