Page 74 of Three Hearts Hideaway

Walking down Main Street toward The White Pine Pub, she missed the decorations. Hopefully, they’d display new ones now that the season was changing.

Roman and Logan had kept insisting on giving her a personal space, but she didn’t want them bogged down with the extraconstruction of adding a room to the owner’s suites. They’d settled on adding her own private and separate tiny house behind Three Hearts Hideaway.

It functioned as her bedroom and office with a small bathroom and kitchenette, though she hardly ever used the latter. She’d grown addicted to Logan’s drool-worthy cooking.

She passed by Wakin’ & Bacon and plastered her face to the glass window, peering inside. She locked eyes with Maria and gave a quick wave, happy to see her face, and continued on toward the pub.

With the help of her favourite residents, she’d organized Frost Fest, a two-week winter festival in January. Her personal goal was to pack the B&B with guests. Her goal for the town was to help the local businesses make extra income.

Layla helped her flesh out the Frost Fest idea. They had a weekly phone date where they’d discussed ways to bring more people to the area.

They also talked about more delectable topics…like the men in their lives. Hearing all of Layla’s stories about exploring her exhibitionist kink with her boyfriend, James, was freeing. She loved being able to share about Roman and Logan without judgement. But mostly they brainstormed ideas for the winter festival.

Well, maybe not mostly.

Fifty-fifty.

A frozen-over Kawawaymog Lake was perfect for figure skating and hockey games. As part of the festival, they’d organized an ice-fishing competition. And Main Street was closed to traffic each evening and filled with outdoor seating, fire pits, and food stations. Maria had a stand with her famous Wakin’ & Bacon alfajores. Dean sold authentic Canadian maple syrup taffy, poured right on a fresh bed of snow in front of his Drug Mart. Jack had a booth with samples of his gin. Romanoffered a discount at his pub for anyone who stayed at Three Hearts Hideaway or The Quiet Shore Hotel. Logan created a snowshoe path from the town to their property and Ava added it to an activity pamphlet she made for visitors.

She’d heavily marketed and advertised the festival, and it paid off. They were booked solid for those two weeks and had to turn guests away. Gertie had the same problem, and what a good problem it was. Guests continued to arrive during the next few months, having heard the positive word from their friends and family.

Next week would be six months since she arrived in Little Greenfield on a whim. A rash decision that turned into the best of her life. She shook her head as she walked through the doors to Roman’s pub.

“Over here, darling!” Gertie called, waving a soft and wrinkled hand her way. She was sporting bright opal teardrop earrings with a matching bracelet today. “I already ordered us drinks.”

Ava pretended to be affronted, placing a palm on her chest. “Gertie, it’s three in the afternoon.”

She playfully waved her off. “Oh, it’s five o’clock somewhere.”

“Can’t argue with that. What are we having?”

“Spiced hot rum toddies. Few days left to enjoy a warm drink like this. Spring is on the way, dear.” She slid the glass to the other side of the booth as Ava took her seat and removed her toque.

“Speaking of spring…” she hinted, unable to keep the excitement from her face.

“Please tell me you’re thinking of organizing some sort of spring fling for the town?” The eagerness in Gertie’s eyes was contagious.

“I was playing around with the idea. You think the others would go along with it again?”

“Go along with it? Ava! You know how much they appreciated Frost Fest. You and your two fellas are breathing a new life into this town. Maria and Dean are hankering for the next thing. So am I. If only Harold were around to see it.”

Joy radiated through her chest at Gertie’s kind words. “Well, I think he would love what I’m planning for Spring Swing even more than Frost Fest.” She winked and offered a supportive smile to the first friend she’d made in this small town.

“Spring Swing. I love it already.” Gertie raised her cocktail for a quick cheer, and they clinked glasses.

“Hey, love,” Roman said, leaving his place behind the bar and placing a kiss on her head. “Can I get you something to eat? And you Gertie?”

“I’m good with my hot toddy, hun. Thank you, though.”

“I’d love a turkey club, if you can. With fries. And extra gravy.”

Roman playfully rolled his eyes. “I should’ve known.”

Ava grinned. “Anything for me, though, right?”

“Anything for you.” With another quick kiss, he disappeared into the back room to relay her order to Megan in the kitchen.

Megan made the best turkey club with an added slice of avocado and a thin spread of pesto, just for her. After all, they’d become quite close-knit in the time she’d been there. Megan was now her closest friend, apart from Gertie, of course, who was currently beaming at her from across the booth.

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