Page 6 of The Inn at Evergreen Hollow

“You’d probably be making better money there.” Leon lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “Or you could be up in New York City, working on some big-scale projects. Living large. You’ve got the talent for it, that’s for sure.”

Aiden snorted. “All that noise and chaos? Not for me. I like it here.” He slid the hinges in place, starting on the fastenings. “Besides, there’s nothing more fulfilling than keeping up my hometown. Seeing all these buildings in good shape, still standing, knowing I’ve got a part in literally building the history of it…” He shook his head. “It’s a better feeling than working on any skyscraper, that’s for sure.”

“Well, we’re fortunate you came back. Don’t know what we’d do without you. Bethany complained about that temporary door every day it was up, said it couldn’t compare to the work you did. Let in a draft, she said.”

“Well, this one won’t.” Aiden grinned. “Besides, I’m the lucky one. Normally this time of year is slow, but not now. I’ll have as much work as I need to keep my hands busy until springtime.”

“Maybe you should think about trying to find some other ways to occupy your time.” There was a distinct gleam in Leon’seye that Aiden recognized immediately—the gleam of a happily married man who would like nothing better than to set someone up. “Gracie was in here the other day, when you were measuring that door frame. I know she’d be tickled pink if you asked her out on a date sometime. Maybe to Marie’s. Place that fancy, a girl can’t help but have a good time.”

There it is.

Aiden chuckled, rolling his eyes lightly as he moved the door back and forth.

“Appreciate the offer,” he said finally, reaching up to tighten one of the screws. “But I can’t say I’m really all that interested in dating just now.”

“You might think different if you tried.” There was that fatherly tone in Leon’s voice that Aiden knew well, the one he used with anyone a hair under forty. “Bethany and I don’t always see eye to eye, but my life wouldn’t be a thing without that woman. I’m grateful every day I have her. I can tell you, you get to a certain age and your outlook changes.”

Aiden glanced over his shoulder. “I’m not opposed to the idea of finding love,” he clarified, leaning down to fish another tool out of his carpentry bag. “I just don’t think being set up is the way, you know? I feel like when I cross paths with the right woman, it’ll just hit me. I’ll know I found her. Until then…” Aiden shrugged. “I’m fine with waiting.”

“An old romantic.” Leon laughed, circling around behind the counter. “Well, there’s something to be said for that. I can’t argue with you there.”

“I just figure it’ll happen if the time is right.” Aiden closed the door, moving on to the locks. “You got a new shipment of that beef I like in yet? Thought I might drop by Melanie’s bakery, get some of that sourdough for sandwiches for the week.”

“Sounds like I need to get the deli counter up and running.” Leon grinned, fishing out the keys to unlock it. “It’s been quiet asa church mouse all morning, and I’ve been taking advantage of it. Haven’t opened up but half the store so far.”

“Everyone’s busy bouncing back from the storm.” Aiden flicked the deadbolt this way and that, making sure it would hold. Evergreen Hollow wasn’t exactly the kind of place where theft was a real concern—plenty of folks didn’t even bother locking their houses—but he liked to be thorough. Leon could decide how much he wanted to make use of the locks—he’d ensure they were in good working shape, just in case. “I know Joe is coming by at some point to stock up on tools. We’ve been going through hardware like nobody’s business, working on the event center. And I think his lever broke yesterday. He’ll need a new one. But he likes to get all that himself, so?—”

Aiden shrugged, finishing the last of the repairs and tucking his tools away.

He had plenty of carpentry supplies he’d have been happy to offer up in service of repairing the center, but Joe had turned him down. He saw the wisdom in it—it put money in Leon’s pocket and went right back into the town, but he wanted to help in any way he could. Seeing the town so beat up from that storm felt like a personal injury. One he was eager to treat.

“I’m going to head out and see what they need,” Aiden said, clapping Leon on the shoulder as the older man brought him a paper-wrapped package of deli meat. “How much do I owe you?”

“On the house, for how quick you got that door here.” Leon pushed the package into Aiden’s hands, the expression on his face clear enough that Aiden knew he wouldn’t be taking no for an answer. “I’ll call you if there are any issues with it.”

“You do that.” Aiden nodded, picking up his bag, and headed out into the crisp winter air.

It was frigid, here in Vermont, a month before Christmas. But he loved it. The invigorating cold, the beauty of the landscape, the cheer that seemed to permeate everything. Evenwith the semi-disaster that the storm had been, everyone was picking up and carrying on, making sure to help each other as they put Evergreen Hollow back together. It was just one more reason why he loved the town as much as he did.

There was no doubt about it, he’d always made the right decision coming back.

Evergreen Hollow was always going to be his home.

CHAPTER FOUR

Nora’s flight arrived in the tiny airport just outside of Evergreen Hollow a little before one in the afternoon, just in time for her to look out of the small plane window to the endless white expanse beyond and wonder for the thousandth time just how big of a mistake she might have made.

She hadn’t evenreallymade it to Evergreen Hollow yet. It was still two hours by car, which would leave plenty of time for her to ruminate on whether or not this had been a good idea. Although Melanie had promised to pick her up, and Nora felt certain that would involve an endless stream of distraction in the form of catching up.

That thought was definitely a relief.

She retrieved her luggage from the tiny baggage carousel, keeping an eye out for Melanie as she strolled through the airport to the front doors. The whiff of coffee from the small stand near the entrance was tantalizing, but she knew Melanie would never hear the end of it if she got coffee from somewhere other than The Mellow Mug. Knowing Melanie, she’d bring coffeewithher.

The sharp, cold Vermont air hit Nora the moment she stepped outside, and she breathed it in, sucking it deeply intoher lungs. She’d been outside for two seconds, and she already felt overwhelmed by a nostalgia that she’d left behind years ago.Was it a mistake to come back?The question that had been rattling around in her head for hours took root more firmly, growing tendrils that sank in and made her stomach a little queasy.

Only time would tell. There was nothing to do now but find out. And the truth was that she had no idea what else she would have done with her holiday. Sitting in her apartment alone, no matter how beautiful and cozy, would have felt like an even bigger blow.

Nora heard a shout that sounded like her name, and jolted out of her worry to see Melanie jogging toward her, wrapped up in a thick infinity scarf and long-sleeved running clothes. She looked exactly like Nora remembered her—blonde and pink-cheeked and always in motion, every bit the athletic runner that she’d always been.

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