Page 25 of That First Flight

I take this moment to bring myself closer to her. The magnetic pull between us forces my feet to move and put myself in her bubble. “You’re not the only one.”

“Mmhmm. So, I heard you met Samuel.”

I nod. “I did. Is that your dad?”

“He’s not.” Macey shakes her head at the same time her arm extends to showcase the small cottage on the side of the property. “Why don’t you come in and I can make us some homemade hot chocolate. I’ll even be extra nice and tell you a good place to eat that isn’t the Bar and Grill.”

She turns to walk toward the place, and I follow like a puppy.

“I definitely have to hit the gas station after this for a lottery ticket. Because Macey Evans is being extra nice.”

She doesn’t reply but keeps walking down the gravel walkway until we reach the house. Once we get inside, I take in how tiny this place really is. From the outside, it looks way bigger than it is. The kitchen is packed with cooking gadgets that take up the little bit of counter space and small appliances.

On the floor next to the couch, I notice a pile of culinary education books stacked taller than the back of the couch. One would look at that pile and immediately assume a college student lives here.

“Are we learning how to cook?”

“I know how to cook.”

I point to the stack of books. “Someonehere is learning.”

“Oh, yeah.” She pulls off her beanie. Running her hands through her hair. Despite it being jet black, it shines in any light it touches. “That would be me.”

“Really?”

“Remember those goals we kept talking about? Well, that’s my number two goal in life.”

“Number two?”

She releases a long drawn out sigh like she’s hesitant to continue. “When I was in high school, I knew I wanted to become a chef. I had big plans to go to culinary school after graduation. Then after that, try and make it to the big city and work in one of those fancy five star restaurants to become the greatest female chef.”

Confusion washes over me and I can’t help but be curious to know more. “Hadbig plans?”

“I heard you also met Mackenzie inside,” she says, ignoring my question.

“The little girl? I was showing her my camera a little bit ago up at the house. I think I totally scored brownie points because she thinks I’m really cool.” I laugh.

It all dies down when I notice that Macey isnotlaughing back with me. I can’t read the expression on her face, but if I had to guess it looks like… worry.

She clears her throat, averting her stare to the ground.

“That’s my daughter,” she finally says.

Everything in my chest tightens. I can’t move. I can’t breathe. All I can do is stare at her.

She has a daughter?

That can’t be what I just heard, because she’s too young to be a mom, right?

“Let me get you that hot chocolate,” she says, breaking me out of my state of shock.

“Yes. Chocolate. Hot,” I stammer.

She doesn’t say anything else as she works around the kitchen grabbing two mugs from the cabinet and boiling hot water on the small stove. My head isspinningright now. Not in a bad way, but I’m just really shocked. If anything, this new revelation makes me like her even more.

I want to ask her more about her and her daughter, but I settle for small talk not wanting to push her to reveal more than she’s comfortable with. “So… can you tell me anything more about this town other than the Bar and Grill?” I ask in an effort to relieve some of the thick tension in the air.

“I wish I could tell you more, but I don’t get around much. It’s a small town.” She laughs at that. “I mean, compared to where I lived in Montana it’s small. It’s actually something like eighty miles long. But I’ve only explored the five-mile radius from this house.”

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