Page 91 of His One True Wish

“I don’t know why she picked me. She asked me to reach out to your mom, but not that we’d talked. She told me that she always loved our friendship and that she missed me. She thought you did, too.”

“Wow,” I said, my heart beating faster. “I wish she’d talked to me.”

“I know,” Abby said. “Look, I heard what you said before you went up to Smoke River. This house is not a tear-down.”

“No?”

“No,” she said. “Honestly, I’m not entirely sure your mom should sell. She is so attached to it, but she seems focused on a fresh start. I know it’s been a big transition, you moving, your gran dying.”

“I don’t know if she should, either.”

“Well, she definitely needs to fix the floor, so I say we take things one step at a time.”

“Good call.”

Abby glanced over her shoulder. The sky brightened. “I have another open house to go to,” she said. “Would you give the donuts to the guys when they arrive? And call me if anything seems wonky. I’m going to come by after the open house closes.”

“Thank you, Abby.” I reached across the table. “And you’re right. I was super pissed when Mom hired you, and I was still mad.”

“I know,” she said. “You know, you didn’t talk to me for a whole week once when you thought I’d cheated at Monopoly.”

“I did?”

“Yep,” she said. “You may not be aware, but you are one headstrong woman, Willamena Josephine Prescott.”

I inhaled in mock shock. “Oh, you pinky swore me in third grade that you wouldneveruse my full name.”

“Awww, Billy Jo Prescott, you have a beautiful name, and don’t you ever forget it.” She stood up and stopped at the kitchen door. “What happened up at Smoke River? You seem different.”

“I slept with my gran’s super-hot, secret tenant who happens to be a serial cheater, accidentally, of course, so I’m a bit stunned.”

“Wait, what?” Abby said. Opening the box of donuts, she took out a maple bar, broke off a piece.

“I thought you were a health nut?”

“This is a maple bar moment,” she said. “Tell me everything. Plus, I do yoga. I’ll sweat it out.”

I laughed. She handed me the rest of the donut, and I told my friend from long ago everything that had happened in Smoke River.

CHAPTER 27

AXL

After a couple hours of clearing, the runway was free from the mess of slush, salt, and sand. Marcus had his hands full keeping crews fed at the bakery and café. I had to admit to myself that Angel was helpful. I stayed out of her way and focused on assisting pilots with pre-flight checks. Most of the planes were just fine. They just required a hell of a lot of antifreeze on the wings and a thorough check to make sure none of the fluids were iced up.

“We’re good,” I shouted from the ground, having completed a round of de-icing. The six-person Cessna was ready to go. The pilot was from Idaho and had been forced to land in Smoke River when the weather shifted. His passengers were a team of consultants from New Mexico, long overdue from their flight home. The truth was this tiny airport provided a safe haven to a lot of people.

Angel’s Gulfstream was parked in the far corner. After the Cessna took off, there would be two planes left, mine and Angel’s. I wanted to pack up a bit but planned to take off soon. I wasn’t one for long goodbyes.

Mason strode by the tarmac, his hat pulled down over his ears, his bright white hair busy and untamed along the edges. “Axl, thanks,”he said, stopping when he saw me waving the pilot forward. “This our last one?”

“Yep.” I nodded at Angel’s plane. “You know what’s happening with the Gulfstream?”

“Angel’s ride?” he said. “I don’t. But she doesn’t seem anxious to go anywhere, and I have to say, she’d been damn helpful to have around.”

“Yeah, well, she runs a multi-million homeware business. The woman is highly capable.”

“Sounds like you’re laying down your arms?” Mason asked, his breath in puffs.

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