Page 6 of The Friendly Fall

“You know you didn’t have to come this evening,” he says, plopping down in the chair. “Chief Wilson just wanted me to stay the night while he’s out of town for the next few days.”

“Hope he has a nice honeymoon,” I say, plopping down in the other chair. “Where’d they go?”

“Mexico or something,” Daniel answers, grabbing his own slice. “I don’t know why though. Mexico seems …hot.”

“I guess,” I say, having no clue, since I’ve never been there.

“I like his wife,” Daniel comments.

“You probably shouldn’t tellyourwife that.”

He shoots me a look and then laughs. “You know what I mean. Speaking of Vanessa, she has a few friends coming in from Texas after the new year. Apparently, she thinks that one of them might be just your type.”

Jeez.

“Why is everyone always trying to set me up?” I groan, letting out a heavy sigh. “I don’t even have time for a relationship.”

Daniel laughs. “I take it your mom’s been scheming again … who is it this time?”

“The granddaughter of Marilyn Willis,” I say with a chuckle. “Never seen her in my life—not that it even matters. You know how it always goes for me. I meet whoever it is, they’re nice enough, but then they change their mind about it.”

“No,youchange your mind about it,” Daniel counters, shaking his head at me. “You don’t want to leave this town, and most of the time, womenwantto leave.”

It’s true. I grew up in West Falls and I have no intentions of ever leaving this place—it’s where I belong and where my responsibility lies. Which can be a tough sell on a woman who dreams of bigger cities and brighter lights.

“Vanessa doesn’t want to leave,” I point out, taking another bite.

“Yeah, but that’s just because she loves me. I don’t think she ever would’ve picked West Falls if she had a choice. It grew on her—just like I did.” He flashes a goofy grin.

Lucky guy.

“Well, maybe someday I’ll find someone … or not,” I add with a laugh. “Makes no difference to me. Between running the family hardware store and looking after Mom, I don’t really have time for it.”

“Sure you do! You just haven’t met a woman who sweeps you off your feet yet, but I think you will, and when you do, it’s going to be somethingreallycrazy. I already know it.”

“I have no idea what you mean by that, but I’veneverbeen swept off my feet, and I don’t think it’s going to happen.”

“Nah, it will. It’ll be like one of those romance movies that Vanessa always forces me to watch. You’ll see the woman and then have to catch your breath or whatever.”

“Right, okay. I’ll hold you to that.” I laugh, reaching for another slice of pizza.

That’s insane.

Chapter Three

Eliza

If you had told me, two months ago, that I’d soon be single, unemployed, and moving in with my eighty-year-old grandmother, I would’ve laughed in your face.

But here I am; my car packed to the brim with everything I own.

I take a deep breath as I pull into Granny’s driveway, immediately noticing the rutted-out gravel drive.

Ugh. My poor car.

However, as much as I want to hate on the bumpy driveway, I can’t deny the charm of the old, 50’s style, white farmhouse with its wrap-around porch and colorful flower pots hanging by thewindows. The house emits a sense of comfort and nostalgia. It’s just too bad that it’s located smack dab in the middle of West Falls, a tiny town, far from civilization.

Well, far from Chicago, anyway.

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