Page 9 of What We Keep
All of a sudden, my eyes were stinging with tears. Luna, who I hadn’t seen since elementary school, pulled me into a hug, and it comforted me more than I could’ve imagined.
When I stepped back, Janet’s eyes were shining with tears. “I’m so glad you’re here,” she said. “Now, I’m gonna make you something. What do you want? Tea? Coffee?”
“I’ll just take your strong house coffee with a bit of cream and toffee syrup.”
Janet smiled. “Coming right up. You need to try Luna’s donuts. They’re amazing.”
After Janet bustled out to the front, I looked over at Luna. “Thank you,” I said.
“For what?”
“That hug.”
She shrugged a little, her curls bouncing as she turned to check a timer on the oven. “I know a little bit about what it’s like to feel weird and out of place. Obviously, the details are wildly different.” She let out a sigh as she pulled a tray of donuts out of the oven and slid them onto the stainless-steel table running through the center of the room.
She gestured to a stool across from her. “Sit. For years, I didn’t even have any friends because being part of the whole influencer world is so weird. I’m so grateful to be here and doing this, and it looks like Janet, as she does for so many of us, is smoothing the way for you.”
I nodded. “She is.”
“Where are you staying?” Luna asked.
Just then, Janet returned from the front, overhearing Luna’s question. “It’s driving me crazy that I don’t have a place to rent for you,” Janet said. “I have been asking all over.” She let out a deep sigh. “This whole short-term rental world has really screwed things up. I prefer to do long-term leases, so I just have a short-term rental for tourists, but it’s booked up. Ever since they reopened the ski lodge, it’s been, well, busy. And I don’t even know if you know, but out near you, they’re rebuilding Heartfire Falls.”
Luna’s brows hitched up. “I hadn’t heard that. You mean the old wilderness resort?”
“It burned down maybe ballpark ten years ago. Same time that your old house burned.” Janet nodded toward me. “Now, they’re rebuilding it, which will be good. Willow Brook could use something like that. Speaking of something you could use…” Janet handed me my coffee.
I took a sip and sighed. “Oh, this is so good!” I exclaimed, savoring the rich flavor with a hint of sweetness.
“As soon as Luna’s donuts cool, you have to try one. They’re amazing.” Janet repeated her earlier comment.
Luna chuckled. “Janet, even if they weren’t amazing, you would pretend they were.”
“But they are amazing,” Janet insisted, sprinkling sugar over the tray of donuts. “Give it a few minutes so they don’t burn your mouth.”
“Speaking of Heartfire Falls,” I said, “I ran into Haven Silver and his son, Tommy. He mentioned he has a few rooms available. I wanted your opinion.”
“My opinion on what?” Janet sat down on a stool beside Luna.
“What’s the deal there? Should I take him up on that? My plan is to eventually build out at the property, but that’s not going to happen anytime soon.”
Chapter Six
Elsa
“Haven Silver is a good man,” Janet began. “He and his brothers are working hard to get the resort up and running. It’s pretty far along, and I think you should take him up on his offer.”
“What’s the deal with him?” I asked. “When did he have a son?”
“Haven adopted Tommy. That was Bree’s little boy.” Janet’s expression softened. “She died in the fire, and his father wanted nothing to do with him.”
“Tommy was—” Janet’s words cut off abruptly when she let out a breath. “Just born.”
“Bree died?” I breathed. I hadn’t heard that detail. Not that I’d have expected to hear it from one encounter with Haven.
Janet nodded, sadness flickering in her eyes.
Heartfire Falls was beside where my family’s home had once been. Despite the isolation of my life with my prepper dad, I knew the Silver family. They’d always seemed like a kind, fun-loving, busy family.
