1. CAMI

1

CAMI

T he diner was bustling with the usual morning rush. The sound of bacon sizzling on the griddle weaving together with the chatter and conversation all around, and the smell of coffee hung in the air. I sat back in the red vinyl booth and took a deep breath, drinking it all in. I shared a corner booth with Rae and Betty. We’d ordered waffles and coffee for our “business meeting,” but we hadn’t gotten around to it yet.

That didn’t bother me. I had all day to spend with the people who were becoming like family to me.

Betty was the owner of Millie’s Diner, along with her husband, Sam, but the two of them spent more time talking to their customers than serving them.

That’s what we employ servers for , so we can do what’s necessary to keep this place going , Betty always said with a smile, nonchalantly patting her curly gray hair, and she was right. It was that human connection that made the place what it was. Without that, it didn’t matter how many servers she had and what food she put out. People came here to be together.

Everything in Silver Ridge was that way—it was the human connection, where everyone was close to everyone, and that made it such a wonderful place to be.

I’d never imagined I would live in a small town. I’d always worked as an event manager and it made sense that in the big cities was where I would make a name for myself.

But it was never too late to learn, to find new ways of life and to experience new things. I’d learned that the hard way. My life had powered on in one direction and suddenly, someone—my best friend and my ex -fiancé, to be exact—had pulled the rug out from underneath me and I’d had to start all over again.

Talk about a break in momentum. It had forced me to change my outlook on life, and boy, oh boy, had I been in for a surprise.

It turned out life could be pretty damn amazing if I didn’t look back to the past too much. It was hard not thinking about the fact that I would have been married now, setting up a home with the love of my life. But whatever. I wasn’t going to think about that.

Stop thinking about the past. Look forward. Keep moving.

That had become my mantra.

Betty cooed at Hunter, who looked around with mischief in his eyes, trying to find something—anything—to do. I smiled as I watched him, listening to Rae and Betty making small talk about what it meant to be a parent.

That was something that had gone down the drain, along with my dreams of being happily married. The white picket fence, the beautiful brownstone colonial home, the Golden Retriever playing in the yard…

Stop thinking about the past , I scolded myself again.

It wasn’t like I wasn’t happy now, anyway. I was happy. I just had to keep reminding myself of that.

Outside, the chill of late November was biting, forcing into collars and reminding the townspeople that winter was on their heels. Here and there townspeople walked past, heads ducked against the wind, coats wrapped tightly around themselves.

Winter was coming, and I was looking forward to a white Christmas.

Inside the diner, it was all warmth and holiday cheer. Despite still having Thanksgiving this week, the 1950s-style diner was kitted out in Christmas decorations, complete with Christmas lights wrapped around the neon sign outside that flickered at night. The red and green complimented the red booths and it stood out beautifully against the black-and-white tiled floor.

The Secret Santa event would be the next day, and I wanted the place to be ready. I’d helped put up the decorations, and it really added something extra.

I just loved Christmas—the tree, the presents, the decorations, the food… being together.

Rae balanced Hunter on her knee, his tiny hands clapping excitedly as he babbled nonsense. He was almost a year and a half now, and he was busier than ever.

“He looks like a handful,” Betty said with a grin and reached for his hand, jiggling it. “Adorable. But a handful.”

“I thought he was wild when he started to crawl, but now that he can walk I can’t keep up—if I turn my back for a second, he gets into something he shouldn’t.”

She handed him a dried apricot, and it went straight to his mouth. I smiled at him, pulling a face, and he giggled around the apricot.

“Bet you a waffle he’s going to drop that apricot any second now,” Betty said, pointing her fork at Hunter.

“He’ll hold onto it for a little while,” Rae said. “And you can’t take it away from him until he’s decided he’s done.”

“He’s got a very strong grip,” Betty agreed. “But we know he gets that from Tanner.”

Rae smiled, her cheeks pinkening when she thought about her husband, and it was sweet.

Rae had taken me under her wing when I’d first arrived in Silver Ridge, and I saw her often. Her husband was a little scary, a little intimidating, but I saw him from time to time too, and he seemed like he could be really nice. He was a very devoted husband and father, and I respected that.

Hunter dropped the apricot, and I laughed.

Rae chuckled, picking it up and putting it on her plate, which was pushed back far enough that his grabbing hands couldn’t reach her knife and fork. She picked it up, speared a piece of waffle and put it in her mouth, her eyes never leaving her son. “He’s in that stage where everything’s exciting for about three seconds.” She spoke around the waffle in her mouth and ruffled Hunter’s hair, handing him a toy from her handbag.

I sipped my coffee.

“This Secret Santa is going to be so much fun,” I said, drawing the topic back to business. We were here to discuss the event, although it had become more of a catch-up session. “I’ve always loved the whole surprise gift thing. It’s like a mini-Christmas morning every time.”

Betty nodded, taking another bite of her waffle. “You organizing it is the best thing that’s happened to this town in a while. We’ve never had someone so… uh, what’s the word, Rae?”

“Enthusiastic?” Rae offered, bouncing Hunter gently. He squealed, delighted by the motion. “Passionate? Talented?”

“All of the above.” Betty chuckled and nodded. “We’ve done this drawing for years, but it’s always been more of a ‘throw names in a hat and call it a day’ situation. You’ve turned it into a real event, Cami.”

I smiled, and my stomach fluttered with pride. It had only been a few months since I’d landed in Silver Ridge, and every little project like this made me feel just a bit more like I belonged. I’d gotten involved just to do something that would distract me from moping about my failed relationship, but it had become so much more than that.

“I just thought it would be nice to add some excitement. I’ve always loved planning things like this. Christmas should bring everyone together, you know?”

“That’s exactly how it should be,” Rae said, nodding in agreement. “You’ve got the knack for it, that’s for sure.”

I glanced around the diner at the familiar faces. Sometimes it was hard to think I’d only been here since the summer. Silver Ridge had wrapped me up in its small-town charm and helped me forget the rest of the world existed.

Betty pointed at the chalkboard above the counter, where Millie’s daily special was scrawled in colorful chalk. “Let’s talk food. We can’t have an event without food.”

“It’s the heart of anything we do,” I agreed. “Food brings everyone together and creates amazing memories. Do you have anything you have your heart set on?”

Betty tilted her head, thinking about it. Her plump form, warm and jolly, suggested she knew exactly what kinds of food to have for what occasion and that was what I loved about her. She was unapologetically herself, and everyone loved her for it.

“We can do huckleberry pancakes with spiced apple compote,” Betty suggested. “And gingerbread waffles with caramelized pears.”

“Oh, wow,” I breathed. “That doesn’t sound like diner food, it sounds like fine cuisine.”

Betty laughed from her stomach, an infectious sound, and Hunter laughed along even though he didn’t know what it was about.

It was beyond cute.

“It’s just a few things I like to experiment with. I think we can have those ready for meals, putting them on special along with our regular menu.”

“What about eggnog for drinks?” Rae suggested. “Or mulled wine? We can have a non-alcoholic option, too.”

“And peppermint hot cocoa.” Betty nodded. “What do you think, Cami?”

They both looked at me, eager to hear my thoughts.

“That all sounds fantastic,” I said. “That will already give the event an incredible Christmas spirit and that’s exactly what we want.”

Hunter finally managed to get his hands onto Rae’s waffle, the cream curling through his fingers.

“Hunter, honey, no!” Rae cried out, but laughter laced her voice, and she pulled him back. He pushed his hands into his mouth right away, and I laughed. Even when he was on her lap, he was too quick for her to grab all the time.

Rae wiped his sticky hands and cheeks. Hunter had gotten more stolen cream on himself than in his mouth, but Rae didn’t seem to mind. She was used to the mess.

“So, how are you settling in, Cami?” Betty asked, her tone warm. “Seems like you’re handling all the decorations and events like a pro.”

“I’m really enjoying it. Decorating the town square for Christmas has been the highlight and a wonderful way to keep busy. I never had the chance to do something like that before. It’s nice feeling like I’m contributing.”

Rae smiled at me. She knew what I was going through. Since I’d arrived here, she’d been a great friend, and I’d opened up to her about my past, about how I’d been humiliated when I’d found out my best friend and my fiancé had had an affair for months. And then even more when I’d found out that almost everyone had known about it but me and no one had had the guts to tell me.

That was why I’d left.

That was how I’d ended up here. Somewhere far, far away, where Dylan and Serena and their betrayal couldn’t find me. Where my family would leave me alone and I was free of the gossip behind my back from everyone who knew me.

“You guys have made me feel welcome. I couldn’t ask for more,” I finally said. “This place really is like a home.”

Betty nodded. “You’re part of the family now, Cami. And you know what? You might even get Mason Thompson to show up for one of these things.”

“Mason?” I asked with a frown. I’d heard the name mentioned once or twice but I hadn’t met him. “Who’s Mason?”

“Oh, Bear,” Rae said, rolling her eyes, but a smile tugged at her mouth. “He’s a loner. He lives in the mountains. More of a legend than anything else—some people never even see him around. He keeps to himself mostly, doesn’t come down to town unless he absolutely has to. And when he does, you’d swear the grizzly he’s named after would be more polite.”

“He’s an interesting character,” Betty added, swirling the last of the coffee in her cup. “He grew up in a city close by and went off to the military. When he came here, he was so… intense. He didn’t just decide to live in a small town. He decided to become a recluse.”

“Not completely. He and Tanner still hang out all the time,” Rae pointed out.

“That doesn’t count,” Betty said before she looked back at me. “Tanner lived up there too, so that’s something they have in common.”

I nodded. Rae had told me about Tanner and how they’d met, where he’d lived before. He still had his cabin up there, she’d told me, and when she and Tanner wanted to be alone, they got a babysitter and headed up to the cabin.

“Well, he lives up in the mountain all on his own,” Betty continued. “Some folks say he’s got his reasons, but whatever they are, he’s not sharing.”

“He’s a good guy,” Rae said, bouncing Hunter gently as he started to fuss. “Tanner’s going to try and get him to come to the Secret Santa event. It will be great if we can get everyone here. But even if we don’t manage to convince him… You’ll meet him eventually. Just don’t take it personally if he’s gruff. He’s just… rough around the edges.”

He sounded like someone from a story. “Sounds like quite the character. I’ll have to see this mountain man for myself.”

“You’ll know him when you see him,” Betty said with a laugh. “Big guy, scowl like he’s never heard of a smile. But underneath it all, he’s got a good heart. Just takes a while to thaw him out.”

I grinned. “Well, maybe we can warm him up with some eggnog. I love a challenge.”

Rae smirked, glancing at me. “You might be the one to finally get him to join in, you never know. Silver Ridge is full of surprises.”

I laughed, and a thrill of excitement rushed over me. Life in Silver Ridge was turning out to be more than anything I could have hoped for, and the Secret Santa event was going to be the cherry on top.