Chapter 13

An easiness settledover their relationship during the following weeks and into the first snow of the season, and there was a joy inside her that Zoe had never experienced. She had a family. And they were a good family.

Colt's parents had built a lasting legacy, and it was obvious all five boys had the same core strength as their father. They loved their mother, the ones who were married loved their wives, and they worked hard and pushed themselves to be more. Though there was something going on with Wyatt and Raven that she hadn't quite put her finger on. There was love there, but there was also a strain on their marriage. But Raven hadn't brought it up in all the time they'd spent together, so she didn't feel like it was right for her to bring it up.

It was her first winter in Laurel Valley, and she'd been told on multiple occasions by multiple people that a wimpy New York winter was nothing compared to what she was about to experience. She had a feeling they might be right because by the first of December, there was more than a foot of snow on the ground and the view from her window had changed from boats on the lake to the ski lifts bringing people to the top of the mountain.

The wind was brutal as it blew through the valley and cut like a knife against her cheeks. She knew the locals laughed at her already wearing her full down coat like one of the tourists in for the season, but she wasn't foolish enough to let pride get in the way and have her catching her death of a cold.

She pulled the green scarf up higher so it covered the bottom half of her face and made her way across the street to The Lampstand. There were skaters on the ice rink making loops and figure eights around the giant Christmas tree at the center. The sight made her smile, along with the shoppers on the sidewalks and the soft fat flakes of white that hadn't stopped for the past week.

She was supposed to meet Colt after his last patient for dinner and the tree lighting. The familiar ritual reminded her of New York, and she found that she did have a fond memory of her old home.

She stamped her feet on the boot rack outside the doors of The Lampstand and then let herself in. The warmth enveloped her immediately, followed closely by the scent of freshly baked bread. She unwound her scarf and then unzipped her jacket.

"I was wondering who was under there," Simone said, chuckling.

Simone was a striking woman in her early sixties. Her hair was still jet black with only the occasional strand of silver woven in. Her Creole heritage was apparent in her mixed features—skin the color of café au lait, cheekbones and nose from a distant Native American ancestor, and the blue eyes of a Frenchman who'd settled in New Orleans and fallen in love with Simone's great-grandmother.

"Girl, what are you going to do come February? You haven't seen cold and snow yet."

"That's what people keep telling me," she said. "I'm sure I'll get adjusted by then. Chewy won't let me do anything else. I've never seen a dog who loves the snow so much. Thank God Hank installed that drying tube. Every time he goes out he rolls around until he looks like a yeti."

"Oh, well, he's built for this kind of weather," Simone said. "Come on back. Raven and Anne are already at the table."

"Am I late? They're never on time."

Simone laughed. "You catch on quick, my girl. Every time they see you they keep expecting to see a ring on that finger. I think their promptness has more to do with that than anything."

Zoe smiled, but felt the nerves flutter in her stomach. She'd expected Colt to propose for weeks. In fact, there'd been a couple of times she was sure he was going to pop the question, but as of yet, he hadn't mentioned marriage again. She didn't think he'd changed his mind.

He'd certainly not stopped kissing her. In fact, the kissing was driving her crazy. It was torture. And if he didn't move things along a little quicker she was going to have to take things into her own hands and do the proposing. They'd have the shortest engagement ever because if she didn't get her hands on him soon she couldn't be held responsible for what happened.

"I'll be sorry to disappoint everyone," Zoe said, taking off her gloves so Simone could see her naked finger.

"It's bound to happen sooner or later," Simone said, muttering something under her breath about Colt being as slow as a turnip.

Mac ran up to her and gave her a hug. She was in her waitressing uniform today of a black skirt with black tights and a white button-down top. She not so subtly looked at Zoe's left hand, and Zoe couldn't help but laugh.

"Nothing there," she said. "Sorry."

"Crud," she said. "I just lost ten bucks."

"Y'all are betting on me now?" she asked incredulously.

"We've had a family pot going for the last month. All I know is the winner is going to walk away with some cash."

"You surely didn't just tell her about the bet," Raven said, scolding Mac. "What kind of family is she going to think this is?"

"An enterprising one, apparently," Zoe said. "I hope whoever wins is planning to cut us in. Seems only fair."

"That's a nice thought," Raven said. "But you don't know Aidan like we know Aidan. He always wins. And he never shares. It's very annoying."

Aidan was older than Colt by two years and younger than Duncan by one. Then Hank was sandwiched in between Colt and Aidan, and Wyatt was eleven months behind Colt. She'd gotten a crash course on the O'Hara family tree and could keep everyone straight in her head for the most part. All she knew was she had a newfound respect for Anne O'Hara. She had five boys who were all a year apart or less, and she somehow managed to keep her sanity and her house from being a pile of rubble.

Zoe hugged Anne and then scooted in next to her in the big round corner booth. Simone sat next to her sister-in-law and then Raven scooted in. A few minutes later Dylan and Hattie walked in, laughing about something and hanging their coats up on the rack at the front of the restaurant. And then they came over to join the group.

She'd gotten to know Colt's sisters-in-law, and it was the first time in her life she'd had women friends. There was a warmth and lightness whenever she was around them. They didn't always share deep or heavy things about their lives, but there was an understanding of support, even in the unspoken.

But since the day by the lake, where she been able to unload her past, things had started to change. She didn't feel alone as she once had. Every day it had become a little bit easier to breathe and it had gotten easier to share part of herself with these women. Laurel Valley had become her healing place. Now if she could only get Todd to leave her alone for good, things would be perfect.

"I've already ordered champagne and lunch for all of us," Simone said. "Since Zoe wanted to get together I figured we're celebrating something."

There were several glances at her empty ring finger and she fought the urge to hide her hands in her lap.

"As a matter of fact I do have news and something to celebrate," she said. "Do we need to be worried about this snow? It hasn't stopped in days."

"Zoe!" Raven said. "You're giving me a heart attack. You have to spill it."

"Champagne first. You guys know I'm serious about the snow, right?" she asked, winking at Raven. "Should I be worried?"

"This is nothing," Anne said. "This kind of snow is what keeps all the tourists coming in. This is perfect snow for skiing. Wait until January and February hit. You'll see real snow then, along with some ice. Every year I tell Mick we're getting too old to traipse out to the barn in in this stuff to feed animals, but he wouldn't know what to do with himself if we actually retired. He'd finally have to take me on that Mediterranean cruise I've been asking to go on for the last ten years."

Zoe tucked that bit of information in her back pocket. She'd love to be able to send Mick and Anne on a trip like that. She'd learned over the past months that they were selfless people who worked hard and did everything they could to help the family. They deserved a little something in return.

Mac brought the champagne and glasses over to the table and said, "I might be serving y'all today, but I want in on this party."

"So what's going on?" Hattie asked once the champagne was poured.

"Well, there are a couple of things. I haven't told Colt yet because I want it to be a surprise. But I got a call this morning from my agent that another movie deal has been finalized for my last book."

There were cheers and clinking of glasses, and seeing the genuine joy on their faces at her success filled her with confidence.

"I only tell you that because the money will be enough that I can pay off Todd early. I've already had my attorney draft up the notice and issue him a check for a lump sum payment. I want to be free and clear of him forever."

"Finally!" Mac said. "That's something I can toast to. What a loser that guy is."

Zoe's lips twitched. Ahh, to be that young and na?ve again. "I wanted to share it with you first because you're the ones who gave me the idea."

"Yes, but did you tell him to stop texting and calling you?" Simone asked with an arched brow. "Because if he doesn't I know a few men who wouldn't mind trying to convince him the good old-fashioned way."

"As a matter of fact," Zoe said. "He texted this morning to give me a snide congratulations about the movie deal and a comment about how small his alimony payment seems in comparison. I guess he keeps up with all the news where I'm concerned." She rolled her eyes and took a sip of champagne. "But I told him I was blocking his number and that any questions about his alimony should be through our attorneys. I feel so stupid for not thinking of it sooner. I should have cut the cord a long time ago, but he was able to keep me tethered, like a puppet on a string. But now I am finally free of him in every way possible."

"Here, here," Anne said, raising her glass in a toast. "To new beginnings."