CHAPTER SEVEN

Maven

The warm sunlight streaming in from the skylight above my bed wakes me the next morning. I'm so exhausted, physically and mentally, that I slept in longer than I meant to. My arms are stiff and my lower back is achy from bending and reaching repeatedly with arms full of books.

Thinking about the bookstore makes me think of Renn being in my house last night. By the time I got out of the shower, Renn had gone. I took my sweet time because I really didn't want to emerge fresh from a shower with him there. It felt too personal for someone I had just met to see me so exposed, and well . . . it was just weird. All of it is weird. Why I care so much about a stranger is a mystery to me.

It seemed my mom had been stalling, or attempting to at least. Whatever her agenda was in keeping Renn hostage wasn't a conversation I was ready to have, so I said a quick good night and headed upstairs, where I spent the rest of the night thinking about my conversation with Valery.

When I walked into The Peak, I'd known within seconds I was in for a long conversation. Val hadn't given me much time to protest as she dragged me into her small office in the back of the store. After an in-depth recap about my recovery, which I knew I couldn't avoid, I steered the conversation to what I really wanted to talk about. It was so out of character for me, but I did it anyway.

"So . . . I met Renn at the bookshop this morning," I say, doing my best to sound casual.

"Oh, really? And?" Val says with eyebrows raised. Her face lights up with a mischievous grin.

"He seems like a nice guy." I try to keep my tone as neutral as possible.

"Renn is a lot of things. Nice. Smart. Helpful. The list is long, sweetheart." Valery talks about him the way a proud mother would, and it surprises me.

I cock my head, realizing Renn is more than just the "new guy" in town, and Val clearly sees him the way Mina and Tasha do. "Goodness, he certainly has made quite the impression in such a short time." It's obvious he's beloved, and yes, the community of Solitude Ridge is welcoming and kind, but it feels like Renn is treated as if he has always been here, or at least that is the conclusion I've come to.

"Well, it has been four years, Mave. It didn't happen overnight." I purse my lips, not totally convinced. She clearly sees the uncertainty in my face. "When you get to know him better, you'll get it. Trust me." She beams at me, implying something. "So, what do you want to know about him, exactly?"

"Does he have any family?"

Val leans forward, resting her arms on the desk. "He must have made an impression on you too, not that I would blame you. If I were twenty years younger, I'd . . ."

"Val!"

She laughs, covering her mouth while I roll my eyes at her.

"You are ridiculous! Can you please be serious for a minute?" I tease her. She clears her throat and sits a little straighter.

Here we go, I think. I could always count on Val being Val.

"I won"t lie, it took a long time just to get an idea of what his story was, and to be completely honest, I still don't know everything. No one does. All I know for certain is he had a job similar to something in the military. My guess is he's been through something that he doesn't like talking about." She pauses, and her stare intensifies on me for a moment, but I pretend I don't understand the not-so-subtle hint. "Anyway . . ." She clears her throat again. "This is, of course, just what I gathered. He hasn't ever said this exactly to me, or anyone, from what I know." I nod for her to keep going. "He doesn"t have any family. He was raised by his grandparents from what it sounds like. No siblings."

"And?"

"And that's really all I know, dear." I raise my eyebrows subconsciously, and once I realize she's serious, she giggles softly.

"Wow. Okay. Tash wasn't kidding," I say, leaning back in the chair.

The rest of our conversation naturally came back to my mom and me. Her eyes teared up once at the mention of my dad. But I wasn't going there, not even with Val, and I love her like a mother. I haven't even had the courage to have an in-depth conversation with my actual mom about my dad in a long time. Of course, we talk about him here and there, but nothing like a proper sit-down. Eventually, I told Val I needed to go home to unpack, so she let me go.

The sound of a bird singing in a nearby tree brings me back, so I reach for my phone on the nightstand and type out a message to Tasha.

Me: Guess who was still at my house when I got home last night?

Tasha: And that's a bad thing because???

She doesn't even need to guess.

Me: I don't know. We don't know him, so it's weird.

Tasha: Well, I do! He's a friend. Don't you trust my judgment?

Me: Of course I do, but still.

A few minutes pass before she sends a response.

Tasha: Don't take it so seriously. Relax. I do have a question though?

Me: What?

Tasha: Would you be opposed to something happening between you two?

Me: Please don't play matchmaker. I beg of you.

Tash: When was the last time you went on a date?

I scoff.

Me: Spare me, please? My mom's shenanigans are plenty. But okay, yeah, it's been a little while, I guess.

Tash: Interesting. Well, we'll see what happens…

I roll my eyes as I quickly type back.

Me: Don't DOT DOT DOT me. Nothing. Is. Going. To. Happen.

Tasha: If you say so…

I toss my phone onto the bed and head downstairs where I find my mom already sitting at the kitchen table, reading a book with a cup of coffee nearby.

"Good morning, sleepy head!"

I rub my eyes, sitting in the chair next to her. "Morning. I didn't mean to sleep in so late. How did you sleep?"

She lifts her mug, taking a long sip. "Pretty good. I got up early to go on a walk down the trail. It was nice."

The trail is our own little spot behind the house that no tourists know about. It's only about a mile long and leads to a quaint pond where I would skip rocks or make tiny boats out of bark and leaves to float across it when I was a kid.

"I'll have to go down there soon."

She nods. "You should."

I stand, looking through the fridge for something to eat.

"What do you have going on today?" she asks, attention back to her book.

"I'll probably stop by the bookshop again and then go on a walk through town, maybe check in on a few people. What about you?"

"I got a lot done yesterday, so I was planning on just staying here to relax today. Mina said she would stop by if things are slow at the bookshop."

"Sounds good."

She lazily sips her coffee while I continue to rummage for food.

"I noticed there was a patch on the roof that looked like it needed some repair," she says, but I hardly pay attention, my hunger at the forefront of my mind at the moment.

"So I asked Renn if he could come take a look," she adds, and I eye her over my shoulder, noticing she doesn't even bother to look up. The bowl I retrieved from the cupboard clanks against the counter as it slips from my grip.

"What? Why?" I fold my arms, annoyed she still isn't making eye contact. "When did you ask him? Do you have his number?"

She chuckles, ignoring the panic rising in my voice. "I asked Mina for it, and then I messaged him a little while ago. He said he'd come by this afternoon."

I walk to the table, flopping into my chair dramatically. "Mom. I'm sure he has better things to do with his time."

"I told him there was no pressure. He could have said no."

"People never say no when people say no pressure."

She finally puts down her book and looks at me directly. "Mave, honey. He offered to help yesterday, and he told me to let him know if I needed help with anything else. There are a few things that I'd like to get done around here before I go back home. And I'm certainly not getting up on the roof." I open my mouth to interject. "And neither are you!"

It's these moments with my mom when I have to bite my tongue from saying what's on my mind, because I owe it to her to be better. She was with me every step of the way in my recovery. And as her only child, I want to be the best daughter I can be. I want to make her happy, especially after what she has been through.

"Can't you ask someone else?" I groan.

She observes me with narrow eyes as she thinks over her response. "Probably, but wouldn't it be nice to make more friends?" And the puzzle suddenly comes together.

"Mom. You don't need to help me make friends. I have friends here already."

She shakes her head. "Maven, I'm your mom. Is it so bad I want you to have some more support here? If you need help with something like a leaky sink or roof, you know you can call him." I'm unsure if my mom is implying that I'm a loner, or that I am incapable of making new friends. "I'm just looking out for my daughter. That's what mothers do," she says very matter-of-factly as I roll my eyes.

She dives back into her book while I munch on my food, making a mental plan for my day. Maybe, while I'm in town, I'll run into Renn and explain that my mother's actions are based on her own crazy agenda, not mine.

She casually continues to sip from her mug, followed by the soft sound of her turning another page, and my heart goes from icy to warm. I can't remember the last time I saw my mom so relaxed, and it's been ages since she's read a physical book. I slide my hand over the table and grab hers.

"I'm sorry, Mom." She looks up, surprised, setting her book to the side. "I know you just want me to have a good life here, but you don't need to worry, okay?" She squeezes my hand, tears forming in her eyes. "I'll be fine. I'll have Mina and Tasha always checking on me. I'm sure Tasha already has plans to keep me busy. This place is my second home, so many people here are like family to us. I won't be alone."

She nods, wiping a tear off her cheeks. "I'm sorry, too. I went a little overboard with Renn, didn't I?" she asks, apologetically.

I pinch my fingers together for emphasis. "Just a little." But I clasp her hand again with a reassuring smile.

"I can tell him not to come."

I shake my head. "It's fine, Mom. He seems like he knows what he's doing." She raises her eyebrows at me to say what else I'm thinking; she knows me too well sometimes. "And he's not bad-looking."

She covers her mouth to keep from giggling. "Finally! I was waiting for you to say something."

"Mom!" I scoff. "You're almost as bad as Valery. You're old enough to be his mother."

"Oh, stop. I didn"t mean it like that. Besides, I'm not so old that I can't appreciate a fine-looking young man."

"Okay, wow. I'm definitely telling him to not come over now!" I joke.

We smile at each other, our laughter drifting through the cabin, and it's that familiar sound that makes me recall how things used to be, especially in this place. A home filled with joy and fun, only to be followed by the reminder that things will never be the same again.

I message Tasha, letting her know I'm on my way to town, and we plan to meet for coffee at Summit Coffee House later. In the meantime, I want to go to another one of my favorite spots: the lounge at one of the resorts called Snowbird. The lounge has an amazing view because it sits high on the mountainside, and the added bonus is that they have great food. It's about a twenty-five-minute drive from Main Street, so I stop to get gas.

My father always taught me to never let your gas tank get below half full because you never know what could happen, especially on mountain roads. I start filling the tank, glancing across the street to watch the floods of people walking by, when I spot Renn coming out of the hardware shop. Perfect timing. Let's get this over with.

I finish filling my car, then give my reflection a quick one-over in the car window, tucking the loose strands of my long hair behind my ears. I kept my attire casual, with a dark blue t-shirt and light jean shorts. The shirt is basic, but one of my favorites because it makes my eyes an even more prominent hue of blue. Taking a deep breath, I jog across the street toward him.

"Hey! Renn!"

He turns, and when he sees me, he smiles wide, giving me a little jolt in my stomach. "Hey!"

His face is smooth and freshly shaven. He has on a dark jean jacket over a black shirt accompanied by a pair of dark pants and boots.

"I was hoping I'd see you," I say, biting my lower lip.

"Oh, yeah? Why's that?" he says, his eyebrows raised in surprise. As the sun hits his face, his green eyes shift to a richer hue—although still outlined with a smoky gray ring.

"I wanted to say thank you for all your help yesterday, and also to apologize." I could tell that he was about to say, "You're welcome" until I added that last part.

"Apologize for . . . ?" he asks, cocking his head.

"My mom. I was just hoping you didn't feel pressured in helping with the light and now the roof. You don't need to come over tonight if you really don't want to."

He nods, running his tongue over his teeth. "I see." He shifts the items in his arm. "I volunteered to help with the sink, and I don't mind helping with other things if you need it."

The last thing I want him to think is that I am helpless, so I quickly retort, "I probably could have done both the sink and light myself. She just worries about me doing too much."

I didn't mean to say that last part, and he gives me a questioning look before he says, "Oh, I'm sure you could have." His tone is in no way mocking, his face serious as he peers at me. A breath passes before he asks, "Does she do that with you a lot?" I subconsciously scan the area to make sure no one I know is nearby.

"Yes, and no. She thinks I am going to . . . overexert myself." I weigh the idea of how much to share with him, and if it weren't for the kindness in his eyes, I probably wouldn't say anything at all. "I was . . . injured a few years ago, so she tends to see me as too fragile. I have to remind her that I'm fine now."

He steps closer, until he's a couple of feet away. "Yeah, she kind of hinted at that last night," he says softly, and I'm sure the look on my face makes him regret saying it.

I furrow my brows. "She told you what happened?" I ask slowly, trying to keep my irritation under control.

I'm not mad at Renn. My mother, on the other hand, just happened to forget to tell me she shared this information. We've been here for less than forty-eight hours, and she has already embarrassed me in front of this guy more than once.

"Just that you were in a car accident. That was all."

I lift my chin slightly, scanning his face, and I get the feeling he's holding something back, or maybe he wants to know more but isn't asking.

"It's true, and I was injured, but I've recovered. Good as new," I say, holding out my arms like he needs to see all of me to prove it. This time, Renn scans all of me, his gaze sliding over my body with his stormy eyes, like something is brewing behind them. They root me to the ground, like I'm standing in a spotlight on a stage. I can see it all there in his face—his unspoken thoughts lingering as if he wants to ask, "Have you recovered? Really?"

I gulp, hoping he doesn't notice, and he finally breaks the silence. "It sounds like your mom is doing what most parents do. They worry because they care." He smiles. "Sometimes too much," he adds with a wink.

"Is that what your mom does with you?" The question spills out before I can think if I should ask it or not, my tone harsher than I mean it to be. His lips turn up slightly.

"She probably would if she were alive." I gulp again. So you know what it's like to have lost a parent? "She died a long time ago," he adds, and I wait for him to say more. "Take this with a degree of skepticism: time helps, but it's always there, the grief. It doesn"t ever go away, but the way we grieve . . . evolves." His words are refreshing from the typical "time heals all wounds" remarks I always hear.

For reasons I don't fully understand, the next thing I say is surprising, even to me. "My dad hasn't been . . . gone for very long."

He sets down the items in his arms, then folds them across his broad chest. I try to act like the gesture doesn't affect me as much as it does. But I never talk about my dad like this, especially with someone I just met, and Renn is giving me his full attention.

"Everyone processes time differently. I don't mean that—" he says almost nervously.

"I know what you meant," I interrupt.

"Good." He puts his hands in his pockets, leaning back on his heels, studying my face once again. He clicks his tongue. "Well," he says, bending to retrieve his things, and I realize what he's been carrying.

"Are those things for the roof?" I ask, nodding toward them.

"Yes."

"My mom said she'd pay you, right?" I wonder, eyeing the items in his arms.

"She did." I don't notice the smirk on his face until I look back up at him.

"Okay. Well, good." My face grows warm. What is wrong with me? I've never been this nervous around a guy before.

"I guess I'll see you later?" he asks.

I could say I have plans, or make up an excuse not to be home later, but instead, I reply, "Yeah. I'll see you later, Renn." I say his name slowly, not really meaning to, but I think he notices too because I see his mouth turn up again before crossing the street.

I watch him for a few more seconds, but before I can look away, he looks back to find me still watching him. I hold his gaze as he winks. That damn wink. I roll my eyes, making sure he sees, and I can hear his laugh even from my side of the street as I walk in the opposite direction, trying to push away the thought that I am, in fact, very much looking forward to seeing him later.