Chapter 1

Chloe: Hey! Do you want to meet up for lunch?

Ash: Oh, damn. Sorry! I can’t.

Ash: Wait…I thought you were seeing Evan this weekend?

Chloe: Um…long story. But that’s over.

Ash: WHAT? When? Why didn’t you tell me sooner???

Ash: Reid surprised me with a weekend away, but we can totally turn around and come home if you need me!

Sighing with disappointment, Chloe Donovan stared down at her phone.

Chloe: No worries! I’m fine. I promise. Have fun!

Ash: Thanks! I’ll call you Monday!

She was about to put her phone down when she decided to reach out to her older sister and see if she was available.

Chloe: Hey! Do you want to meet up for lunch?

Billie: Hey! Thought you were seeing Evan this weekend?

Damn. She really did tell her sisters pretty much everything about her life.

Chloe: We decided to end things. And before you ask, I’m fine. Really. It’s all good.

Billie: Damn. I’m sorry.

Chloe: I’ll tell you all about it over lunch.

Billie: I’m sorry, I wish I could. I’m on my way to Richmond to look at some new baking equipment for the coffee shop

Chloe: Oh, no problem! Good luck! Maybe I’ll see if Jade is available…

Billie: She’s with me. Levi and Silas are having a boys’ day

Billie: Isn’t that sweet?

Billie: Did you ever imagine our brother being a dad and doing stuff like that?

Another sigh was out before she could stop it because…well, yeah, it was sweet, and she was totally happy for her brother, but it also made her sad. Everyone was busy having a life and she…wasn’t. Okay, maybe that was a bit dramatic, but it seemed like her siblings were all involved with great people or had jobs they were passionate about or were doing things that had them moving forward in life while she was just standing still.

“As usual,” she murmured before putting her phone down.

A few weeks ago, she thought she was going to be just like them—at least the part about being in a serious relationship. She had been dating Evan King casually for a couple of months and that had just ended—not that she was surprised. Evan was a super successful lawyer from a very wealthy family. He was worldly and handsome, and ultimately they had nothing in common. Still, it was flattering that he’d been interested in her at all, but now that was over and while she wasn’t surprised, she was bummed. Outside, it was a beautiful summer day and all she wanted to do was go outside, walk around, and simply enjoy it.

She just didn’t want to do it alone.

The plan had been to go on a picnic with Evan before going up to the ski resort, Summit Ridge, for dinner. Now she had zero plans and it sucked.

School was starting again in a few weeks, and Chloe had really been looking forward to enjoying the rest of her summer vacation with Evan.

The sigh was out before she could stop it. It wouldn’t be hard to fill her time if she really tried. There was always so much to do before the school year started. And this year, that was really true. With all the growth happening in Sweetbriar Ridge, the elementary school was expanding. Mobile classrooms had been set up on campus for grades four and five, and an additional class was being added for each grade because of the influx of residents. She’d been teaching kindergarten for three years and had been the only kindergarten teacher for that entire time. Now there was going to be a second kindergarten class, which meant a new teacher—a new partner—and she was excited about all the possibilities.

She’d met Kimberly Fairmont on a Zoom call and they had a lot in common. They had already started talking about joint projects and new curriculums, and Chloe actually found herself looking forward to going back to work.

But I’d also been looking forward to spending time with a nice guy…

A nice guy who found her to be too boring, too sheltered, and too committed to her small town. Again, it wasn’t anything new. Chloe had always been the quiet Donovan, the shy Donovan.

The boring Donovan.

Maybe no one said it to her face, but she knew they were all thinking it.

At least…no one until Evan.

“We’re just too different,” he’d said. “You have to admit that we don’t have much in common. Every time I try to convince you to come to Baltimore, you’re not interested. There’s nothing to do in Sweetbriar. Things are growing, but there’s no real…culture. I don’t understand why you don’t want to broaden your horizons, but…I need more. I’m sorry.”

The conversation had been brief and mildly crushing, but he was right. And as much as he said he needed more, so did she. She wanted someone who shared her passion for the simple things in life and who didn’t feel like they had to be on a constant adventure to be happy.

So far, she hadn’t met anyone like that.

Her sister—her fraternal twin—Ashlynn, had a wonderful fiancé, a new hair salon of her very own, and was constantly out doing fabulous things. Her brother Levi recently married Jade and was in the process of adopting her son Silas. And her big sister Billie was living her dream of baking. She’d left the stress-filled world of finance and bravely moved on to something she was passionate about, and she didn’t care that she had to take a major pay cut to do it.

Actually, all three of her siblings had gone through major career crises and boldly moved on to bigger and better things.

“And I’m still gluing popsicle sticks together and finger painting.”

Okay, that was the last negative comment she was going to make about herself today. Just because her family was busy didn’t mean she had to sit around feeling sorry for herself. There were plenty of things she could do—even by herself—that would put her in a better mood than she was currently in.

Standing, she walked over to the massive window in her living room and looked out. There was a small park directly across the street and right now, a couple of families were over there laughing and playing and having fun. Moving into the renovated craftsman bungalow had been a major thing for her last month because she was tired of apartment living. She was only renting it, but was working on her finances to figure out a way to eventually buy it.

Technically, she could get approved for a mortgage thanks to the teacher home loan program, but she didn’t want to just make enough to cover her monthly payments; she wanted to be able to actually live and enjoy her life too.

“Baby steps,” she said with another sigh, thinking of her little side hustle. Art was something she’d always been good at and lately she’d been creating paintings that she sold in an Etsy shop as well as custom costumes for cosplay. She didn’t tell anyone about it—not even her family—but that was only because she knew they’d encourage her and tell her everything was great. And while that was one of the things she loved most about them—their unwavering support—sometimes she wanted to try something on her own and test the waters first. So far she hadn’t put a whole lot of stuff out there, but maybe if she upped her inventory in her online shop, she could buy her house sooner rather than later!

Inspiration hit and she made her way to the smaller of her two guest rooms that she turned into a craft room and began rummaging through her supplies in search of inspiration. Thirty minutes later, Chloe decided on her theme for her classroom this year—Pixar’s Inside Out—and discovered that she needed to order more fabric for some half-finished costumes as well as more paint and canvasses. That led her to happily strolling back out to her living room and sitting down with her laptop to shop online.

“I should probably reach out to Kimberly and see if she wants to share classroom themes. I can easily make double of everything I’m going to use.” And after she did all her shopping, she quickly tapped out an email asking her new coworker what her plans were for her classroom. Knowing she wouldn’t get a response right away, she closed the laptop and found that all she’d managed to do was kill an hour.

There was still an entire weekend to get through.

“Drats.” But she refused to simply sit home alone and let the beautiful day pass her by. “I can do some shopping and maybe run into someone in town to have lunch with.”

Changing out of her yoga pants and sweatshirt, Chloe chose something a little trendier—dark skinny jeans, a sleeveless floral blouse, a pair of hot pink strappy sandals, and matching crossbody purse. The colors were a little bolder than her usual palate, but she was excited to finally wear it.

Smiling at her reflection, she felt good about herself, confident even. She felt like someone who could go out and spend a day on her own without feeling self-conscious about it.

“At least…that’s what I’m hoping to do!” she cheerily reminded herself. “But only after I fix my makeup.” Slipping her purse off, she walked into the bathroom and decided to actually do more than her usual minimum. Ashlynn always said that wearing a full face of makeup made her feel like she could do anything. As much as she loved her sister and her advice, Chloe lacked the skills to pull off that kind of artistry.

A little more concealer, a touch of eye shadow, bronzer, blush, a hint more of mascara, and some soft pink lip gloss had Chloe smiling at her reflection. “Okay, I might not conquer everything, but I kind of feel sassier. Yay me!”

And with that, she walked back out to her bedroom and pulled her purse back on. Grabbing her phone, keys, and sunglasses, she headed out the door and was ready to tackle the day.

The drive into town was short and she opted to park in the first available spot so she could take her time, walk along the street, and take in all the new shops that had opened up. Two years ago, this street looked very different. There were empty storefronts and nothing exciting to see. Now, besides Jade’s new shop, Books Beans, there was a nail salon, a craft store, a wine bar, and a bougie little bath shop filled with every kind of sweet-smelling soap and bath bomb you could imagine. Most of the owners were locals and there was something incredibly charming about walking down Main Street and seeing all the growth while still keeping the original vibe of their small town.

She stopped at the corner shop and smiled at the window display. Very Vintage was the newest addition to the local businesses. The thrift shop had everything Chloe loved—lots of antique jewelry, clothing, and furniture. Sometimes she swore she was an old soul who was born too late.

At least, that’s what many people had told her for most of her life.

Not that she took it as an insult, but it certainly made her feel a little like she didn’t fit in.

Stepping into the shop, she pushed all the negative thoughts aside and decided to embrace her old soul self and simply browse to pass the time.

“Hey, Chloe!” Abby Winters called out from behind the jewelry display case. “We just got a bunch of really cool stuff from an estate sale Dave and I went to last month. I’m setting up the jewelry now, but there’s some great furniture in the back room, if you’re interested.”

“Thanks, Abby! Ever since moving from my apartment and into the house, things are still a little sparse. I’d love to look for some new stuff for it.” Glancing at a few dresses as she made her way over to Abby, she smiled. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had to buy any furniture, and I’m not sure what exactly I’m looking for, but it can’t hurt to look, right?

“Ooh…I didn’t know you bought a house! How exciting! We moved into our first place last year and I love it. We lived in apartments for the last ten years, so it was a real treat to be in a house of our own. You’re going to love it.”

“Well, I’m just renting it for now,” Chloe replied. “My cousin Marissa, well…she’s actually my cousin’s wife, but I consider her to be my cousin too…she convinced me to rent first while I figure out my finances so I can make an offer to buy.”

“Marissa handled our house too! We adore her. I’m sure she’ll help you find some great financing deals. What kind of house are you looking for? Or did you mean you were going to buy the one you’re renting?”

“Um…”

“Who’s buying a house?” someone called out from the back room.

Chloe looked around for a moment and then spotted her friend MacKenzie Holland walking toward her. “MacKenzie! Hey!”

They hugged for a moment before MacKenzie pulled back and gave her a huge smile. “You’re house hunting? Why didn’t you mention it the other day when we were hanging out?”

“Oh, uh…it’s actually the house I’m renting. Ultimately, I’d love to buy it. Renting first seemed like a way of testing the waters and all that. Marissa thinks I can get financing because I’m a teacher, but I’m afraid to take that step.”

MacKenzie’s eyes went wide. “Wow, seriously? This is huge! And, no offense, a little out of character for you. I never pegged you for wanting to take on such a big responsibility.”

With a small shrug, she said, “I never thought I would either, but the apartment walls were closing in on me. It was time for a change. I know we’ve talked about that.”

“Devin and I were talking about looking at houses just the other day. His place is awesome, and he’s put a ton of work into it, but it’s small if we decide to start a family right away.”

All Chloe could do was nod.

Another person living the dream while I’m basically house hunting solo…

“From everything he’s told me, Sweetbriar Auto Care has doubled its profits this year,” MacKenzie went on. “I love working with him and being a part of the success—even though I’ve only been there for less than six months—but I’d like to find something of my own so I can contribute to a house. You know, when the time comes.”

Yeah, MacKenzie was still new around here, but she totally fit. It had practically been love at first sight for her and Devin, and they’d been inseparable from the moment they met.

The sigh was out before she could stop it, but fortunately that’s when Abby came over to show them both a beautiful beaded purse she was about to put on display. If there was one thing Chloe had gotten good at this last year, it was smiling even when she didn’t feel like it. She was always optimistic and always the first one to offer congratulations or an encouraging word. Basically, she was a happy person.

It just felt like more of an effort lately.

“Hey, any chance you’re free for lunch?” she asked MacKenzie.

Her friend smiled as she studied her. “Wasn’t Evan supposed to be here this weekend?”

Inwardly, she groaned. “It’s a long, boring story. How about we talk about it over lunch?”

“Absolutely! But let’s shop first!”

“We’re sorry, but the position has been filled.”

Tanner Westyn forced himself to smile—even though it was a phone conversation—and thanked the woman for her time.

Right before he threw his phone down hard on his sofa and began to pace.

Seriously, how was it this difficult to find a job he was qualified for? It had been three months and not one teaching position had opened up for him.

Okay, that was kind of a lie. Technically, several positions were available; they just weren’t what he was looking for. People had warned him it might be like this, but he’d been too arrogant—some would say mildly cocky—to believe them. He’d never had a problem achieving a goal before, and he’d be damned if that was going to start now.

As if on cue, his father walked into the room. “So? How’d the interview go? Did you wow them?”

For a moment, Tanner pinched the bridge of his nose while he silently told himself not to snap. Letting out a long breath, he turned and faced his father. “Actually, Dad, the position was already filled.”

With little more than a nod, Nate Westyn went and made himself a fresh cup of coffee before coming back and joining Tanner. “Where’s the next school on the list?”

No judgment, no lectures, just a show of support.

That was his dad.

“I’m thinking that I should just skip this year and try again for next fall. Obviously all the positions everywhere are filled.” Dropping down onto the couch, his head lolled back as he sighed. “Teaching elementary school has been something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I know I took a bit of a detour while I was competing with my skiing, but it feels like so many of these schools are holding it against me.”

“Have any of them specifically mentioned that?”

“Well, no, but…”

“Has your skiing career come up in any of the interviews?”

“No, but…”

“Tanner, I realize that you’ve always been an overachiever,” his father reasoned. “And there hasn’t been any obstacle you haven’t overcome. But out in the competitive job market, you have to accept that there may be applicants who are more qualified than you.”

“Dad, I graduated with honors. I have dozens of recommendations from former teachers and the school where I was a student teacher. Everyone loved me there!”

His father slowly sipped his coffee while making eye contact. It was his go-to reaction to force Tanner to dig a little deeper with whatever he was dealing with.

“Okay, if they had really loved me, they would have offered me a position somewhere,” he admitted. “And the principal told me I was sometimes a little overzealous and rubbed some teachers the wrong way. But that’s only because I’m passionate about teaching and everyone else was way too laid back!”

Placing his mug down on the coffee table, Nate smiled serenely. “Were they too laid back, or were you trying to show off? Because I think we both know…”

Groaning, Tanner shut his eyes. “I hate it when you do that.”

“What? Tell the truth?”

Forcing himself to sit up, he looked at his father. “I just…I want to be the best teacher I can be. Just like I wanted to be the best student, the best athlete, the best skier…”

“You were your high school’s valedictorian, graduated college with honors and in the top one percent of your class, and you were one of the top Alpine skiers in the country. By now, you should know that you excel at everything you do.”

“Not at getting a teaching job,” he mumbled.

“You waited until a month ago to finally get serious about applying,” his father gently reminded him.

“I sent out my first application three months ago.”

“And you only sent the one because you were so certain they were going to hire you.”

“I put my resume up online too.”

“Okay, that’s true. But you were so busy with endorsement opportunities and doing promotional events that finding a teaching position became an afterthought. Are you really surprised when most schools start up in two weeks?”

“Dad…”

“Fine,” he said with a hint of humor. “I’ve said all I’m going to say on the subject.” Reaching for his mug, he picked it up and stood. “Your mother and I are going to dinner with the Nicholsons tonight, so you’re on your own for dinner.”

Hearing that made him feel like a child, and he hated it. He’d moved back in with his parents six months ago because he’d been traveling a lot for his endorsement appearances. Being a professional athlete had made him a decent amount of money, but he was smart about how he spent it. As much as he hated having to move back into his old room, it meant he wasn’t tied down to any neighborhood, city, or state in his quest to get a full-time teaching gig.

If only someone would hire him!

Once his father was out of the room, Tanner straightened in his spot, flipped open his laptop, and challenged himself to find a school, any school, and have a lead on a job by dinnertime.

Dinner that he’d be eating alone, but that was another story.

“Focus,” he murmured before giving himself a good, long stretch and cracking his knuckles. “Let’s do this.”

He’d been completely prepared to start scrolling through all the top hiring sites, but Tanner came up short when he spotted a new email with the subject, “Interview Request.” Opening the email, he saw it was from a school in the western part of Virginia, in a town called Sweetbriar Ridge.

“When the heck did I apply for that?”

Not that it mattered. He’d posted his resume online as well as reached out to several school districts in the last month, and if they were reaching out to him, that meant there was a position available!

“Dear Mr. Westyn,” he began, before scanning the first paragraph. “Your resume was impressive and if you would like to set up an interview, please call…”

The phone was instantly in his hand and he quickly tapped out the number indicated before crossing his fingers and saying a quick prayer.

“Thank you for calling Sweetbriar Elementary! This is Susan. How may I direct your call?”

“Hi, Susan. This is Tanner Westyn. I just received an email from Principal Kincaid and wanted to set up a time for an interview,” Tanner said smoothly.

“Hold on for one moment, Mr. Westyn, while I check his calendar,” she replied.

“Take your time,” he told her before re-reading the email.

There was no mention of anything specific about the school or the community, so he opened another tab and did a little research himself while he waited.

“Sweetbriar Ridge is a town in…blah, blah, blah…population 1,200. Yikes. Currently going through a bit of a renaissance with the re-opening of the ski resort…interesting…”

“Mr. Westyn?”

Clearing his throat, he said, “Yes?”

“Principal Kincaid is actually available to speak to you right now if you have the time,” Susan told him, and Tanner had to hide his delight.

“That works for me,” he said evenly. “Thank you.”

“Hold on while I transfer you, and good luck!”

He thanked her again before the line went quiet. Letting out a slow breath, he prepared himself to give the best damn job interview of his life.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Westyn. Thank you for being so agreeable and speaking with me on such short notice. I’m Steven Kincaid. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Thank you. It’s nice to meet you too. I just received your email and figured I’d call and make an appointment.”

“That’s normally how we do things, but I was in between appointments and figured there was no time like the present.” He paused. “Your resume is very impressive, but I see this would also be your first full-time teaching position.”

“That is correct. I realize I may have started applying a little late for this school year, but I was hopeful to find a district that needed a fifth-grade teacher.”

“Tell me why you’re drawn to that particular grade. Most early educators are a little more open to where they get placed, except for kindergarten teachers. They are the most passionate about teaching that grade. So tell me your story.”

“My story?” Tanner repeated, shifting a bit in his seat. “Well, I feel like that age is on the verge of moving on to middle school and really figuring out what subjects they like or dislike, and a lot of times, they’re just discovering who they are. It’s an amazing age that’s filled with so many possibilities, and I love the challenge of helping to guide them into that next phase of their education.”

“I see,” Principal Kincaid murmured, seemingly unimpressed.

“Um…”

“Would you be open to perhaps starting out the year as a substitute in another grade? We have a situation where we just lost a teacher—not to anything dramatic, but she had a family emergency and took a position in a school closer to them. We’re getting ready for school to start back and we only have the one classroom available.”

Well…shit.

“So this would only be a short-term position?”

“Well…we haven’t had any other applications for it, so there’s a very good chance it would be for the entire school year. Then, once you’re in our system, any openings for a fifth-grade teaching position, you’d be given first consideration.”

“First consideration? Even after proving myself as an excellent teacher in another grade, the position still wouldn’t go automatically to me?”

Steven Kincaid laughed softly. “We haven’t seen how you are as a teacher yet, so I really couldn’t commit.”

“I guess that’s fair,” he reasoned.

“Our town has been going through a bit of a transformation, Mr. Westyn. I see on your resume that you were a competitive skier. Our resort, Summit Ridge, is gearing up for its inaugural season. It’s located less than twenty minutes from the school. We work with the local real estate company here to help our teachers relocate, if you need that sort of service. I can send you our information packet on the town with everything you’d need to know. You’d be moving here from upstate New York, correct?”

Tanner nodded. “Yes.”

“And considering your skiing career, I’m guessing the cold weather isn’t an issue for you.”

Tanner chuckled. “It’s safe to say that I’m used to it.”

“Excellent! Do you have any questions for me?”

“I do,” he told him. “You haven’t mentioned what grade the position is for.”

“Kindergarten. We already have one kindergarten teacher, Chloe Donovan, and she’s amazing. She was our Teacher of the Year the last two years. Because of all the growth our town has been seeing, the school has expanded a bit and now we have a need for a second kindergarten class.”

The frown was firmly in place, and his entire body tensed. Kindergarten? Did he really want to teach kindergarten? He loved kids and loved teaching, but he really enjoyed it when the students were a bit older and settled into school life. Could he honestly switch gears like that?

“I understand it’s not exactly what you’re looking for, but I’m hoping you’ll consider it. I truly believe you’ll be a perfect fit in Sweetbriar Ridge. And if things keep expanding the way they have in the last year, I’d like to say that we’ll be needing more teachers in the next few years. If you’re patient, you can potentially get that fifth-grade class you’re looking for.”

Just not right now…

Sadly, his initial reaction was to say thanks, but no thanks. Tanner knew what he wanted and didn’t want to settle for something else.

However…

Could he really afford to pass up the opportunity?

“I want to thank you for taking the time to speak with me today, Principal Kincaid,” he began, “but I’m going to need to think about this. I’ve got a few other offers to consider.”

“I completely understand. Feel free to call me back if you have any other questions. In the meantime, I’ll send you that informational packet I mentioned along with information about the position including salary, benefits, and all the other boilerplate stuff.”

“Thanks. I appreciate it. I’ll be in touch soon.” And with that, they said their goodbyes and hung up.

That’s when the guilt set in.

He lied.

And Tanner never lied. It was something he prided himself on, but in the moment, it seemed like the only way to save face.

Immediately pushing all thoughts of the conversation aside, he settled in for a deep dive into finding the perfect position for him.

At some point, his parents left to meet up with their friends, the sun went down, and he found himself sitting in the dark with nothing but the light of his laptop screen. Still feeling determined, he got up and ordered himself some Chinese takeout before continuing his search. Then, he accepted the dinner delivery and ate while still searching.

He must have fallen asleep because the next thing he knew, his father was waking him up and gently telling him to go to bed.

The next morning, he started his search again.

It took another entire day before he realized he only had one option, and by then, it was too late to call Sweetbriar Elementary and accept the position.

If it were still available.

So that night, over dinner, he went over the information packet with his parents. It would be a nine-hour drive from his home to Sweetbriar Ridge, and there were several homes for rent that were well within his budget. His father offered to drive a U-Haul with all of Tanner’s belongings and help him get moved in, and his mother agreed to come along and make sure his home was well-stocked with food and every necessity he would need so he could focus on his new job.

He’d hit the parent jackpot with the two of them. They’d sacrificed so much for him and were always ready to lend a hand wherever he needed it.

“Do you think I’m doing the right thing?” he asked them. “Should I wait and try again for next year?”

“Tanner,” his father began. “The position is a good one. The town sounds like the kind of place that’s perfect for you, and everyone has to start somewhere. Most people don’t just step into their dream job on the first day. You’re getting your foot in the door and that’s the most important part. If it’s not a good fit, then you give proper notice, and then move on. No one expects you to stay if you’re miserable. It wouldn’t be fair to you or the students.”

“I know, but…”

“And you said the other kindergarten teacher was Teacher of the Year? Sounds like she’d be a great person to work with! You’ll learn a lot from her, and before you know it, you’ll be getting a classroom of your own with the age group you really want.”

Nodding, he looked over at his mother. “Mom? What do you think?”

Michelle Westyn smiled before reaching for his hand and squeezing it. “I think you’re going to do a wonderful job. You’ve always been a great leader and someone who has a heart for teaching. I think those kids are going to love having you as their teacher!”

He felt himself blush at the praise. “Thanks.”

They finished dinner and cleaned up together before Tanner found himself in his room alone. Picking up the latest Steve Berry book, he got comfortable on his bed and settled in for a relaxing night of reading. Talking with his folks really put his mind at ease and as much as he had been putting pressure on himself to find the perfect job, they were right. It would come in time, and this was only the first step.

So tonight, he could relax. Tomorrow morning, he’d make sure that he was up early so that he could hopefully be the first person Principal Kincaid talked to.

Sweetbriar Ridge might not be a place he’d ever heard of before, but he had a feeling it was going to be a great place to spend at least the next year.

And who knows? Maybe Sweetbriar Elementary was ready for a new Teacher of the Year.

“It’s always good to have a goal,” he said confidently as he opened the book to chapter one. “And it’s even better to achieve it.”