I always knew the first time I saw Mitch again there would be a lot of emotions involved, but actually seeing him had been much worse.
I found myself feeling like an eighteen-year-old girl again. I’d been in love with Mitch, but I’d known if I stayed for him, I would have resented him. I’d also known if we’d tried to have a long-distance relationship it wouldn’t have worked out, so I’d made a clean break and hadn’t looked back.
I lost myself in the routine of setting up the shop for the day, and by the time my girls started coming in, I felt a lot more balanced.
I looked around my space, took a deep breath and let it out, and smiled. It was all mine. I’d enrolled in cosmetology school a few months after I’d moved to Chicago and had always dreamed of opening my own place.
When my mom told me the original owner of Serenity was planning to sell and move to Florida, it had seemed like a sign.
The timing had been perfect. I’d received the money from Jed’s life insurance and had been tossing around the idea of bringing Hope back home to Mason Creek and starting fresh. So, I’d jumped at the chance to buy the salon, had found our little house, and the rest was now history.
I’d done some remodeling over the last few months, wanting Serenity to match my style and personality, and I was really proud of how it turned out.
It was the kind of place people felt comfortable coming to, to enjoy a break from their everyday lives and get a little pampering. We had the older ladies, who had a standing weekly appointment to get their hair set and enjoy a bit of gossip, and the regulars who came in every six or eight weeks to freshen up their style.
I loved everything about owning my own business. Especially having awesome stylists like Anna, Cheryl, Stacey, and Maggie. They made everyday fun, and my days go by fast.
I’d worked in salons with toxic management, which had made going to work hell. I was lucky and I knew it, and I’d vowed early on never to take any of it for granted.
Just then, Stacey walked in swinging her hips as she belted out a Bruno Mars song, which would now be stuck in my head for the rest of the day.
“Morning,” I called out, giving a little wave in case she couldn’t hear me.
Stacey often had her air pods in, unless she was with a customer, so we’d all grown accustomed to her not being able to hear us as she moved around the salon.
She caught my wave and gave me a finger wave back as she sashayed to the back, presumably to put her bag away and her lunch in the fridge.
“Hey, hey,” Cheryl called as she came in a few moments later. “I brought donuts.”
“Bitch,” Stacey called out from the back. She was constantly starting a new diet. This week it was The Whole Thirty.
“Sorry, Stace,” Cheryl called back as she winked at me.
“I’ll take one,” I said, crossing to see what she’d brought. “Yum, cinnamon twist, my favorite.”
“I got that one just for you, boss.”
“Thanks, sweetie,” I replied, before taking a big bite and closing my eyes to enjoy the cinnamon, buttery goodness.
Joy at The Sweet Spot is a culinary goddess.
“You got anyone on the books this morning?” Cheryl asked as she began getting her station ready.
“Yeah, my mom, actually,” I replied with a smile. She was one of my weekly regulars. “You?”
“Back-to-back until I leave, with a break for lunch.”
Cheryl, Stacey, and I were opening today, with Anna coming in early afternoon. It was Maggie’s day off.
“That’s great,” I said as I moved to make sure the Keurig had water and the mini fridge was stocked with complimentary drinks for our guests.
Each stylist handled their own payments and paid me a monthly fee for using the space, so it all worked out perfectly.
“Who is ready to slay this day?” Stacey asked as she came out of the back room. Her hair and makeup were perfectly done. She was our resident makeup artist, nail technician, and waxer, so she always wanted to look her best in order to represent the work she did.
“All day, baby,” Cheryl replied.
I went to the back room and connected my phone to the Bluetooth radio we had running through the ceiling. After I decided on Taylor Swift Radio, I went back out to see Stacey nibbling on a custard-filled donut.
She looked up at me and said, “If I eat it in small bites, the calories don’t count.”
I smiled and shook my head. I love my girls.
4
Mitch
There was nothing like a cold beer after a long day of hard work. Manual labor was satisfying in an elemental way, but when I got home, showered, and had a nice cold one, I was able to sit back with contentment and enjoy the night.
Owning my own painting business had sort of just happened.
I’d started out helping people when they were fixing up their place, and eventually anytime anyone was putting together a crew to paint, I was the first person they’d call.
My mom had actually been the one to suggest I turn it into something bigger than a side hustle and she’d invested in me by giving me startup money. It had worked out so well, I’d been able to pay her back in my second year and had since turned it into a lucrative business.
I had a couple guys who helped me out when I needed it, but I was always in the mix getting my hands dirty.
I took my beer out onto the small porch of my cabin. Well, Wilder’s cabin. His family-owned Roman Wilde Ranch and surrounding property were so vast, he’d had cabins built to rent out and make some extra money. I was the only long-term renter, but his other cabins were usually booked.
Easing back onto the rocking chair, I looked out over Wilder’s land and imagined what it would be like to own a house and some land of my own one day.
I’ll get there.
The sound of a truck coming up the road that led to the cabin had me glancing in that direction and I grinned when I saw it was Wilder.
He was my best friend. Which was why even though he’d been working his ass off on the ranch all day, he was answering my earlier call and coming to have a beer and talk over my run-in with Faith.
“Got one of those for me?” he asked, nodding at my beer as he ambled toward my porch.
“Sure do,” I said, getting up from my chair.
If it had been anyone else, I would have told them to go help themselves, but as exhausted as I was, I knew Wilder had probably been up for about sixteen hours already.
“Take a load off and I’ll grab it,” I said, gesturing to the other chair.
“Don’t mind if I do,” Wilder said, his white teeth flashing in contrast to his dark beard.
A couple seconds later I was back, handing him his beer and settling back into my seat.
“God, this is beautiful,” I murmured as the sun began to go down.
“Yes, Montana is definitely God’s country,” Wilder agreed.
“I was speaking specifically about your piece of Montana, but, yes, she is awe-inspiring.”
Wilder chuckled and tossed back some beer.
“Well, I know we could sit here and talk about our love for our great state all night, but I seem to remember a phone call this morning about a certain blonde beauty queen…”
I sighed and shook my head.
“I saw her through the window of Java Jitters and thought, enough is enough. I went inside to finally have it out, but when she turned around, I was speechless. How the hell did she get more beautiful?”
“So, what’d you do?”
“Turned around and walked out,” I admitted with a dry laugh.
“I’m sorry, man.”
“Faith followed me,” I told him, and his eyes widened.
“Really?” he asked, the side of his mouth quirking up. “How’d that go?”
“She apologized, I told her it was water under the bridge, and I got out of there as fast as I could,” I said with a shake of my head. “I just couldn’t handle it, you know? Her standing in front of me,
looking gorgeous and as if she hadn’t left me twelve years ago without a word. She said she wanted things to be amicable, if you can believe that.”
“And you agreed?”
“Yup.”
“You didn’t tell her how you felt when she left? How much she hurt you and how her leaving has made it difficult for you to trust women? That you haven’t had a serious relationship since?”
“Well, no, obviously not,” I replied, pausing to finish my beer. “It was only a few minutes and it’s not like I was going to spill my guts in front of Java Jitters with all eyes and ears on us. It wasn’t the right time.”
“You know you need to do it though, right? Have a serious conversation with her, so you can move on.”
Sometimes Wilder was annoying.
I sighed. “I guess. But, you know, she has a little girl, so apparently she didn’t have the same problems dealing with the breakup as I did.”
“There’s been some chatter about that,” Wilder said.
“What do you mean?” I asked, glancing over at him.
“I’m not one for gossip, but apparently her marriage wasn’t a good one. That’s all I know, but maybe when you do have that talk, give her the chance to share her side and listen. Not just to what she says, but what she doesn’t.”
“Okay, Obi-Wan,” I joked, even though my mind was spinning with this new information.
“Well, thanks for the beer,” Wilder said as he stood. “I’ve got an early morning, so I’d better head out. Call if you need anything.”
“Wanna hit Pony Up Friday night?” I asked. We often went to the bar on weekends to let off some steam and hang with friends.
“Sounds good,” Wilder said as he made his way down the stairs. “Good night.”
“Night,” I replied, lifting my hand. “Thanks again for coming out.”
“Anytime. You know that.”
I did. Which was one of the many reasons I loved living in Mason Creek.
5
Faith
“How are my two best girls doing today?”
“Great, Dad,” I said, moving in to give him a hug.
“Grandpa!” Hope squealed, pushing between us so my dad could lift her up in his arms, which of course he did right away.
She threw her little arms around his neck and gave him a squeeze.
I left them in the foyer of my parents’ house and went toward the kitchen to find my mom.
When I entered, she was putting the finishing touches on her famous macaroni and cheese and placing it back in the oven.
“Hi, Mom, how’re you doing?” I asked as I rounded the large island to give her a kiss on the cheek.
“Oh, Faith, I didn’t realize you guys were here,” she said, blinking up at me with her signature smile.
“We just walked in. Hope and Grandpa are catching up. She was excited to tell him all about her new art project.”
“I’m sure he’s enjoying every second. We’ve been looking forward to tonight all week.”
The plan was for Hope and I to have dinner with my parents and then she was going to have a sleepover with them so I could meet Liv at the Pony Up and get a little break. More than anything I was looking forward to getting a good night’s sleep and not waking up early.
“Thanks again for taking her tonight.”
“You know we’re happy to do it. We absolutely love spending time with her … with both of you. It’s been so nice having you back home.”
Guilt niggled, just like it always did when my mom mentioned us finally being home. I know she wasn’t trying to make me feel guilty by bringing up the time she’d missed with Hope, and with me, but I still felt it all the same.
“How are you doing?” my mom asked, her eyes searching my face. “Any anxiety? You holding up okay?”
I furrowed my brow at her question. It wasn’t that she didn’t often check on me, but she knew I was on medication now and hadn’t had a panic attack in a few years, so I couldn’t help but wonder what brought her question on.
“Yeah, everything’s great, why?”
“You didn’t see anything in the Mason Creek Scoop this week?” she prodded.
I bit back a groan and asked, “Why, what did Tate write?”
Tate was the author of the local gossip column. I wasn’t sure how she always got the scoop because she seriously seemed to know everything that happened in this town, and she loved to share it.
She must have eyes everywhere…
“Tate may have mentioned a sighting of you and Mitch outside of Java Jitters. Said it looked like a pretty awkward conversation.”
“Of course, she did,” I said with a sigh.
This was one of the things I hadn’t missed about small-town living. Being the subject of gossip.
“So … how did that go?” my mom asked softly.
“About as good as you’d expect. He could barely even look at me and when I tried to apologize, he couldn’t get away fast enough.”
She nodded. “I told you how hard your leaving was on him. I don’t know if he ever really got over it; he hasn’t been seen with another woman seriously since you. Just be gentle and give him some time, but you have to be prepared for the fact that he may never forgive you.”
My mother had told me this same tale many times over the years, and it always made my throat squeeze and my heart sink.
My first panic attack had hit me my senior year of high school. I’d been doing everything I could to earn a scholarship to the University of Montana, which I did. But the pressure of getting good grades, being active in school activities, and being a part of the golden couple had become too much for me to handle. I’d honestly thought I was dying. I couldn’t move or breathe, and my heart had been pounding.
I didn’t tell anyone but my parents after it happened, and when I had two more before graduation, I knew I needed to change the way I was living my life.
My parents had been devastated when I’d told them I wasn’t going to college and that I was leaving town, but they understood my need to take a break and figure out how to stop putting so much pressure on myself. To stop feeling like I needed to be perfect … for them, for myself, and for Mitch.
They’d helped me get a place in Chicago and find a therapist, and from there I began a journey of discovery and learned how to live a more balanced life.
Of course, that all went to hell when I met my ex-husband, but that was a different story.
“I know. I will. It was crazy seeing him, though,” I said with a dry laugh. “He looked the same, but different, you know. And even more handsome than I remembered, which seems impossible.”
“Those Collins men have always been easy on the eyes,” my mom said with a dreamy expression.
“Mom…”
“What? I have eyes, don’t I?” she asked. “The pasta will be done in a few minutes, let’s go see what those two are up to.”
“Hope probably has Dad coloring or playing with her dolls.”
My parents had set up their guest room with bunkbeds and kept toys there for Hope. Since I was an only child and she was currently their only grandchild, they loved to spoil her as much as they could.
“Yup, she’s got that man wrapped around her little finger,” my mom said, giving me a fond glance before adding, “Like mother, like daughter.”
She had that right, I’d always been a daddy’s girl, even when he hadn’t agreed with my decisions.
We enjoyed dinner together, and when my dad took Hope into the family room to watch a movie, I made my escape, eager for a night out.
6
Mitch
After a long day at work, and a hot shower to wash all the paint off, I was spiffed up and ready to enjoy a night with friends at Pony Up.
I parked my truck and started toward the bar. The live music could be heard faintly from outside, and I hoped Tucker was playing tonight. I always loved listening to him jam while I enjoyed a cold brew.
When I opened the door, the sounds from ins
ide hit me and I couldn’t help but grin as I looked around the familiar surroundings.
I’d always loved Mason Creek. Unlike a lot of the people I grew up with, small-town living suited me just fine, and I’d never had the urge to escape to the city. I enjoyed spending time with people I’d known all my life, the familiarity of the city square, and the myriad of festivals we had throughout the year.
Pony Up was just as it had always been, with the bar in the center and the same stools I’d been sitting on since I was old enough to drink legally.
I glanced at the stage where Tucker was singing and lifted my chin in greeting when I caught his eye. He was playing a slow song, so the couples on the floor were mostly two-stepping, although you had the occasional swayers.
I gave the room a quick perusal and headed to the left when I saw Wilder standing next to a table talking to some of our buddies.
As I made my way through the crowd, I waved at Grady, Malcolm, and Ryder, who were seated at the bar, and shot a wink at Emma working behind it. I was stopped a few times by other people wanting to say hi until I eventually reached Wilder and the guys.
“Hey, how’s it going?” I asked as I joined the table.
“We were just telling Wilder you two should grab a chair,” Brayden, the CEO of the bank, replied.
Wilder looked at me and I nodded.
“Yeah, sounds good,” I said as I took a seat in between Beau, who works at the body shop, and Wyatt, a Mason Creek cop.
We ordered a pitcher, some nachos, and wings, and I settled back in my chair to enjoy the music.
Wilder caught my eye and then turned his face toward the dance floor. When I followed his gaze, I saw Faith line dancing and laughing with Olivia, her best friend and Ryder’s soon-to-be ex-wife.
Damn, she sure could fill out a pair of jeans.
I mentally kicked myself for still having those kinds of thoughts about Faith. Hadn’t I learned anything over the last decade? Am I simply a glutton for punishment?
Perfect Summer: Mason Creek, book 7 Page 2