A half hour later, I was as fresh as a summer breeze and no more inspired. I walked circles around my hotel room, wishing I could snap my fingers and turn it into a coffee shop. Nothing spurred my creative juices like a coffee shop. Since there wasn’t one in Pleasant Hollow—yet—I did the next best thing (or the thing after that). I grabbed my to-go cup and my computer and walked downstairs to the common room.

There was no low hum of coffee roasters or yacht rock playing softly in the background, the aroma of breakfast was decidedly missing, and there were no other patrons to acknowledge awkwardly before actively avoiding eye contact. But the coffee and soy milk were free, and the clock was ticking on my deadline. It would take a gargantuan effort to push aside memories of Finn moving inside me, whispering how good I felt, but I had to focus. I’d use the incentive of doing it again…and again…to propel me forward.

Trying to compare Pleasant Hollow to a Hallmark movie town was like trying to make salt taste like sugar. Maybe that was it…

I sat up straighter in my chair. If I couldn’t write an article comparing the similarities between Pleasant Hollow and the cozy small towns as seen on TV, why not write one highlighting the differences? Using those parameters, I had more than enough material. I stretched my arms over my head, rolled my shoulders, and got to work.

What you’d find in a Hallmark movie: A maternal innkeeper who smells like fresh-baked bread, invites you to tea, serves you crumpets, and lovingly meddles in your business.

What you get in Pleasant Hollow: Told it’s too early to check in and reluctant directions to the town watering hole.

What you’d find in a Hallmark movie: Overwhelming participation in a slew of community events, from Christmas parades to harvest festivals to Easter egg hunts.

What you get in Pleasant Hollow: Infantile business owners who put more effort into playing tabletop games than making money, much less sponsoring events focused on uniting the community.

What you’d find in a Hallmark movie: A march on the town square protesting the construction of a twenty-five-floor condominium complex.

What you get in Pleasant Hollow: An underdeveloped town sorely in need of the likes of Andrew Hanes and the improvements he’ll bring.

And from there, the words just flowed.

“How’s it going?”

Mid-review of my first draft, I lifted my butt off the seat in pleasant surprise. I grinned at Finn. “I did it. I wrote the story.”

He sat down across from me and gestured toward my laptop. “May I?”

“Sure.” With his boss, and him by association, no longer the villain of the article, I had nothing to hide. I shifted my computer toward him. “It still needs tightening.”