“You sure Giles won’t mind me crashing?” I asked again. I had sprung this visit on them, after all, and I hadn’t bought a return ticket yet. I’m sure an open-ended visit from his sister-in-law wasn’t the most exciting news for the guy. We got along well enough, but he was a quiet one. Probably preferred his alone time.

Mattie waved off my concern. “It’ll be fine. Our basement is completely redone and has a full guest bedroom and bathroom. It’ll be like your own little apartment.”

“And I won’t overstay my welcome,” I promised. Even though I had no idea how long I’d be staying, it felt like the right thing to say. Besides, it was more of a promise to me than to her. I’d figure out this whole mess soon. Maybe I had been thrown for a loop, but I was still me.

Responsible. Driven. Not afraid of a challenge.

This was only a tiny little setback. Microscopic even.

The bartender returned and set a plate down in front of us. The scent wafting from the fried, salty goodness was utterly mouthwatering. Without hesitation, I stuffed a few fries into my mouth and moaned.

“I know you’re still in mourning, but this is actually going to be so great.” Mattie clapped her hands, then daintily took one fry while I continued shoveling them into my mouth by the handful. “We can spend time together, I can show you around town—oh, and you can help out at the lodge too!”

The lodge being the Key Ridge Ski Lodge—the one Mattie had originally come to town to work at. The same one owned by her husband’s family.

I wrinkled my nose. “You’re going to extort me for free labor while I’m visiting?”

She shrugged. “It’ll be fun.”

I thought about fighting her on this, but it actually didn’t sound that bad. I’d been punching away at my corporate job for years at this point—sitting in my cubicle from eight to five every day, often even staying later to finish something. That was the only life I’d known. Getting a taste of something different could be a welcome distraction.

“Mattie!”

My thoughts were interrupted by a pretty brunette with a very pregnant belly. She smiled and waved as she walked from the front of the bar over to us. Mattie stood from her stool and embraced her tightly.

“Erin, oh my God. What are you doing here? I thought you were already on the road.”

“We’re all packed up and ready to go. Johnny is in the car. I figured you’d be at the lodge so I stopped in to say goodbye, but Bev said you’d be here.”

“Ugh, I’m going to miss you.” Tears welled in Mattie’s eyes.

“Denver isn’t that far,” Erin said, going in for another hug. “We’ll be back for the Fourth of July.”

Mattie nodded before looking back at me as if just remembering I was still here. “Frankie, you remember my friend Erin from the wedding. She’s married to Giles’s cousin, Johnny.”