Page 18 of Knocked up By the Mountain Man

He shakes his head. “No idea. I mean, without kids myself, no reason to really look into it.”

I nod, taking another sip of my coffee. “True, I’ll look into it today. Thanks for the tip, Wyatt. What’s it called?”

Wyatt frowns, trying to recall the name. “I think it’s called Little Sprouts Nursery. It’s on the east side of town, near the park.”

“Got it. Thanks, Wyatt. I’ll check it out.” I finish my coffee, feeling a bit more grounded and ready to tackle the day ahead.

Finding a good nursery for Thomas is my top priority, I hope this new place will be exactly what I need. After breakfast, I grab my bag and Thomas, who’s already wide awake and full of energy. As we head into town, I’m struck by how familiar everything feels. It’s almost like I never left. Memories flood back, some sweet and some bitter, making it harder than I thought it would be to be back here.

It isn’t for long,I remind myself, something I think I’ll be doing a lot.

Not for long at all.

Trying to keep my mind on the task at hand, I park and navigate the streets with Thomas in tow. We pass by the park where I used to play as a kid, the bakery where we’d get fresh bread every morning, and the old library that always smelled like dust and ink. With all of that, plus dealing with Thomas, I’m not paying as much attention as I should be as we walk up the Little Sprouts steps.

Suddenly, I bump into someone, and we both stumble back.

Papers fly everywhere, scattering across the steps.

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!” I exclaim, immediately bending down to help pick up the scattered notes. “I wasn’t looking where I was going.”

“It’s okay,” a familiar voice says, laughing softly. “I wasn’t either.”

I look up, and my breath catches. “Abby?”

Abby looks up, surprise flashing in her eyes before her face breaks into a wide smile as she recognizes me. “Clara? Oh my god, it’s really you!”

“Yeah, it’s me,” I say, grinning as we both stand up, still holding the papers. “I can’t believe we ran into each other like this.”

Abby laughs, shaking her head in amazement. “I know! It’s been forever. What brings you back to Silver Ridge?”

“Work,” I say with a shrug. “I’m here on a job, so not for very long. But I need childcare for my little one.” Her eyes widen, understandably so. “Wyatt mentioned Little Sprouts, so I thought I’d check it out.”

Abby’s eyes light up even more. “Well, you’re in luck. I run Little Sprouts!”

“You do?” I say, my surprise evident. “That’s amazing, Abby! I had no idea.”

“Yeah, it’s my little passion project,” she says with a proud smile. “Why don’t you come inside and take a look around? We can catch up while Thomas explores.”

“That sounds perfect,” I agree, feeling a wave of relief. Abby leads us inside, and I’m immediately struck by how bright and welcoming the nursery is. The walls are covered in colorful murals, and the space is filled with toys, books, and little play areas.

Thomas’s eyes go wide, and he immediately makes a beeline for a stack of blocks. Abby and I settle down on a couple of plush armchairs nearby, watching him play.

“So,” Abby begins, her eyes still on Thomas. “What happened after high school? You just… vanished. One day you were here, and the next, you were gone.”

I take a deep breath, feeling a little embarrassed, her question was a fair one.

“Yeah, it was a rough time. Things got really bad with my uncle. I couldn’t stay there anymore, so I just ran. I’m sorry, I should have told you but I felt so desperate…”

Abby’s expression softens with concern. “Yeah, it was always bad, wasn’t it? I’m so sorry, Clara.”

“It’s okay,” I say, offering a reassuring smile. “It all worked out in the end. I ended up in Lewistown, trained and got a job as a vet. I’ve built a nice life there. It’s been good for us.”

“A vet? That’s fantastic! That’s what you always wanted,” Abby says, genuine pride in her voice. “But I’m glad you’re here now. Even if it’s just for a little while.”

I know there is more to this story, but I don’t need to dump it all on Abby at once. Especially when she’s at work. I’m just grateful to have the chance to see her again. I should have kept in touch, I can’t believe I let her go. Thank goodness, she’s still here.

“So, where are you working?”

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