Page 55 of Montana Memory

NotHey, JadaorGood to see you again. Just business.

“Medium coffee. Black. Four cinnamon rolls too, if you have them.”

She nodded, reaching for a cup. No hesitation, no scowl, but no warmth either. Same when she packed the pastries.

I told myself it didn’t matter. But as I handed over the cash to pay, I caught movement in my periphery—a woman at the corner table, leaning into her friend, their heads close together. Another at the register, sneaking a glance at me before looking away.

It was in my head. It had to be.

I’d been here a few times now, enough that I wasn’t a total outsider, but not enough to be part of the fabric of Garnet Bend. I hadn’t given them much reason to like me. I’d been tucked away at the cabin, hiding in plain sight, trying to piece my life together.

Lena set my coffee and the box of cinnamon rolls on the counter. “Need anything else?”

I shook my head, fingers wrapping around the warm cup. “Thanks.”

She turned away without another word. I let out a slow breath, stepping back toward the door, needing air, space. Something.

I stepped out onto the sidewalk, the early afternoon sun cutting through the crisp Montana air, and headed for the arboretum in the center of town. It was barely more than a glorified greenhouse—a small, glass-walled garden nestled between two brick buildings—but it was peaceful. Quiet. A placewhere I could breathe without feeling like I had to prove I belonged.

I wanted to recenter myself before going home to Hunter. We did have a lot of things to talk about, and I didn’t need to be all paranoid about feeling like people were looking at me. I had real problems to face; I didn’t need to manufacture anything in my own mind.

I swung the arboretum door open with a soft creak, the scent of damp earth and blooming flowers greeting me. Sunlight filtered through the glass ceiling, casting dappled patterns across the stone path leading to the tiny waterfall feature in the middle of the space.

I settled onto the worn wooden bench near the water, wrapping my hands around my coffee and letting the warmth sink into my palms. The soft trickle of the waterfall filled the silence, steady and soothing. Waterfalls were becoming my favorite thing.

That’s what I needed to do, wasn’t it? Begin to rebuild my life. It didn’t matter what I’d liked or not before. I could start again and decide from there.

Jace Monroe was supposed to call later with an update on my financial situation. Not that I had much hope for good news. Nothing I knew about my former self led me to believe I had set myself up for stability.

The idea of starting over from scratch was overwhelming. But what other choice did I have?

Lark had half joked about me working at Pawsitive Connections, but maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea. I loved the animals and being outside. It was definitely something to consider once I had more information.

The door creaking open interrupted my thoughts. I turned my head but didn’t recognize the woman who stepped inside. She was striking. Long brown hair, a power suit, and high heels—a formidable but stylish business outfit that looked like it belonged in New York City, not Garnet Bend. I had to admit I was a little jealous of how effortlessly polished she looked.

She paused near the entrance, her gaze sweeping over the space before landing on me. I offered a small smile, trying to shake the lingering unease from Deja Brew.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” I gestured toward the waterfall, the small cascade trickling over the mossy stones.

The woman tilted her head, considering. “I suppose.”

Not exactly friendly. Man, was it something in the water?

Still, I tried again. “Are you visiting? I don’t think I’ve seen you around.”

Something in her expression shifted, almost imperceptibly. A flicker of something unreadable.

“I live here.” A pause. “Part time. My business keeps me traveling.”

She had the kind of voice that didn’t rush. Even, controlled. The kind of voice that carried weight.

I nodded, trying to keep things light. “What kind of business?”

She didn’t answer right away. Just…studied me. An odd sensation crawled up my spine, that feeling of being examined under a microscope.

Then she spoke. “You really don’t know who I am, do you?”

My stomach tightened. “Should I?”

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