Page 87 of Clumsy in Love

EPILOGUE—Four months later

“Wow. You weren’t kidding,” Cole said, turning onto Main Street and under a banner that read, “Welcome to our Winter Wonderland.” It was the weekend after Thanksgiving, and Green Valley Falls looked like the North Pole at Christmas. Colored lights up and down each street, wreaths on every door, and each business window decorated to the hilt. “It’s gone from Hicksville to Whoville.”

“Christmas time here cannot be beat,” Holly said. “New York does all right. Rockefeller Center and all that, but yeah. We go hard.”

It had been four months since Holly had moved in with Cole. A week after he had “saved” her and declared his love, she’d quit her job, put some of her stuff in storage, unloaded the rest on her friends, and relocated to the concrete jungle.

For a while, they kept the option open of her finding her own place but quickly realized that wouldn’t be necessary. Every day was a new adventure and another opportunity to fall deeper in love. Plus, with the cost of rent? Fah-get about it.

Cole had convinced her that the city wasn’t a good fit for Dina and that, realistically, she didn’t need a car at all. So she’d left the pickup at Juliet’s to drive when she visited.

Lady was also not made for urban life. To an eighty-pound dog used to free rein on ten acres, apartment living was a jail sentence. Cole’s parents had stepped up to help by volunteering to watch her during the week.

Cole’s family had accepted Holly immediately and effortlessly. She loved spending time with them. She secured a job at Central Park, which fulfilled her need for nature, and she’d grown to love the city.

Being a cop’s girlfriend was different—and difficult. Cole had been promoted to detective, which made his hours a little more predictable and his job a smidgen less dangerous. But she still had to deal with calls saying he’d be late, and the fear that something had happened when she didn’t get that call. She’d come to terms with the sporadic schedule and hazardous nature of his job and took it in stride.

Cole parked, and they entered The Rusty Nail, where her friends waited.

“Holly!” they greeted in unison. She fell into their arms, and they engulfed her.

“It’s only been two months,” Holly said. “And we talk almost every day. Don’t act like you haven’t seen me in years.”

In September, before starting her new job, Holly had come up for a week to spend time with her girls and visit her dad again at the prison. She’d also flown to Spokane to see her mother, who had made a new life with her new husband and seemed to be doing fine.

They were seated at a large round table in the center of the restaurant and handed menus. She set hers aside. Like she needed a menu.

“How’s Lady adjusting?” Juliet asked.

“Okay, I suppose,” Holly said. “I told you how she was spending the weekdays with Cole’s parents, right? They have a big backyard and like walking her to the park.”

Juliet nodded.

“Well, she fell in love with them.” Holly pursed her lips into a pout. “Cole and I would bring her home for the weekend. We’d take her for walks and to the dog park, but she was always so excited to go back. We finally just came to an arrangement with Cole’s folks.”

“Which is?” Juliet prodded.

“She lives with them now,” Holly said, grabbing her chest. “I’m a part-time mom who visits my kid on the weekends. It broke my heart, but it’s best for Lady.”

“I’m sorry,” Tess said. “That sucks.”

“At least you didn’t have to give her away to strangers,” Faith said.

“I know,” Holly said. “I’m very grateful to Cole’s parents.”

Cole squeezed her hand under the table. “We could move to the suburbs,” he said. “I’m willing if you are.”

She knew he meant it, but it was too big an ask right now. They’d just barely settled in as a couple. Maybe in a few months.

“Moving on. Big news of the day?” Alex said. “Rick’s leaving town.”

“And I care about that because…” Holly said.

Alex raised an eyebrow.

“He’s not the only reason I left,” Holly said.

“Well, sure,” Tess said. “But still, any chance you’ll move home?”

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