Page 7 of Keeping Happily Ever After

Either way, it was an added benefit that she didn’t have to deal with that on top of what looked like everything else.

The fishing camp was on the other side of Glacier Falls, so one had to drive all the way through town to access it, which meant it wouldn’t get a lot of traffic passing by. It was just far enough out to be private and tranquil, but not so far out of town that she’d feel isolated or lonely.

Assuming she made her home there.

It wasn’t something she’d thought too much about before. She’d been so preoccupied in what she’d turn the property into that she hadn’t considered actually living there when she was in town. She had a home in Los Angeles that, up until recently, she’d spent most of her time in. But more and more, the big city, with the fancy parties and demanding social commitments that came with it, lost its appeal. Being in the mountains had given her a sense of peace that even her hometown, a tiny place of less than five thousand people that her adoptive parents still lived in, couldn’t provide.

She walked back outside the lodge to look at the frozen river that in only a few months would thaw and once more spring to life. She could imagine herself sitting in a porch swing, or oversized rocker, in the evenings, listening to the water rush over the rocks. She’d be able to watch deer and maybe even moose right from the very spot in which she stood.

It would be magical.

And just like that, Stephanie couldn’t imagine herself living anywhere else.

By the time Stephanie made her way back through town and to the Knot, the local pub and main gathering place for locals, it was already past seven. The place was busier than Stephanie expected it to be for a Thursday night at the beginning of February. Then again, having never spent a winter in Glacier Falls, she really had no idea what to expect. From what she understood from Katie Banks, one of her new friends who’d just opened an adventure shop where she rented out equipment and provided lessons and guided tours, the winter season was starting to become busier than ever as city people discovered the mountains were full of fun activities in all seasons. And her shop, the Hub, was the perfect business to capitalize on that increased traffic and help newbies like Stephanie get outside and try all kinds of new things.

This past summer, she’d tried mountain biking and of course hiking on some of the local trails, but there was still so many things she wanted to check out. And apparently she was going to need to invest in a pair of snowshoes if she planned to go out to her property much more. And she did.

Stephanie crossed the busy room, smiling and waving at a few people she recognized as she made her way to the table in the back, where some of the ladies had already arrived.

Everyone in the room would no doubt recognize her. After all, she was literally one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. At any given time, her face was plastered on at least a dozen different tabloids or magazines. Or more likely, both. Never mind the internet gossip sites that seemed to pop up almost daily with new, interesting, and completely made-up stories about her life. One of her favorite parts about Glacier Falls was that even if she was recognized, almost no one in town would make a big deal about it.

Sure, she might get a handful of people asking for autographs or photos—neither of which she minded. But it was a much more laid-back atmosphere than almost everywhere else in the world she’d been. There was no paparazzi, or big crowds screaming at her, or any of that other stuff that made her want to wear a disguise and hide. In Glacier Falls, she actually just got to be herself.

“Stephanie!”

Faith greeted her with a wave from their usual table in the corner of the busy room. When she got close enough, her sister—something she was still getting used to saying—jumped up and pulled her into a hug. “It’s so good to see you. I’m so glad you came back early. Hope is making me crazy. I could use a little backup.”

Stephanie laughed and took a seat next to her sister. Hope, Faith’s identical twin, wasverypregnant and on bed rest, a detail that was starting to drive everyone crazy. The sisters ran the busy Ever After wedding event venue, and Steph knew that it was making Hope batty that she couldn’t be on her feet, overseeing things for the business she’d started from nothing and had only relinquished to her sister to run. She also knew the situation was making Faith even crazier. “She can’t be that bad.”

Faith lifted her eyebrows and tilted her head, making Steph laugh harder.

“Okay, okay. Sheisthat bad,” Steph conceded. “But that’s only because she cares so much.”

Faith lifted her drink and took a sip. “All I’m saying is that I can’t wait for my little niece or nephew to show up because that will give her something else to focus on besides what Logan and I are doing. She wasn’t even supposed to be here, for goodness’ sake. She didn’t seem to care so much when she was traveling all over the world.” Faith shook her head again. “I love her, but oh, man…she definitely needs something to keep her busy and out of my hair.” She put her glass down and clapped her hands together, refocusing on Steph. “Enough of my bitching. Tell me about you. What’s the deal with the movie? Did you take the role? Did Bella get the part?”

Crap.She’d forgotten she’d told her sister aboutBombshell. And more specifically, that Bella was up for the same movie. Normally, Steph would be more than happy to discuss the details of the film and the shooting schedule and anything else her sister wanted to know. But for whatever reason, Bella had asked her not to mention it.

“About that,” she started. “I told Bella I wouldn’t mention the movie or—”

“What movie?” Sarah Morris and her sister-in-law, Nicole, appeared.

Double crap.

“Steph was just telling me about this amazing new movie,Bombshell, she’s going to be involved in.” Faith looked at Steph and clarified, “Youaregoing to be involved, right? I mean, you took the role…” Steph nodded slowly and Faith turned back to the other women. “And Bella was auditioning for the lead role in the same film. Pretty cool, right? To think that—”

“I just don’t think we should talk about it tonight.” Steph tried to keep her voice casual. “I mean, it’s not that exciting or—”

“Not exciting?” Sarah all but fell into the chair next to her. “Are you kidding, Steph?” She shook her head with a chuckle. “You do know that I have a six-year-old, right? Between work and playdate dramas, I could use somethingactuallyexciting in my life. Even if it means just living vicariously through you. And come on, Steph. You really are the most exciting person I know.” Sarah waved a hand around the table. “No offense to the rest of you.”

“No offense taken here.” Nicole shrugged. “Besides Amy telling me some gossip from the restaurant when she gets home, my life is bor-ing.”

“Honestly.” Steph shook her head. “I really don’t think I should say anything.” Movement by the door caught her eye, and she looked up to see Bella walk into the bar. “I’m sure you all understand that it’s not really my news to talk about—”

“News?” Sarah jumped on her word choice. “You mean there’s actually news aboutBombshell?”

“Steph’s in it for sure,” Faith jumped in. “So that’s news. I don’t know about Bella, but—”

“Bella what?” The topic of the conversation herself appeared at the table and shrugged her coat off. “What about me?”

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