Page 2 of Mystery in the Mountains

Sunny’s heart nearly jumped out of her chest as she pivoted to see who it was. Luckily, it was just Ol’ Ray. Relief washed over her as she turned back to her aunt, who gave her a knowing look.

“Abe and Asher left this morning to deliver a table in Possum Trot. They won’t be back until after dinner.”

As much as she hated how transparent she was, it was a load off knowing she would not run into Asher. She needed to see him, wanted to see him more than anything. She was just afraid of how he would react.

“How have you been?” Sunny asked, pushing away those thoughts.

“I mean, same old thing here in these parts. You’re the one who’s been out living your life. You still have your trusty van, I see.”

She glanced at the parking lot. Even on a gray day like this, her van shone brightly. It had been her home for the past four years, an old camper van Asher had painted sunflowers on. It was a little slice of sunshine.

“Sure do!”

“So, where did you and your van get off to these past couple years?”

Sunny told her about how she drove across the country. She had lived in New Mexico for a few months and worked at a diner just like this one, had read tarot in Sedona, had spent time traveling up and down the coast of California.

She had lots of stories but always knew she would end up back here.

Before long, the new waitress brought them their food.

“Thank you, Julie.”

“No problem.”

“Julie, this is my niece, Sunny.”

Julie shook her hand. There was something about Julie that felt familiar, but she had never seen her before.

“It’s nice to meet you,” she said with a small, kind smile.

“You too.” Sunny beamed back with her own warmth.

“Miss Julie here is shacking up on the big mountain with her very own mountain man,” said Betty, wagging her eyebrows at Julie.

“We are not shacking up,” she said with an exasperated smile, like they’d had this conversation. “Abe and I are in love. That is not shacking up.”

“Hold on.” A record scratched in Sunny’s brain. “Abe. As in Abe Black?”

“Yeah,” Julie said. “Do you know him?”

Sunny cleared her throat. “I do. I grew up with the three of them.”

“Did you? I’ll tell him hi for you.”

“Julie,” called a gruff male voice from across the diner.

“I have to go before Ray gets more cranky than normal, but it was nice to meet you,” she said before turning to leave.

“She’s with Abe?” Sunny asked, stunned.

In all the time she’d known Abe, he had never had a serious relationship.

“She is. They’ve been together since October.”

“Wow.”

“And in October . . . Esther came back.”

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