Page 25 of Second Chance Fate

“I’m talking about you and the fact that even though it took… how old are you?”

“Thirty-two,” he responded.

“Thirty-two years,” she continued, “The Hope Falls Effect, trademark—”Viv winked and smiled like she was looking into a camera lens in a toothpaste commercial, and there was a ting sound effect, before continuing,“—has finally caught up with you.”

“Did you really trademark The Hope Falls Effect?”

Viv picked up one of the Brewed Awakenings mugs they had for sale, turned it toward him, and pointed to the words across the top. He read the back of it.

HOPE FALLS EFFECT™

Hope Falls:

noun (place)

1. a small, picturesque town tucked in the Sierra Nevadas with an idyllic landscape backdrop of lush, deep green pine trees and dotted with colorful aspens. The heart of the town, Main Street, is a five-block stretch of small storefront businesses, lined on each side with wooden sidewalks filled with a cast of colorful characters sure to enrich your life.

Effect:

verb (action)

1. someone who never thought they would ever fall in love or fall in love again and suddenly they meet their soulmate

2. a person who thought that their career was over suddenly gets a new opportunity that changes their life forever

3. someone who is running from something bad in their past, or has issues with their family, they move here and the situation resolves itself

4.those who are lonely, find support from the community

5. things magically fall into place in the following areas: love, career, friendship

6.saves people

7.heals people

8.is the missing puzzle piece in people’s lives

“Of course, I did. And you are its latest victim. Or should I say, its latest honoree. Hot Pastor is closed for business.”

Caleb grinned as he shook his head. “I think you might be getting ahead of yourself. I’ve never even talked to her.”

Her eyes grew so wide, he thought they were going to pop out of her head. “You haven’t eventalkedto her?”

“No.”

“Not one word?”

“Holy shit!” The second the words came out of her mouth, Viv quickly apologized. “Sorry, Father.”

“I’m not a priest, and you’re not Catholic.”

“Better safe than sorry.”

“It doesn’t work like that.”

“Agree to disagree.” She shrugged, then smiled widely and began to rub her hands together conspiratorially. “This is going to be fun.”

Was it? So far, it didn’t feel very fun to him.

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