Page 48 of Worth the Want
I’m practically skipping when I make it to Thistle and Sage this morning. Not only am I riding the high of a morning run, but last night's dinner with Hazel and Knox was the most fun I’ve had in I don’t know how long. Playing with Hazel reminds me of taking care of Han when we were young. Being six years older than your sibling could have been an issue, but it wasn’t for me. From the first day she was brought home from the hospital, she was my baby.
“Good morning, Indie!”
“Good morning, Winnie! How are you? I feel like I haven’t seen you in weeks.”
“I know. We’ve been working opposite shifts, and I took a few extra days for a wine tasting for the wedding.”
“Did you decide on one?”
“We did! It’s from this beautiful family-owned vineyard in California. I’m sorry I abandoned you! Are you settling in okay?”
“Don’t be sorry! That’s so exciting! And I’m fine. Good, um, great actually. Silverthorne is already feeling like home.”
“That makes me so happy to hear. So, you’ve been in town almost two months now…I think it’s time you come out to AJ’s with everyone.”
“I’m in! I think a night out would be good for me, and who is everyone?” I ask excitedly.
She giggles. “Yes! I need a night out, too, and everyone is a lot of Holloways, my brother, Marigold and her boyfriend, and anyone you’ve possibly seen in town will also probably be there,” she tells me.
“Oh, is that all? So a small, intimate gathering?”
She laughs, a small snort slipping out. “Yes, exactly. Oh, and maybe have a karaoke song lined up,” she says, walking back into the kitchen. I follow after her to set my purse down in the back and get my apron on.
“Karaoke? Okay, now I’m even more in than I was a few minutes ago.”
Winnie claps her hands. “I can’t wait! I’m so excited for you to hang out with us!”
“I’m excited too. I’m a little short on friends at the moment, and it means a lot that you’ve included me so much.”
Her lips curl into a smile, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “Did I tell you I moved here when I was thirteen?” she asks.
“You didn’t.”
She hums, nodding. “My parents passed away in an accident right before Colt and I came to Silverthorne to live with our Uncle Buck.” My heart sinks into my stomach, feeling connected to Winnie in more ways than one.
“I’m sorry, Winnie.” My words are so cliché, but she accepts them with grace.
“Thank you. They were really wonderful parents—wonderful people. Moving across the country so youngcan be really hard, but this community made it bearable for us. We were welcomed with open arms. Now my heart is so invested here that I can’t imagine living anywhere else.” Her smile touches her eyes now. “I guess all that is to say, I hope you’ll feel that way here too—eventually.”
“I’m starting to,” I say, not wanting to admit that a huge part of that is due to my dinners with Knox and Hazel the past few weeks.
“Excellent. I’ll ask you again after karaoke and the festival this weekend. Town events are one of my favorite things about Silverthorne.”
I laugh, tying my apron on. “I’ve been looking forward to it since you told me.”
“Perfect,” she says, looking up from her phone. “Tomorrow night!”
“Wow, you work fast,” I tell her.
“I texted the Holloway family group chat. Ninety percent of the people coming are in it.”
“Is Knox in that?” In an attempt to keep my tone casual, it comes out verynotcasual.
“He is…” Winnie says, her voice going up at the end.
I roll my eyes, mostly at myself. “Did he say if he would be there…?”
“Knox doesn’t usually come out with us; he would rather stay home and hang with Hazel. I think the last time we got him to come out was months ago, and his brothers practically had to drag him there.”
