Chapter One
JOSIE STEELE
As soon as I turned onto Main Street in downtown Willow Brook, Alaska, I almost burst into tears—the good kind and the not-so-great kind.
On the one hand, I was ecstatic to be home. On the other, I felt like a cliché in the worst way. I was now officially the girl who went off to bigger and brighter things only to come home a little banged up from life with her tail tucked between her legs.
I swiped at the single tear that splashed onto my cheek. “Whatever,” I muttered, straightening my shoulders and lifting my chin a little.
I wanted to come home. I really did. I’d missed Alaska ever since I’d moved away. Alaska was the kind of place that held onto you. It was big—quite literally in geographic terms—and took up a lot of space in my heart.
With it being winter, the mountains in the distance were snowcapped, tall, and imposing against the bright blue sky. Everything in Alaska felt likemore. The mountains were bigger. The blue of the sky was bluer. It even felt like the sun shined more brightly here. This time of year, it was also colder or, rather, freezing. My dashboard thermometer indicated it was a whopping twelve degrees above zero outside.
The sign for Firehouse Café stood out against the snow berms flanking the road. It was bright red with an outline of a fire station. My lips curled into a smile as I turned into the parking area.
I stuffed my wallet into my coat pocket and hurried into the café. As soon as the door opened, I felt momentarily spun back in time. It smelled the same, with the rich scents of coffee mingling with freshly baked goods. It was late morning, a time I knew to be a little quiet here. I had worked here in high school, so I knew the rhythms of this café well.
The woman behind the counter had her auburn hair pulled up in a ponytail and was wiping down the counter. She glanced up as soon as I approached, her lips curling in a warm smile.
“Hi,” she said brightly.
“Hi!” I practically shouted. I was so freaking excited to be here.
As I stood there, just beaming at her, the woman’s lips began to twitch before a little laugh slipped out. “You seem so happy to be here,” she added.
I laughed. “I am. I used to work here in high school.”
“Oh wow! How long ago was that?”
“Just about ten years ago.”
“Does it look different?” she asked.
I spun in a slow circle, my eyes arcing about the space. Firehouse Café was in a renovated firehouse. What had once been garage doors were giant windows now, offering a full view of downtown Willow Brook. The stained concrete flooring was still the same shade of blue with a little more wear and tear. The small wooden tables and chairs were scattered about the space. The firepole in the center was just for show and painted with fireweed flowers twining around it. The artwork on the walls had changed.
As I completed my circle to face her, I took in the massive chalkboard mounted on the wall above the old wooden counter. I shook my head. “Not much at all. I loved working here,” I said, my tone heartfelt.
“I love it too. Well, welcome home. I’m Casey,” the woman said, thrusting her hand out.
We were in the middle of shaking hands when Janet James, the owner of the café and my old boss, came through the waist-high swinging door from the kitchen. Her eyes landed on us, and her face broke into a wide smile. “Josie!”
I released Casey’s hand as Janet rounded the counter and pulled me into one of her perfect hugs. They were warm with just enough squeeze that you felt cherished. She stepped back and cupped my cheeks for a second. Her twinkling brown eyes and weathered face almost brought me to tears again.
“I didn’t know you were coming back to town,” Janet said when she dropped her hands. She glanced from me to Casey. “The handshake seemed a little formal, but I guess you two met?”
“Yes. I was telling Casey that I worked here before.” Holding Janet’s eyes, I added, “I loved working here. If you need any extra help, I’m available. I don’t want to take any hours from Casey, though.”
Janet threw her head back with a laugh. “It’s funny that you walked in today. Seriously.” Her gaze sobered. “I could actually use someone else. Casey’s been covering extra shifts because one of the high school kids is leaving a little early for college. While I’m obviously thrilled he’s going to college and want to support his life goals, I’m in a pinch for some staff.”
“Are you for real?!”
“Completely,” Janet said firmly.
“I’m in. When do I start?” I asked.
Janet hugged me again before stepping back. “Whenever you can.”
“I can start tomorrow. I have to figure out my housing situation, but I’ll be here whenever you need me.”