Chapter 1
Kelcie
Levi Graye, 32. Kelcie Woodruff, 24.
Taking a sip of my vanilla iced latte, I savor the delicious taste.
“Mmm ... I could drink it every day and never grow tired of it.”
This heaven-in-a-cup sensation became my latest addiction at the beginning of the summer, and every afternoon, I take a walk to Dixie’s Coffee.
Mrs. Dixon, the store owner, chuckles as she shakes her head. “I’ve noticed, but you won’t hear me complaining.”
She’s so used to seeing my face, she now has my drink ready the moment I walk into her quaint little coffee shop. I love the green and lilac décor and always feel at peace when I’m here.
Maybe it’s just Mrs. Dixon’s calm demeanor that rubs off on me. She might be in her sixties, but she doesn’t look it. Her red hair always hangs in perfect curls around her shoulders, and her pale blue eyes remind me of a clear sky on a warm summer’s day.
Honestly, she’s one of our town’s greatest treasures.
I give her a wave as I head toward the door. “Enjoy the rest of your day.”
“Tell your mom I’ll be at tomorrow’s embroidery class,” she calls after me while wiping down the counter.
“I will,” I reply cheerfully before I step out onto the sidewalk.
While enjoying my latte, I smile at all the familiar faces as I pass them on Main Street. Nearing Mom’s store, I glance through the window, and not seeing any customers, I quickly slip inside. When the bell above the door jingles, Mom looks up from the romance novel she’s busy reading.
A warm smile spreads over her face. “Hi, buttercup.”
I lean against the counter and rest my elbows on the worn wood. “I’m on my way home.” I nod at my beverage. “Just got my daily dose of goodness.”
Mom takes the cup from me and helps herself to a sip before scrunching her face. “Wow, that’s sweet.”
Chuckling, I shake my head. “You say that every time.” I glance around at all the shelves stacked full of everything a person could ever need for embroidery and other arts and crafts. “How’s business?”
Mom reaches over the counter and tucks a few stray strands of hair behind my ear. “It’s a bit slow today.”
“Mrs. Dixon says she’s coming to the embroidery lesson tomorrow. Save her a seat.”
Mom’s smile widens while she shuts the book she’s reading. She’s one heck of a bookworm. For as long as I can remember, there hasn’t been a day when I haven’t seen her engrossed in a novel. I don’t share her love for books, unlike Sage and Jordan, my older siblings. Instead, I take after Dad and love whittling wood.
Three years ago, the folks in town found out about my little hobby when Mom asked me to make her bunnies and eggs so she could decorate her store for Easter. Since then, I’ve been getting orders from our neighbors. I also created an online store, and it’s become so successful that I’m able to make a decent living. Even though I can afford a place of my own, I still live with my parents, and I’m in no hurry to move out.
Looks-wise, I’m the spitting image of Mom with my light brown hair and brown eyes, whereas Sage and Jordan got their blond hair andgreen eyes from Dad. I’m also a head shorter than my siblings, which has contributed to them being overprotective of me.
I tap a finger on the cover of the book. “Are you enjoying it?”
“Oh yes.” Mom’s eyes light up. She loves talking about books. “This one has a lot of angst. The hero is so swoonworthy.”
A chuckle escapes me before I take a sip of my drink.
Laughter sounds up from out on the sidewalk, and I watch as three teen girls walk past the store. They look carefree and happy, and it has my smile growing. They wave at us before they continue down the street.
All in all, Verona is a happy little town with an everyone-is-your-neighbor feel. Sage and Jordan couldn’t leave quickly enough, but to me, it will always be home.
Dad was sworn in as mayor last year, and that elevated us to royalty status around here. It took months for me to get used to all the attention, but thankfully, it finally died down, and things are back to normal.
“Did you get that big order out in time?” Mom asks.