Page 5 of Set It Right
Everything looked the same...but smaller, like the town had shrunk while I’d been away. The wide sidewalk still stretched beneath rows of storefronts, their windows gleaming in the late afternoon sun, polished to lure summer tourists inside. Diagonal parking spots were mostly filled with dusty SUVs and trucks sporting out-of-state plates. Sugar Brush wasn’t Cheyenne or Cody, but the hot springs and surrounding ranch land drew a steady trickle of visitors every year.
It was why I was here.
Snagging one of the last open parking spots, I cut the engine. The silence rang in my ears, but relief sagged through me. My lower back throbbed, my legs ached, and my brain felt like it had been rattled loose inside my skull. Two days in a car would do that to a person. Tomorrow morning, I’d report to the ranch. Tonight, I planned to eat something hot and fall face-first into a motel bed.
But first, I needed to stretch my legs and remind myself I was human.
Pushing my sunglasses up my nose, I strolled along the sidewalk, peeking in windows and noting the changes. There were a couple cute boutiques that hadn’t been here when I was a teenager, but the five-and-dime was exactly the same.
The pink door of Sugar Rush Bakery was new. I peered inside, spotting my old friend, Phoebe Kelly, behind the counter, smiling at a customer.
Despite my bone-deep exhaustion, I couldn’t stop myself from going inside. I hadn’t seen Phoebe since my wedding, and…well, a lot had changed since then.
Her rich-brown eyes lit up as I made it up to the counter. “Zara! You’re here. What—oh my god.”
My lips trembled as I smiled. “Hey, you. I heard this is the place to get yummy sweets. What’s good?”
Ignoring the question completely, she darted around the counter and wrapped me in a fierce, sugar-laced hug. I closed my eyes as I sank into her, my body giving in to her comfort.
“Oh my god,” she whispered. “I knew you were coming, but not today. It’s so good to see you, Z.”
Moisture gathered behind my eyelids, and I squeezed them shut to keep it there. “You too. I missed you.”
She pulled back, keeping me at arm’s length as she looked me over. “I wish I could say you look good, but you kinda look like death warmed over.”
A laugh burst out of me. “I feel that way. Two days in a car and barely sleeping in cheap motels will do that to a person.”
She grimaced. “Okay, no. We’re fixing that. Do you still like tea and honey?” She steered me toward the pastry case, its shelves half full of croissants and muffins and glossy fruit tarts. “Take whatever you want. Several things, actually. Deacon claims he’sgetting a gut from beingforced”—she made air quotes— “to eat my leftovers. You’ll be saving my poor husband.”
I laughed. “I’m sure having to eat your baking is pure torture for him.”
She rolled her eyes. “It is. He just hates it.” Then she wrapped her arm around my shoulders, pulling me into her warm, soft side and laying her head on top of mine. “Did I say how happy I am you’re here?”
“You implied it.” I closed my eyes, relishing her closeness. Phoebe was only a couple years older than me, but she reminded me of my mom in a lot of ways. Her gentle heart and never-ending kindness. Soft hugs and sweet nature. “I’m happy to be here.”
As soon as the words left my mouth, I realized they were true. Sugar Brush, Wyoming, was supposed to be an escape from everything that had gone wrong, but now that I was standing in the town I’d loved as a kid, it hit me just how good it was to be here.
Maybe this really was what I needed to set it right and get back to myself.
Phoebe boxed up way too many pastries while one of her employees made me a cup of tea. Just as I was about to carry my goodies to a table, the bell over the door tinkled, and a rangy man with strawberry-blond hair walked in, a chubby toddler perched happily in his arms.
Phoebe abandoned me immediately, greeting them with kisses. I recognized Deacon Slater and little Abigail from photos, but seeing them in person made my chest ache. Deacon looked at Phoebe like she’d hung the moon, and Abigail’s toothy grin was pure joy.
Phoebe brought them over, introducing them to me. Abigail had the Kelly family brown eyes and her daddy’s rose-gold hair.She clung to Deacon, giving me a shy wave that made my heart skip.
“Nice to have you in town.” Deacon was gruff but sincere, and he held on to Abigail like she was the most precious thing in the world—besides Phoebe.
“I’m glad to be here and finally meet you guys. She’s even cuter in person. I can’t get over it.”
Phoebe sighed. “Isn’t she? Wait until you see Hannah’s kids, and Cay’s little squish.”
I shook my head. It was hard to believe wild Hannah Kelly was a mom of two and stoic Caleb Kelly had settled down, gotten married, and had a baby. Life had really moved on while I’d stagnated in a dysfunctional marriage and job that…
Well, we’d leave it at that.
I clutched my tea to my aching chest. “Your mom sends my mom pictures daily. She’s so jealous I get to hang out with the Kelly grandkids all summer.”
Phoebe poked my arm. “I know you’re going to be busy working, but you better make time to hang with me.”
