Page 10 of Just One Spark

The light dimmed in her eyes."I put everything I had into the truck and the renovations.I'm not sure I'm going to be able to get a return on that investment."

"I can't imagine doing it on your own.I have my family who've already run two successful businesses, and even Beck, who's an expert at running businesses."

"It is hard.I talk to shop owners on occasion, but it's not the same.Some of them have online stores in addition to their storefronts."

"Have you talked to Meg?"She owned the coffee shop.

"I haven’t talked to her much about my business since selling from a truck is so different than a storefront.”

"Clara said that the shop owners are close and support each other."

Hattie sighed."I'm friends with Clara and the others.But I'm not part of their group, if that makes sense."

Did she keep herself apart from others on purpose?Assuming she had to do it all on her own?I hated that for her.Was that why she'd pulled away from me so many years ago?She didn't want to rely on anyone?

I wasn't going to answer all my questions tonight.I didn't want to scare her away.But I could revel in my good luck.I'd wanted a way to talk to Hattie for years, and I'd come upon the perfect solution by accident.She was my fiancée, real or not; she couldn't avoid me anymore.

We had to spend time together and be seen around town.Hopefully, I'd get the answers I needed and discover who Hattie Collins was now.

4

Hattie

It didn't matter that I'd worked late last night at the Illuminary; I still opened my food truck in the morning in Christmas Town, hoping to catch the morning crowd.I worked a lot of early mornings and late nights.If I wanted to build my business, I needed to work long hours.

The morning was cold as I unlocked the back door of my truck.I made a new batch of hot chocolate and pulled out the toppings so that everything was accessible.

When there was a knock on the window, I opened it."Clara."

She wore a dress with tights, boots, jacket, and knit hat."I can't believe you are engaged to my brother, and you didn't tell me."

I wasn't ready for this conversation.I had to remember the story we'd discussed."You know we used to be friends when we were kids, and we recently reconnected.Row wanted to keep it under wraps while he was renovating the brewery."

Clara's brow furrowed."How did you keep it a secret?"

I poured a mug of hot chocolate for her and handed it over."I suppose the same way you did with Beck."

Her cheeks flushed."That was because he was my brother's best friend."

"Row didn't want it to detract from the opening of the brewery.But the reporter last night, Jane, suggested some kind of contest for one of the single ladies in town to win a brew bath with Rowan."

Clara's eyes widened."You're kidding?"

"Rowan didn't want single women throwing themselves at him."That was a little surprising.If he'd gone along with the plan, he would have gotten more publicity.Instead, he'd disappointed women by announcing me as his fiancée.

She tilted her head to the side."Were you okay with him keeping it a secret?"

"I understood why."I couldn't believe he'd want me to be his fake fiancée.I didn't add anything to the relationship.I wasn't rich or particularly successful.

Clara shivered."Can I come in there?It's freezing out here."

"Of course," I said as I moved toward the door and unlocked it.I pushed it open, and she climbed inside.

She leaned a hip on the counter, grabbing a mini marshmallow and popping it into her mouth."This is much better."

"As you can see I'm very busy—" I began sarcastically.This morning, most people were stopping at Meg and Reina's for coffee and pastries.

She hugged me."I won't keep you long.I just wanted to welcome you to the family.I love that you're dating my brother.You know, this means we're going to be sisters."