was for a business magazine, so of course, that’s what would pop into Mom’s head. “I don’t know if that’s the angle entirely, but I can try to—”
“Honey, just send me something as soon as you can. And oh, Katie, thank you. You really are helping me out of a bind.”
A touch of longing filled her. Mom had always been there to help her no matter what came up, but this was different. This time Katie could help her, and maybe writing this article might be a little consolation prize for Mom at the holidays, even though Katie had no intention of working at the magazine long-term. Could it possibly be a win for them all? “You’re welcome, Mom,” she answered softly.
“Just do your best.”
“Okay, bye.” She lowered her phone and scrolled through the comments already piling up about her trip to Evergreen. And that was just in response to the pictures she’d posted from the train.
Wait until folks saw all of this.
Huge letters spelling JOY had been hung from the staircase, and the fact that the letters rose up, left to right, wasn’t lost on her. The reason for the season. Joy to the World!
She stepped to the middle of the den, squatted to get the fireplace right behind her, and took a smiling selfie to post too. Then one with the Christmas tree, this one adorned head to toe in an assortment of little red truck ornaments made of glass, resin, painted, origami, popsicle sticks and even carved ones. She’d never seen so many different red-truck-themed ornaments in one place, and it was all tied together with a playful buffalo-plaid garland ribbon. How fun was that?
She uploaded the rest of her pictures from her phone to her laptop, then pulled her feet crossed beneath her on the couch, recalling the people she’d met throughout the day.
Ben from the train. Handsome, witty.
The mayor. A woman, at that. Along with Ezra and Joe, short and tall, who were helping with the sign. Ezra had mentioned a historical society meeting. What would they be discussing? Was there some kind of history here that would make a good story?
And the three gals at Daisy’s, which Lisa owned. There had to be a story to that. Allie, the veterinarian, and Hannah, whom she’d instantly felt a connection with. Allie hadn’t been kidding when she’d said people were nicer than she could even imagine.
If she were writing a romance, she was quite certain there’d be a winner in the story of Hannah and Elliott. She could almost see the hearts dancing above their heads, popping into smaller heart confetti with each bashful glance between the two.
She glanced down at her notebook. She’d doodled hearts, Christmas trees, a red truck and snowflakes. It wasn’t an idea, or a story, but it sure was pretty. Her first novel had been more of a family saga, but everything her muse was sending her way since she’d arrived was romantic and magical. Totally different from what she’d anticipated writing.
She sat back. There were no rules. No expectations. She wasn’t under contract, so she could absolutely write whatever moved her. That freedom tempted her to at least consider a different kind of story this time. Romantic, even. The thought made her heart race a little.
Her first impression of Evergreen was almost too good to be true. How had these people kept this town such a secret? Maybe that had to do with the Evergreen Historical Society she’d overheard Ezra mention yesterday.
She connected to the WiFi and typed Evergreen Historical Society in the search bar.
The next time she looked up, there was laughter coming from the living room, and the sky out the window had turned to dusk. She closed the top on her computer. Suddenly hungry, she got up to join the other guests for a cup of tea and a few hors d’oeuvres before calling it an early night. Only, time slipped away as she met and mingled with the other guests and was introduced to a few of the locals who’d dropped in. People hadn’t solely come from the north, like she had on the Evergreen Express. There were guests from Virginia, North Carolina, and Texas too. From all walks of life, from farmers to financial advisors, they all found common ground here at the inn. Conversation was easy, and she even learned about a club for people who wanted to travel across the country and stay in inns like this one.
“I’m writing the names of those