Page 11 of Three Months Yesterday

I’d say the owners have modernized it a touch by painting the walls a light cream color and by adding natural wood accents and bright light fixtures to work in tandem with the large windows along the front. It’s a perfect blend of the history of the past and the future yet to be written.

Everything about the place pulls me further into the charms of Stonebridge Hollow and the smiling face of the older woman walking my way does nothing to stop me from falling even more in love with the town.

“Good afternoon, dear. How many in your party?”

“Just one, please.”

“All right, follow me this way.” She doesn’t even look when she grabs a menu and rolled napkin from the small table next to her. It’s all muscle memory for her. “What brings you to town?” the woman asks over her shoulder, smiling at the people already seated as we pass.

“Just visiting.” There’s more I could say—and more I probably should say, especially if I want to stay here for the next three months—but she doesn’t seem to recognize me, so for now, that’s all anyone’s going to get.

“Oh, well, that’s nice.” She glances over her shoulder, eyeing me up and down. I don’t get the feeling she’s trying to place me, more of if she’s deciding I’m worth spending the time getting to know.

I grew up in a small town myself. It’s easy to spot the people new in town, but not as easy to tell if they’re authentic in their reasons for being there.

“I’m staying at The Lantern Inn,” I offer, wanting to give the woman something.

There’s a balancing act to giving people enough to care about what you’re doing and giving them too much that your presence becomes overbearing. I need this town to be on board with keeping it quiet that I’m here, and this woman seems like the kind who’s got her finger in everything going on.

“Oh, that’s a great choice. The Hawthornes have been part of this town for well over a century. You couldn’t have chosen a better place.” She smiles wide as she gestures to a booth, sliding the menu and rolled napkin onto the table.

“Thank you.” I return her smile, sliding onto the seat. My back might be to the door, but the view out the window from this side of the booth is far better. “Madison and Wyatt have definitely already made me feel quite welcome.

“Oh!” she exclaims, her smile stretching wider across her face. “That Maddie girl is the sweetest. She’ll take great care of you.”

I know she didn’t intend for my mind to go down the path it does—thinking of Madison taking care of me in a far more personal manner than that of a proprietor to the inn I’m staying at—but that doesn’t stop my mind from going there.

My smile becomes significantly more forced as I simply nod, not able to form actual words.

“Someone will be over shortly to take your order.” The woman doesn’t blink at my behavior, giving me another smile before walking away.

Shaking my head, I open the menu in front of me and try to forget the place I let my thoughts travel. I’m not here to get in bed with some woman, no matter how beautiful she is or how intrigued by her I am. I’m here to take a break from the craziness of the city and hopefully to find my way back to the thing I love most. To the thing that changed my life, both for the better and for the worse.

“You feeling all right?” Wyatt asks as he leans against the bathroom door, watching me wash my hands after I finish cleaning the room.

“Yeah, just a little nauseous. I didn’t eat my normal breakfast and I’ve been going nonstop since I woke up.” I offer him a small smile before bending to put the cleaning supplies in the back corner of the cabinet under the sink.

It’s been a long day, and it’s only three o’clock. I’m used to handling a multitude of tasks throughout the day, but lately my days have been longer than normal. The exhaustion isn’t necessarily new, but the queasy feeling in my stomach definitely is, as is the pounding that’s starting behind my left eye.

“Madison, you need to hire someone,” Wyatt whispers, the worry more than evident in his tone. “Mom and Dad have been telling you for months to bring on more staff.”

“I know, but it’s not as easy as everyone thinks.” I sigh, standing to lean against the counter and give him my full attention. “We live in a small town where most people already have a job they’re quite happy with. And before you tell me I could hire a high school student, I don’t want to spend my time training someone I’m going to lose within a year of hiring them. I need to find the right person for the job.”

“But you’re looking, right?”

“Yes. I have the job posted anywhere and everywhere you can possibly think of.” I slip past my brother, moving back into the living space to double-check everything’s been wiped down and straightened for a new guest.

My brothers may not work at the inn, but we all spent our childhood helping out before we got to high school and started to work here regularly.

Wyatt was never good at managing the front desk and was quickly banned from working it, but he’s always been good at getting rooms and cabins ready for new guests. He has an eye for making a place feel warm and welcoming.

It’s not surprising everything looks great out here.

“Have you had any applicants?” he asks, following a few steps behind me.

“A few, but none of them have made it past a simple phone interview.” I move toward the stairs, wanting to check the loft one more time.

Millie’s Cottage wouldn’t be my first choice for a guest like Beckett. I’m well aware I know absolutely nothing about him, but if Wyatt’s reaction is anything to go by, he’s a pretty big deal.