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Even though my heart had been broken, having people around made up for it. I didn’t regret staying. I only regretted Gabriel.

At least I wasn’t alone. At least I was a part of something.

And the town had done well too. Gabriel had been so convinced that we were heading for ruin, yet about seven years ago, things changed. It started with the facade of the buildings getting repainted. Then lights appeared on the square. Flowers were in new pots. Then the library was funded again.

All of it had to do with one grant.

And that was why I was pulling myself out of my apartment today.

I stumbled into the meeting room where my four friends were waiting. Mollie sat in a corner, drawing what looked to be farming plots on a blank piece of paper.

“Planning for the next year?” I asked.

“Yep. You know me.” She smiled. “I’ve gotta get the farm back to where it was.”

She had been the first to move here after feeling run down out in Nashville. Her grandfather had left her Bennie Grove Farm. But she’d done more than her grandfather ever had.

I laughed. “I’m pretty sure you’ve gone way beyond that.”

“Still. I wanna keep going.”

Wren sat next to her. Once upon a time, she was the star of a Nashville-based renovation show. Then she’d fixed up the library and decided to stay here.

“Can I make a suggestion for your next project?” I asked Wren.

“You can try. What’s up?”

“It’s not a place to redo per se, just a suggestion on color scheme.”

“I’m not making a Gothic-themed house.”

I pouted. “But it would be perfect.”

Next to her, Grace laughed. I loved all of my friends equally, but she’d been here the longest.

“And you,” I said as I pointed at her sternly. “When do I get to see Sammy?”

“When Dean is tired of him. Which is never.” Grace shook her head. “He’s dad of the year.”

“And newbie of the year. Somehow, even Hugh likes him.” Our town grump tolerated everyone at best. Grace and Dean seemed to be the exceptions.

Piper was the newest addition to the group. She’d moved in a few months ago and hardly any of us saw her. Eventually, she told us she had a fear of touch. Even now, she sat at a distance from us, but she still tried.

“Hi,” Piper said.

“Up for a high five today?” I offered.

She considered it. “Yes, but a light one.” The group seemed to hold their collective breaths as she did it, and her hand lightly tapped mine. “Now,” she said. “How are you, Jade?”

“Did you high-five me to ask that?”

“She’s so smart,” Grace said with a grin.

“Yes and no. I do want an answer, though.”

“I’m here,” I said. “Which is good. Besides, we have something more important to talk about.” I slammed my papers on the table with a smile. “It’s time.”

“Do you have everything you need?” Grace asked. “That’s one hell of a stack.”