Right Back Where We Started Read online

  “Hmm.” She watched them play quietly, lost in her own mind. He put his Willow down and let her run to Martina and Nick. Then his mom turned to him suddenly. “Your wife had a doll with pink hair hidden in her bouquet, didn’t she?”

  “That’s right!” he said, laughing.

  “It was small, but I saw it . . .”

  “That’s right,” he repeated, kissing her temple. “You remembered.”

  “Of course I did.”

  Martina came over carrying Nick with a crying Willow loping pathetically behind her. “We fell down and wanted to be carried, too,” she explained. “We did not care that we’re too big to be carried, since Brother was being carried.” She handed Nicolas to his mom, who took him with delight.

  “What a big boy you are,” she cooed, and Nicolas grinned his two-tooth smile, spit dribbling down his chin. “Carter, my sweet boy.”

  He ignored the mistake and answered, “I love you, too, Mom.” Nicolas did bear a striking resemblance to his baby pictures—everything except those dark eyes. Martina paused in getting out the picnic she’d packed, the fermented carrot sticks still in the jar in her hand. She tipped her head back, as if she were scrutinizing the scattered clouds above them. Then she began to wave at her face with one hand.

  “Is my gravity trick working?”

  Lizzie and Chase and their kids were getting out of a gray mini-van, sippy cups and pacifiers falling out of the car alongside them, bouncing onto the pavement.

  “Nope.” Martina let her head fall forward again, and the tears were obvious. “Sorry.”

  “Oh, don’t apologize. I’ve got my favorite people in the world right here; I’m just fine.” He gave her a long kiss before hurrying to catch little Willow before she stuck her hand in the giant mud puddle she was heading toward, her injury forgotten.

  And with that, they all sat down to eat.

  Would you write a review?

  Martina and Carter, they make quite a pair.

  If you agree, do you think you could share

  on Goodreads or Amazon, wherever you lurk?

  I’ll tell you a secret: it so helps my work.

  And getting to hear that you loved them, too?

  Well, it makes my whole week. It’s totally true.

  There’s a reason why I’m a novelist and not a poet, but in all seriousness, I would be so appreciative if you could spread the word about this new series! It’s a huge help to my business. Thanks!

  Don’t miss a moment of Timber Falls fun!

  Could Be Something Good (Daniel and Winnie)

  Must be a Mistake (Kyle and Ainsley)

  Right Back Where We Started (Martina and Crash)

  Coming Winter 2020...

  More Than We Bargained For (Starla and Sawyer)

  Never Say Never (Lizzie and Chase)

  Maybe It’s Just Me (Maggie and R.J.)

  Need a little more Timber Falls right now? Newsletter subscribers get the exclusive short story, How It All Began, which tells us how Evan and Farrah met (that’s Daniel and Kyle’s mom and dad). Sign up now at https://www.subscribepage.com/timberfalls.

  Also by Fiona West

  The Borderline Chronicles (sweet fantasy romance)

  The Ex-Princess: a chronically-ill princess who fled from her responsibilities is forced to face the fiancé she abandoned and journey across a magically-unpredictable continent. Can she keep the life she’s given up everything to build?

  The Un-Queen: a king caught between love and legality...can Abbie and Edward’s relationship survive engagement and the opposition who wants to tear them apart again?

  The Jinxed Journalist: a single mother gets her dream job as a journalist, only to find herself caught in royal scandal, opposing her son’s new mentor. When forced to choose between love and her career, can she still come out a winner?

  The Semi-Royal: a doctor takes an expedition with her brother’s best friend that has life-changing results. Can she resist the underlying attraction that’s been there for years?

  The Almost-Widow: a security professional finds herself paired with a shy, sensory-sensitive man on the night watch. Can their friendship blossom into something more?

  Acknowledgments

  TO MY EDITORIAL TEAM at Salt and Sage: you all rock. I can’t say it enough: your professionalism, straight-up knowledge of your genres, and kindness make this so much easier.

  To my critique partners, Angela Boord and Rebecca Hopkins: thanks for being my sounding board; your honest feedback helps so much! Thanks also to the Delmas 75 Writing Group, who have persevered through the COVID difficulties and emerged still intact; you ladies light up my life.

  To my copy editor, Kristin Houlihan: I’m so thankful to have a professional who’s invested in making my work perfect! Thanks for cleaning up all those little details for me.

  To my cover artist, Erin O’Neill-Jones: So lovely. You’re such a talented artist and genuinely kind person, and it’s a joy to work together.

  Gratitude also to my beta readers, Lane Luckey, Tara Johnson, Jennifer Stout, Nancy Kay Bowden and Sheri McPhee for their insights.

  And last, but certainly not least, thank you to my CFO, Mr. West. You are the lime to my coconut.

  Connect with Fiona!

  Thanks so much for taking the time to sample my work. I hope you enjoyed reading it even more than I enjoyed writing it, though I doubt that’s possible. Being an author is a dream come true, and getting to share my books with delightful, thoughtful readers like you just adds to the sweetness. Drop me a line and let me know what you thought or leave a review on Goodreads!

  Sign up for my bi-monthly newsletter, The West Wind, for freebies, deleted scenes, book reviews, and insight into my writing process at https://www.subscribepage.com/timberfalls.

  On Twitter as @FionaWestAuthor

  On Facebook as @authorfionawest

  On Instagram as fionawestauthor

  On Goodreads as Fiona West

  Or email me at [email protected].

  I love talking to fans!