Page 83 of Library or Lattes?

“You’re beautiful, Red,” he whispered before finding my collarbone with his mouth. A surge of heat swelled low in my abdomen.

And then there were no more words. Just the two of us in the soft, yellow light, moving together like we were made to fit that way.

It was after sundown by the time I walked down Maple Street toward my own house.

Pop and Jo were sitting in front of the fire trying to decide what movie to watch.

“Any recommendations, Willa?” Jo asked. She had been here a lot recently—Pop and I were both enjoying our new fall relationships. Jo filled the bathroom with this flowery scent, and made Pop laugh more than I’d ever heard him laugh. She asked questions about Mom, and it was so nice to talk about her. To tell someone new the same stories that Pop had been telling me my whole life.

“What are you in the mood for?” I asked. “Or should I say where are you in the mood for?”

“Oh, somewhere romantic.” Jo squeezed Pop’s hand and then kissed his cheek.

“Gross!” I joked.

Jo looked embarrassed. “Sorry, Willa. Maybe somewhere in Britain?”

“Hmmm.” I racked my brain. Then I chose Notting Hill for them. It was pretty old, but so were they …

“How’s the big decision coming along?” Pop asked.

“It’s coming …” I said. It wasn’t long until Thanksgiving, and I really had to make a call on this money. I mean, I was now in a place where I knew it would be crazy not to accept it, but I wanted to do it right. Make a perfect plan and follow it.

I left them to their movie, went into my room, sat on my bed, and picked up my notebook. I flipped through the pages, remembering all the cities around the world and the list of things I wanted to do in them.

How was I supposed to figure things out before next week? I picked up Mom’s notebook and whispered a silent prayer to the universe.

Tell me what to do, Mom …

And right then, I started believing in fate.

Took Willa to the Little Acorn today. She’s barely two but she already knows everyone’s names. Mrs. Porter, Geoff, Linda from Dr. Laurel’s office. I mean, I don’t want to use the word genius but … my little girl could actually be a genius.

Mike keeps saying we should take her to New York. Show her the zoo, the museums, all the exciting places. And we will. But I watched her today, sitting on Geoff’s counter eating a muffin, waving at every single person who walked in. The way her whole face lit up when Mrs. Porter smiled at her. It brought me so much joy I can’t even tell you. Lisa May called tonight. She’s in Barcelona. Says she found this amazing coffee shop overlooking the sea. Sent photos. It looks beautiful.

But all I could think was that Willa already has her coffee shop. The one where everyone knows her name. Where she belongs. I wonder if she’ll always need that. A place where she’s known. Or if she’s the kind of person who can find home wherever she goes.

Maybe that will be her gift.

And it was like Mom was there, pointing to a decision that I’d already made and didn’t even realize.

“Thank you, Mom,” I whispered, and drifted off into the most perfect sleep.

The next morning, I sent a message to James as soon as I woke up.

Me: Can we go for a walk?

James: This early??

Me: Or a run?

James: A walk …

Me: Baby!

James: I like that … honey

Me: Better get up if we’re going to be back in time for opening!