Page 86 of Library or Lattes?

She took her time walking through town after the cab dropped her at home. She gazed at the buildings that were so familiar they were etched into her memory.

There was something comforting about this town of hers that never changed. She breathed in the scent of woodsmoke that was carried on the wind.

She felt the heat of the bonfire before she saw it.

And heard the crowds. The young people, the families, the tourists, all the people who came to celebrate their town every year.

She walked through the crowd toward Mrs. Burrows’s pie stall. Because she knew that was where Pop would be, standing there with the silver helium balloon he bought every time she came home. And there it was, bobbing gently in the heat of the bonfire.

She ran toward him and wrapped her arms around him from behind.

“I know that hug. Willa!”

Mike Taylor twisted around and hugged his daughter. Then he put his hands on her shoulders, as if to try to figure out what had changed this time. He did this every time now. As if she’d been gone for ten years.

“It’s so good to see you, sweetheart. Jo’s been cooking all day for your welcome-home dinner.”

“Pop, you don’t have to do this every time I come home,” Willa said, laughing.

“Of course I do. It’s tradition now! How was your flight? Was there turbulence?”

“Good. And no, no turbulence. Clear skies all the way!” Willa returned her pop’s smile as he kissed her forehead. She leaned into his chest and felt herself relax even more.

That was the thing about Oak Falls. It always relaxed her. And she hadn’t realized it until Aunt Lisa had changed everything for her.

“Willa, honey!” Jo appeared, holding two cups.

She handed one to Willa and one to Mike. “Some hot wine will warm you up. I can’t wait to hear all about this trip.” Jo looked radiant against the glow of the bonfire, wearing a red wool coat and a white fluffy hat that drew attention to her kind brown eyes.

“It was perfect, and don’t worry, you’ll be getting an hour-by-hour account. I need your opinion on a few things.”

Willa looked at Jo again and realized that she didn’t have her own cup. “Wait, where’s your wine? Here, have mine, I’ll go and get another.” She held out her cup, but Jo didn’t take it. Instead, she looked at Mike and they both looked at Willa.

“Willa, we have something to tell you.”

Willa looked at them and she just knew.

“No. No way! You’re not … you’re pregnant?” Jo nodded and grimaced at the same time.

“That’s such amazing news, congratulations!” Willa threw her arms around Jo. “When?” she asked, struggling to form a real sentence.

“Summer. End of July, start of August,” her pop said. When Willa looked at him, she thought he might cry with happiness. “It was a bit of a surprise, and we wanted to tell you about the engagement first.”

“Hold on. What?!” Willa reached for Jo’s left hand and found a very sparkly ring. “Oh my God. Congratulations again!”

“I’m so glad you’re happy about it,” Mike said, beaming as Jo leaned into him.

“Happy? I’m ecstatic. A brother or sister at last!”

Jo hugged Willa again. “How lucky they’ll be to have such a cultured sister. And what is that smell, Willa? You smell like … a summer garden.” Jo sniffed Willa’s hair and closed her eyes.

“Oh, just a new perfume. I got it in Florence.” Willa smiled and took a sip of wine.

“Oooooh, I got it in Florence,” said a voice.

Willa knew that voice. She turned around to see her best friend with freshly dyed blue hair.

“Lennie, your hair!” Willa reached out to play with a strand. “I love it!”