Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 97037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Fable’s smile grows, and Kitty doesn’t miss the way her eyes cut to the ice. No one has to guess who she’s looking at. Her stunning green eyes don’t stop seeking him. Kitty can’t help but wonder if Fable realizes she did the same thing when she was younger too. She’d walk into a rink and instantly look for him. Wherever he was, she made sure to be right there with him.
A wave of guilt burns through Kitty as she gazes at her granddaughter. While she wasn’t the one to tear the two of them apart, she still feels like she let them down. But it was done without her knowledge, and before she could stop it, she was left with a close-up view of two lost souls moving through life.
“Great. The programs are growing little by little. I’m trying to find some coaches right now to increase the size of the program. It’s going well, and I think I might be able to pull some from Knoxville. I’ve been getting out into the community and talking to different business owners. It’s going okay.”
“Okay?” Hazel asks, concerned. “Is someone giving you problems?”
Fable shrugs. “I’m basically an outsider.”
“No, you were born here, and the Ice Thistle is a pillar in this community,” Maggie protests, her eyes wild with annoyance. “There is no reason for you to feel that way.”
Fable chews on her lip, almost to keep from answering. Before she can, though, Noelle Matthews comes to the table with a bright smile and a handful of candy canes. Everyone adores Noelle; she’s a doll baby. And while her hockey team sucks ass, Bea still lets her sit with them. Tonight, the Belles are playing the Pastry Puckers, and it should be a blowout. Nevertheless, Noelle would never not be here for her team. “Hey, Belles! Can I sit with y’all?”
Everyone agrees, smiling brightly because there is no other way when it comes to Noelle. She just radiates sunshine. She places the candy canes in the middle of the table, flashing an even bigger grin. Bea leans in, setting Noelle with a look. “Did you hear?”
Noelle’s brows pull together as she blows a stray strand of hair out of her eye. She always has her hair up in a messy, wild bun. “About what?”
Bea nods. “That we’re going to embarrass your team tonight.”
Everyone chuckles as Noelle beams. “It’s not all about winning,” Noelle sings in her lyrical voice. “It’s about fun.”
Bea’s laughter falls off. “Winning is everything, Noelle. You’d do best to learn that.”
Noelle waves off the older lady, that smile locked in place. Hazel leans in, her eyes capturing Noelle’s. “But for real, did you hear about Big Seb’s son?”
Big Seb owns Reindeer Rumpus Ranch, which is a tree farm outside of town. The ranch was here before the town was. Everyone gets their Christmas trees there, and everyone loves Big Seb. His son, Sebastian, left when he graduated from high school and hasn’t been back, but every once in a while, some gossip will filter in about him.
Noelle tries to hide her interest, but her voice gives her away. Almost squawking the words, she asks, “What about him?”
Hazel hides her smile as she says, “Heard his wife left him and his two girls for good. She apparently got herself a sugar daddy. Since she is the reason he left town, maybe he’ll come on home.”
Noelle bites down on her lip as she nods slowly. And while there is concern in her features, no one can miss the excitement. She has always had a crush on Sebastian—not that he ever noticed her. “I hope he does what’s best for himself and his girls.” Noelle pauses for a moment, her lips turning down, obviously deep in thought. But then she quickly smiles. She turns to Fable, gripping her wrist. “How were the meetings with the Second Street businesses?”
Fable grimaces, and Kitty’s heart aches. “Not too good. They really didn’t give me much of their time.”
Noelle rolls her eyes. “You can’t give up. They don’t know if they should work with you, because everyone knows you only have to be here for a year.” Fable swallows, squirming in her seat. “Is there a possibility you’ll stay?”
At that question, all eyes fall on Fable. She looks down at her hands and then up at the ice. Kitty follows her gaze to where Jett is standing by the goal with his stick hanging loosely in his hands. Kitty glances back at Fable just as she shrugs. “I doubt it.”
Kitty’s stomach sinks, and Bea tsks in annoyance. Hazel and Maggie just look stricken. Hazel places her cross-stitching ring down and pats Fable’s folded hands. “No need to rush into that decision right now,” she stresses, her eyes hopeful. “Give it time. You may settle here.”
Fable shrugs, leaving Kitty to feel like the girl has one foot out the door already. According to Phillip’s letter to her, he was convinced he could get Fable to stay for good if he made her stay for a year. Kitty has been so hopeful, but the look on Fable’s face doesn’t seem to align with Kitty’s wants.