few minutes later:
That’s great news, Raven! I’m not surprised Hope Valley has worked its magic on you. I’ll hook you up with Lauren. She knows everyone in the valley. I’m sure she’ll be able to help you find a job and a place to live.
Raven’s stomach fizzed with excitement. It was really going to happen! She was going to leave her drab hometown behind and move to Hope Valley!
She started sorting through her stuff. There was nothing to hang around for, and she wanted to get going as quickly as possible.
After lunch, she got a text message from an unfamiliar number:
Hey Raven. This is Lauren, a good friend of Jennifer’s. She tells me you’ve decided to move to Hope Valley. That’s great news! I need a little more time, but I’m pretty sure I can find you a cabin where you can stay on the cheap, inside the national park, and I’ve got a friend who’s looking for someone to work in her boutique furnishings store. Let me know if that interests you? Lauren xx
Raven gave a squeal of excitement and dialed Lauren’s number right away. Lauren sounded warm and friendly, and she told Raven that she’d be happy to show her around and introduce her to her friends. Raven said the cabin and job sounded amazing, and she got the email address of the store owner so she could send her resumé over.
Raven looked up the furnishings store on the Internet. It was arty and high-end, and her heart gave a little jump. She imagined herself helping to select the pieces and show them to prospective customers. She spent most the afternoon writing her resumé. There wasn’t much to put in it – just a succession of jobs she’d had no interest in doing – so she included a letter too, saying how much she loved art and design, and hoped that would equip her to work in a furnishings store.
By the time she was heading out to meet Caitlyn, Lauren had called her back and said that there was a cabin available for $200 per month. “I won’t lie – it’s a little basic,” she explained. “But it should be comfortable. And if you’re missing any furniture, I’m sure there are plenty of us who can help you out.” Raven thanked her profusely, thinking how much she was looking forward to meeting her.
Caitlyn was already waiting for her when she got to Rick’s. The sun was dropping toward the horizon behind the dingy bar, and in her good mood, Raven even thought that it looked a little romantic. Caitlyn bounded out of her seat as soon as she saw her and squeezed her until she thought her ribs were going to crack.
“I’ve got some great news!” she shrieked.
“What is it?” Raven said.
“I’m coming with you to Hope Valley!” Raven gasped.
“What? Are you serious?” Caitlyn nodded manically, her eyes shining with excitement.
“I can’t stand another day working in that damn hardware store. I really liked Hope Valley too. Right after I got your message, I thought, what the hell? I’m sure Raven wouldn’t mind a bit of company, so I quit!”
“I would love some company!” Raven said, throwing her arms around her friend, and the flickers of doubt that she’d been trying to suppress disappeared altogether. Moving to Hope Valley with Caitlyn would be so much less scary than going by herself. She wouldn’t be lonely, wouldn’t have to carry the burden of rent all by herself. They skipped over to the bar and ordered beers.
“So what’s your plan? You have to tell me everything,” Caitlyn demanded.
“Well, looks like we’ve got a cabin to stay in, for like $200 a month.”
“A cabin? Quirky. I like it.”
“Me too! I just feel like I want everything to be different from here. I don’t care what it is, as long as it’s different.”
“Same. I don’t think I’ll give this town a backward glance when I leave it.”
“Cheers to that.” They clinked glasses.
“When should we leave?” Caitlyn said.
“Is the day after tomorrow too soon?”
“Hell no. I’ll just pack a suitcase.”
“Me
That’s great news, Raven! I’m not surprised Hope Valley has worked its magic on you. I’ll hook you up with Lauren. She knows everyone in the valley. I’m sure she’ll be able to help you find a job and a place to live.
Raven’s stomach fizzed with excitement. It was really going to happen! She was going to leave her drab hometown behind and move to Hope Valley!
She started sorting through her stuff. There was nothing to hang around for, and she wanted to get going as quickly as possible.
After lunch, she got a text message from an unfamiliar number:
Hey Raven. This is Lauren, a good friend of Jennifer’s. She tells me you’ve decided to move to Hope Valley. That’s great news! I need a little more time, but I’m pretty sure I can find you a cabin where you can stay on the cheap, inside the national park, and I’ve got a friend who’s looking for someone to work in her boutique furnishings store. Let me know if that interests you? Lauren xx
Raven gave a squeal of excitement and dialed Lauren’s number right away. Lauren sounded warm and friendly, and she told Raven that she’d be happy to show her around and introduce her to her friends. Raven said the cabin and job sounded amazing, and she got the email address of the store owner so she could send her resumé over.
Raven looked up the furnishings store on the Internet. It was arty and high-end, and her heart gave a little jump. She imagined herself helping to select the pieces and show them to prospective customers. She spent most the afternoon writing her resumé. There wasn’t much to put in it – just a succession of jobs she’d had no interest in doing – so she included a letter too, saying how much she loved art and design, and hoped that would equip her to work in a furnishings store.
By the time she was heading out to meet Caitlyn, Lauren had called her back and said that there was a cabin available for $200 per month. “I won’t lie – it’s a little basic,” she explained. “But it should be comfortable. And if you’re missing any furniture, I’m sure there are plenty of us who can help you out.” Raven thanked her profusely, thinking how much she was looking forward to meeting her.
Caitlyn was already waiting for her when she got to Rick’s. The sun was dropping toward the horizon behind the dingy bar, and in her good mood, Raven even thought that it looked a little romantic. Caitlyn bounded out of her seat as soon as she saw her and squeezed her until she thought her ribs were going to crack.
“I’ve got some great news!” she shrieked.
“What is it?” Raven said.
“I’m coming with you to Hope Valley!” Raven gasped.
“What? Are you serious?” Caitlyn nodded manically, her eyes shining with excitement.
“I can’t stand another day working in that damn hardware store. I really liked Hope Valley too. Right after I got your message, I thought, what the hell? I’m sure Raven wouldn’t mind a bit of company, so I quit!”
“I would love some company!” Raven said, throwing her arms around her friend, and the flickers of doubt that she’d been trying to suppress disappeared altogether. Moving to Hope Valley with Caitlyn would be so much less scary than going by herself. She wouldn’t be lonely, wouldn’t have to carry the burden of rent all by herself. They skipped over to the bar and ordered beers.
“So what’s your plan? You have to tell me everything,” Caitlyn demanded.
“Well, looks like we’ve got a cabin to stay in, for like $200 a month.”
“A cabin? Quirky. I like it.”
“Me too! I just feel like I want everything to be different from here. I don’t care what it is, as long as it’s different.”
“Same. I don’t think I’ll give this town a backward glance when I leave it.”
“Cheers to that.” They clinked glasses.
“When should we leave?” Caitlyn said.
“Is the day after tomorrow too soon?”
“Hell no. I’ll just pack a suitcase.”
“Me
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