Heart So True

By Linnhe McCarron

Avery Markham hasn't lived in Winslowe, a tiny town in northern Vermont for long. When she arrived, she knew no one, not even a friend of a friend. But now, she knows everyone in town and has a thriving business upstairs over the general store.
Life is good—until dependable Eliza Clayton blows off her first day of work the summer between her high-school graduation and matriculation at an elite New England college. Avery's overloaded and overworked until a solution presents itself from the most unlikely source, her nemesis, her curt and distant landlord, Rhys Williams. As the months pass, Avery sees Rhys in a new light, and her heart begins to thaw.
There are surprises for all the characters in this sequel to Sunrise Side of the Mountain. Some have their hearts broken. Some have their hearts mended. And they all come to recognize and value the friendship of those whose hearts are true.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Linnhe McCarron
• Release date: Mar 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9781733044394

Book preview

Prologue

Heart So True is the second book in The Green Mountain Trilogy.

In the first book, Sunrise Side of the Mountain, readers meet Avery Markham, who has recently been widowed and needs a complete change of scenery from her former life in Iowa. Avery steps out of the shadows and into the sunshine when she moves halfway across the country to explore new opportunities and make new friends in northern Vermont.

When Avery arrived in the tiny town of Winslowe, she knew no one, not even a friend of a friend. But now, she knows everyone and has a thriving business upstairs over the general store. There are surprises for all the characters in this sequel. Some have their hearts broken. Some have their hearts mended. And they all come to recognize and value the friendship of those whose hearts are true.

Heart So True was previously published on Amazon Vella in serialized episodes.

Chapter One

Avery Markham pulled into the side parking lot at the Winslowe General Store and angled her Subaru into one of the few spots reserved for owners and employees of the building's two businesses. The store occupied the first floor, and her boutique, Roundtop Ranchwear, had the entire upper story.

There was already one vehicle there, an old truck with faded paint belonging to Seth Hammond. He arrived at five to accept the early-morning delivery of baked goods and to cut up meats and cheeses for the deli. He also added ingredients to the big stockpot for the soup du jour and got it simmering before Todd Clayton, the store's owner, arrived an hour later.

Avery smiled to herself, remembering when she'd been a newcomer in Winslowe, quickly befriended by Todd and his wife, Emerson. She'd offered to fill in the first fall she was in town when Emmie had shoulder surgery, sidelining her for five weeks, and the seasonal help had gone back to school. Todd said she was the best sous-chef he'd ever had. He readily accepted her suggestion to crack one egg, two eggs, and three eggs into separate bowls to streamline the busy breakfast service.

Now, she saw the Claytons daily as she ran downstairs for coffee mid-morning, a sandwich at lunchtime or a hot or cold drink, and a pastry, muffin, or cookie as a mid-afternoon 'pick-me-up.' She and Emmie had become fast friends. Emmie introduced Avery to her friends, and she was quickly accepted into their supportive circle.

You're in early, Seth said. You don't open for another couple of hours.

I have a hard time getting going in the winter when it's still dark, Avery told him, but I wake up early and get going early at this time of year.

Coffee just finished making. You have your travel cup? I'll pour you some before I fill the carafes, Seth offered.

When Avery went downstairs again a few hours later to pick up the sandwich order she'd texted earlier, Todd was behind the counter.

Hey, there, he greeted her with a wide smile. Seth said you were in at the crack of dawn.

I have a lot to do today, Avery said. We're getting a huge shipment this morning, and I wanted to get my payables out of the way before it gets here. I pay bills once a week, and next time, I'm going to start training Liza to do some of it. Last summer, she did a fabulous job steaming the wrinkles out of the clothes when shipments arrived. Now that she graduated from high school, she'd probably like more responsibility. She winked at Todd. And, of course, she'll get a raise.

Emmie will be in any minute, he said, his smile dimming. Todd turned away and kept his tone even so Avery wouldn't notice how uncomfortable he seemed. She wants to talk to you, so I'll have her run your lunch up to you shortly.

Emmie carried a plate upstairs with Avery's order half an hour later.

Em? Are you okay? Is something wrong? Avery observed her friend carefully, unable to miss Emmie's woebegone expression or the sudden shimmer of unshed tears.

Emmie's lips trembled, and she asked in a voice that was almost inaudible. Liza hasn't talked to you? She hasn't come in or called you?

Liza? No— Avery broke off as two women emerged at the top of the stairs, chattering gaily.

I had no idea this was up here, one said, entering the boutique.

Oh, my God, I love these clothes, the other squealed as they made their way to a rack of dresses.

Avery and Emmie exchanged a knowing look.

Murphy's Law, Avery muttered. Just when you need a few minutes in private, here come customers.

Emmie nodded her understanding. It's the same downstairs. Whenever there's a crisis, and I need a few minutes to speak with Todd, someone comes in wanting to order eight brown-bag lunches for his family to take to the falls. You're preaching to the choir, girlfriend. I'll catch up with you later.

The strangest thing happened today, Avery told Marley on the phone that evening. The two had become very close since they were first introduced and saw each other almost daily or caught up with the day's events in an evening phone call. Marley was a graphic artist, self-employed, working from her home studio. She often came into the general store for a late lunch or wandered upstairs to peruse the boutique's latest arrivals.

Strange how? Marley asked.

Emmie was upset about something. She was on the verge of tears. Two women came into the shop as she was about to tell me what the problem was, so I had to help them, and she went downstairs. I got a big shipment of summer clothes, and I steamed several pieces to get them out onto the sales floor. Then I spent several hours in between shoppers updating my website. By the time I went looking for Em, she'd left for the day.

Do you think she and Todd were fighting? Marley asked.

I don't think so. They're both so even-handed and calm. As much time as I've spent around them, I've never seen them argue or lose their tempers.

Money? Marley suggested.

I don't think that's it either. From what I can see, the store is thriving. This time of year, they seem to have a steady stream of customers. Some days during the summer, you can hardly get through the door because so many people sit on the steps eating ice cream.

How do Liza's parents feel about her working for you upstairs when they could probably use her help?

No one's ever come right out and said so, but I get the impression they want her to be independent, to do her own thing, and not feel like she's obligated to work for them. Liza loves clothes, and she's surprisingly good with customers. She has women buying items they didn't even know they needed or wanted. She's worth her weight in gold, no joke.

I hope you're paying her what she's worth, Marley teased.

Two dollars an hour more than she'd make anywhere else. Plus, a hefty employee discount. She told me she wants to put a wardrobe together for college this fall. I'm just getting the summer collection in, but she's interested in the fall lineup.

She's got a good head on her shoulders, Marley said. She's enterprising and industrious. Emmie and Todd are very proud of her.

Valedictorian, early acceptance to three Ivy League schools; what's not to be proud of?

There was no sign of Liza when Avery opened the boutique on Monday morning. By eleven, the girl hadn't appeared for her first day of work, nor had she called. The shop was busy, and Avery had no opportunity to look into Liza's whereabouts. During her first break, she went downstairs to ask Emmie or Todd if Liza might have slept through her alarm, the most likely possibility.

Todd stood by the register, arms crossed over his chest, his expression grim. Emmie was at the grill, her back to the room, and when she turned, her red-rimmed eyes met Avery's. Neither she nor Todd spoke.

Avery's eyes flickered from one to the other as she tried to read the situation.

I take it you didn't hear from Liza, and you're here, wondering where she is, Todd stated flatly.

Is she okay? Avery asked, her gaze now fixed on Emmie. Is she hurt? Or sick?

She's okay, all right, Todd spat. All's right in her little world. Looks like you're part of the wreckage she left behind.

Two men and two boys entered the store and stepped up to the deli counter. Todd gave them a cheerful smile and asked how he could help them in an upbeat voice. Avery knew him well enough to see the effort it took. Emmie caught Avery's eye and waved a hand, beckoning her behind the counter and into the storeroom. As soon as the foursome moved to the cooler to select their drinks, Avery hurried past Todd as unobtrusively as she could.

What is it? What's going on? she asked anxiously.

Tears streamed down Emmie's face, and she swiped at them with her shirtsleeve. Her shoulders shook as she held back sobs. Her face was white, and her expression stricken as she whispered, She's gone.

Gone? Avery was dumbfounded. Where? What do you mean gone? Like, kidnapped?

Emmie shook her head as another possibility occurred to Avery, and she asked, "She wouldn't run away. Would she?"

She might as well have, Emmie told Avery. She never said a word about her plans, never told us what she had in mind, never asked our advice. Not that she needs permission; she's eighteen.

She just turned eighteen, Avery protested.

Doesn't matter. Liza's legally an adult, and there isn't a damn thing we can do about it. Emmie's face crumpled, and she sagged onto a nearby stool.

Where is she? Do you know where she is? Avery asked.

Emmie shook her head again. "Yes and no. She left a note telling us she'd applied for a job as an au pair in France. She didn't say where or with whom. No address or phone number. She said she felt stifled in Winslowe and wanted to immerse herself in the French language."

I don't know what to say, Avery told her friend, wrapping an arm around Emmie's shoulders. But, look on the bright side. She'll be with a French family for a few months, and she'll speak French fluently when she starts college in September.

That's perfectly fine, on the face of it, Emmie protested. But there's nothing fine about the way she went about it. She should have told us she wanted to find a summer job in a foreign country. I should have had a letter or a phone call from her employer, even an email! Emmie's voice rose. I'm upset. I'm worried. I'm stressed. Emmie buried her face in her hands. I don't get it. Neither Todd nor I saw this coming. She's never done anything like this before.

Avery's brow furrowed. When did she leave?

We thought Liza went out with her girlfriends on Saturday night. Apparently, her friend, Rylee, drove her to the airport in Burlington. Airlines won't confirm whether a passenger was on a manifest, so there's no point contacting them, but Rylee called us after the flight departed to tell us Liza wouldn't be coming home that night. She said Liza didn't want us to worry and made her promise to let us know. Emmie snorted, her anguish giving way to anger.

I don't know what to think. It's hurtful that she didn't discuss this opportunity with us. And it would be alarming for any parents not to know where their child is or with whom. And that's just for starters, Emmie said.

Suddenly, her eyes widened in horror as a thought occurred to her.

Oh, my God! Avery! Today is Liza's first day of work at the boutique, and she's a no-show. Please tell me she contacted you to let you know she wasn't coming. Emmie closed her eyes as if to blot out the reality. She didn't, did she? she asked rhetorically.

Avery laid a hand on Emmie's arm. Don't worry about that now. That's the least of your concerns. There must be a lot of kids who don't have summer jobs lined up. I'm sure I'll find someone. Avery's tone was reassuring, but her stomach roiled. She would never admit it to her friend and add to her distress, but having a valued employee bail with no warning or explanation was a disaster.

What? I can hear it in your voice, Marley said astutely, one sentence into her nightly phone call with Avery. You know, you ask someone how she is, and she replies that she's 'fine,' even when she clearly isn't. People never come out and tell you why they aren't fine.

You're right, as usual. Avery laughed ruefully. I'm not fine. No, wait; personally, I'm fine, but I have a problem, is all.

A big problem or a little problem? Marley asked.

Avery sighed. "A problem problem. I need to hire someone for the boutique. If it's the right person who can take some responsibility and start right away, it would be a little problem. If I can't find someone, it will be a big problem."

Marley whistled. Someone besides Liza? You're that busy? The kids are barely out of school, and summer's just starting.

After a long pause, Avery admitted, Someone instead of Liza. She's taken another job for the summer, and I found out today.

Seriously? I thought Liza loved working at the boutique. She's been so excited about putting a wardrobe together for college. What happened to that?

I thought she did too. It seemed like the perfect job for her, and she was so good at it. She even volunteered to work during Christmas break when I was slammed. I had no idea how many people poured into the ski areas during Christmas and New Year's. I don't know what I would have done without her.

Avery sighed again heavily. "Correction, I don't know what I'm going to do without her. Any bright ideas?"

Seems like pretty short notice, Marley observed. Wasn't she supposed to start right around now?

Today, Avery said flatly.

Wait a minute, Marley said. You told me you just found out today. So, if Liza was supposed to start today, does that mean she bailed on you? She didn't tell you last week or whenever the hell she accepted another job? She didn't call you or even text? That doesn't sound like Liza at all. What do Emmie and Todd think?

After a long pause, Avery said, There's more to it, I think. It's not my place to talk about their family without details. I'm sure Emmie will tell you herself how it happened. Although I'm not sure she even knows that herself at this point.

Wow, Marley said. Where's Liza working? Did she find something on the mountain? Nah, forget that. The ski area has a lot of seasonal hires during the winter but nothing much during the summer. Or is she commuting to Burlington?

"None of the above. Emmie said Liza took a position as au pair with a French family."

Marley gasped. "A French family in France?"

Avery laughed in spite of herself. Well, that's where most French families are.

So, Liza has gone to France without telling her parents or giving you notice, Marley summarized. How did she find this job? Please tell me it isn't something she arranged online!

That's Todd's concern, exactly, Avery told Marley. There are so many scammers now, and Liza is a beautiful young girl. Rylee told the Claytons that Liza would be in touch in a few days as soon as she got settled. But that's cold comfort, as I'm sure you can imagine.

They must be half out of their minds. Emmie must be frantic. They don't know where she is, not even the name of a town? What's the family like? What does the father do? How many children do they have?

Avery was speechless.

I know, I know; I'm thinking aloud. What recourse do the Claytons have? Have they notified the police?

Liza is legally an adult, and she left of her own free will, Avery replied. I don't think there are grounds for notifying the authorities. They'll have to wait until they hear from her and hope for the best.

What about Toby? Surely he knows something.

This afternoon, Seth covered the store for a few hours while Todd and Em picked Toby up at the municipal park after his softball practice, Avery told Marley. Then, they took him home to see what they could get out of him. He said he didn't know anything, but Todd suspects he's covering for his sister.

Wow, Marley said again. He probably thinks Liza's off on a grand adventure, and he's too young to realize the danger she could be in.

Todd and Emmie must be sick with worry. This is every parent's nightmare. I can only imagine what they're going through, but I know how I'd feel if it were Ivy, my niece, Avery said.

I've known the Claytons for a long time, Marley said. They have one of the most loving, stable homes any child could wish for. Do the Caldwells know? Emmie must have told her parents. They're in and out of Emmie's house all the time; it would be hard to keep that from them for long.

That I don't know, Avery replied. Em's dad hasn't been all that well after his bypass surgery. Maybe she figured she'd hear from Liza soon after she landed in France and didn't want to upset them unnecessarily.

You know Eliza better than I do, Marley said. You saw her almost every day all last summer.

She was totally dependable, Avery said. She was a model employee—punctual, conscientious, deferential, willing to take direction and do the most menial tasks, yet she handled wealthy customers with skill and grace. And that girl could sell ice to Alaskans. That's why this is coming straight out of left field.

Emmie told me Liza had never expressed any interest in going to France, Marley said. "Do you know if she applied for au pair jobs in other countries?"

You know, the job may be completely aboveboard, Avery said. And the Claytons have the comfort of knowing it's only for a few months, and then Liza will start her freshman year at Williams College.

Her parents thought she'd choose Princeton or Cornell, Marley mused. They were pretty surprised when Liza decided on one of the 'Little Ivies' instead of Ivy League.

I'd say the proximity of Renssalaer Polytech to Williams was a big factor. It's, like, thirty miles. Avery nodded, thinking aloud. There was a new kid in Liza's senior class, a transfer from somewhere out west— Nevada, maybe. No, Utah. Chandler McDaniel. He grew up skiing at Alta. His event is giant slalom, so you can imagine how he and Liza gravitated toward each other. According to Emmie, they were practically inseparable all senior year.

Well, if she chose a college so they could be near each other, why would she suddenly take off? That makes no sense. Marley sounded baffled.

There's got to be more to this, Avery said. It's not like Liza to upset her parents or ditch a job she likes without warning.

Chapter Two

Avery heard a slow tread on the stairs the next afternoon and was pleased to see Emmie Clayton come into the shop. Avery was lifting folded items from a wheeled cart and arranging them on a low shelf according to color.

That's the new shipment? Emmie asked. Slow going if you had to unpack the boxes yourself, steam every item, and then fold them.

Not too bad, Avery said, keeping her tone upbeat. She was dismayed to see the pinched, drawn expression on her friend's face and her heart went out to Emmie. There was a crease between Emmie's brows and lines around her mouth and eyes that hadn't been there a few days before.

I was hoping to catch you between customers, Emmie said. I brought lemonade and brownies if you have a minute to sit.

Excellent! Avery exclaimed, I can always use a pick-me-up at this time of day. I always seem to have a sinking spell in the mid-afternoon, and then I get a second wind. I can finish this later. Turning, she wheeled the cart into her office and left it by the door. There were two wingback chairs and a low table under a tall window, and sunlight streamed into the room.

Is it too warm in here for you? she asked Emmie. I can close the blinds if you want.

No, it's great. I've felt chilled all morning and can't seem to get warm, so it's wonderful. Emmie put one of the paper plates and a plastic glass in front of each seat, and the two women sat in silence for a moment, content to be in each other's company.

You're not coming down with something, are you? Avery asked solicitously.

No. I never get sick, Emmie said. It's more a reflection of my mental state than anything physical.

Nothing from Liza? Avery asked gently. You haven't heard from her at all? Not even a text?

I don't know what to think, Emmie whispered. This is so out of character. That's what's so worrisome. She must know Todd and I would be frantic.

You couldn't get any information from Rylee? Do you think she knows something she isn't telling you? Emmie shook her head again.

She honestly doesn't. She dropped Liza off at departures, but there are no international flights from Burlington, so she couldn't offer a clue as to Liza's ultimate destination. I looked at possibilities on Expedia and learned that Liza would probably have gotten a connecting flight in New York, Newark, or Washington, DC. She could have booked a ticket on Air France, on KLM, on Lufthansa. It's impossible to guess. I don't even know that she actually flew to Paris. She could have flown to any European city and taken a train to her destination. There's absolutely nothing we can do except wait until she chooses to contact us.

Avery drew in a deep breath and shook her own head. You must be terrified one minute and furious the next.

I have so many conflicting emotions, Emmie admitted. Start with worried sick. So, yeah, terrified. Then add furious. I'm wondering where Liza got the money to fly anywhere, never mind a foreign country. Although I have a sinking feeling I already know the answer to that.

Two hectic red circles flamed in Emmie's pale cheeks. "I'd like to get my hands on that thoughtless, insensitive brat! Her face crumpled, and tears welled in her blue eyes. I don't know whether I'd want to hug her or slap her into the next county."

The phone was ringing in Avery's office on Wednesday morning as she unlocked the door. Flipping on the lights with her right hand as she juggled her travel mug and a breakfast sandwich in the other, she hurried to snatch up the handset before her answering machine instructed the caller to leave a message.

Hailey, hey. Hold on a sec', she told her cousin.

You sound out of breath, Hailey commented.

I am! I bolted up the stairs when I heard the phone ringing.

I called your cell several times, and it kept going to voicemail.

I'm sure it did, Avery acknowledged, her tone acerbic. I dropped my car off at the dealer in Burlington for routine maintenance, and I left my phone on the console. I was still checking in at the service desk, and one of the mechanics whisked it into a bay inside before I realized the phone was still in the car. Marley followed me up there so she could bring me back. When I realized the phone was missing, she offered to go back to get it, but I needed to open the shop.

You called them, right?

"I called from Marley's phone right away. They have mine at the service desk, and I'll get it when I pick up