The gently falling snow was quickly covering everything in a serene white blanket, softening the sounds of the evening.  People hurried to their destinations, huddled in their winter wear to ward off the chill.  Main Street’s shops began to shut down for the evening as the time inched towards ten o’clock .  But his destination was the bar next door to the old Moody building, and he knew it was open until 1am.

While he wasn’t planning to have more than a couple beers to take off the edge, he was glad he would still have a few hours to relax.  He’d only been home a week and he was already finding that he was climbing the walls.  While he’d grown up in Eversfeld, the small town had always seemed to strangle him.  He’d hightailed it to Chicago as soon as he’d graduated from high school and hadn’t planned on looking back.

But sometimes life just had to throw in a curveball.

He’d turned in his resignation letter and finished out the obligatory two weeks before he’d packed up a few suitcases and turned his SUV towards the tiny Michigan town he still considered home.  The apartment in Chicago was still there, as were his friends and the rest of his life, but he’d needed a change of pace, a chance to slow down and feel like he could breathe.  The rest he would eventually figure out.

“Justin, good to see you man!” the bearded behemoth behind the bar called as he walked in and shook the snow from his coat.

He looked up in surprise, not able to place the face for a moment.  Then a grin quickly appeared as he recognized his childhood friend Alex Morrison.  Sure, he’d grown about a foot and looked at least 50 pounds heavier, but it was the same guy that he’d used to get into all sorts of trouble with.

“Alex?!?,” Justin questioned as he quickly walked over to the immaculate, rustic bar top and sat on a stool in front of his friend.

“A little older, a little hairier but not any wiser.  Yep, still the same guy who used to pull the fire alarm with you,” Alex replied with a laugh.

“Dude, you look like you ate a house,” Justin said after they shook hands, “I always thought I’d be the tall one, and here you are with a few inches on me.  Good to see you man!”

“My momma mentioned she’d seen you back in town, but I wasn’t sure if maybe she was hallucinating things.  Always thought once you’d left for the big city, you’d never come back,” Alex stated.

“I’ve been here about a week.  The trip was a bit spur of the moment,” Justin explained as Alex poured him a beer from the tap, “Never thought I’d be back either but I’m taking a bit of a sabbatical at the moment.”

“Life too crazy in the Windy City?” Alex prompted, clinking his own glass of beer with the fresh one he’d nudged towards his friend.

“I never thought I’d say this, but yeah, I’m a bit burnt out from all the hustle.  I’m spending a few weeks here to relax and figure out what’s next.  I was starting to work myself towards a heart attack at 32,” Justin responded, taking a swig of the beer, “Damn that’s good.”

“Made in-house,” Alex replied with a huge grin.

“Wait, do you own this place now?” Justin asked, eyes taking in his surroundings for the first time since sitting down.

This bar had always been a hole-in-the wall dive with cheap drinks and terrible junk food.  But gone were the ratty booths and neon signs that had dominated the space.   Instead, the area appeared to have been gutted and replaced with a rustic, industrial look complete with gleaming wood floors.

The bar he sat at featured a long, carved wooden countertop and high-backed industrial metal stools.  Behind the bar were three large shelves, also made of the same wood, backlit to display the many different types of liquor bottles, held in place by industrial pipes.  Metal domed lights hung down over the bar, brightening up the space and allowing patrons to easily converse.

A few wood high top tables sat next to the bank of windows across from the bar, each lit with the same metal domed lights that hung over the bar and able to sit four comfortably on the same metal stools.  The room then opened up to a large area, the previous dividing walls gone to feature one big room.  Three stout wooden beams were suspended from the vaulted ceiling and from each dangled about thirty or so Edison bulbs.

The open space was dotted with multiple dining height wooden tables of varying shapes and sizes.  Wooden seats with metal hair-pin legs sat around each.  And along the far wall was a wooden stage where a band was setting up for a few hours of live music, lit up by two large metal sconces coming out of the wall on either side.

“Bought it about three years ago and just finished the remodel last October in time to celebrate Halloween,” Alex said, his smile beaming proudly from his face, “Lot of elbow grease went into it and I owe so much to your dad for all the help and hard work he provided.”

“Wow, congrats man, this place looks awesome.  Dad said he’d been keeping busy, but I had no idea that this was one of his company’s projects,” Justin replied, taking another pull of his beer, “I kind of miss the days when I used to help him out with everything.”

“He’s one hell of a contractor, that’s for sure.  This place is exactly like I’d always pictured it should be back when we used to sneak in underage,” Alex stated.

“Those sure were the days,” Justin responded, then held his beer glass up in salute, “To all the trouble we used to get into…”

“I’ll drink to that,” his friend said after raising his own glass.

“So, what have you been up to these days, besides being a badass and running your own business?” Justin asked, settling back into his bar stool to get comfortable.

Before he could respond, Alex’s attention was drawn back to the front door as a tall, willowy blonde came striding in.  Justin watched his friend’s face light up as the woman sauntered over, shaking the snow off her boots and pulling the furry hat off her head.  She quickly leaned over the bar and pulled him in for a hungry kiss before letting him go and plopping onto a bar stool.

Justin raised a questioning eyebrow in his friend’s direction.  Alex blushed.

“I see you’ve been extra busy,” Justin quipped with a grin. The blonde turned in his direction.

“Aspen, love, this is my friend Justin, the one I grew up with that used to force me to pull the fire alarm all those times,” Alex stated as Justin laughed, “Justin, meet Aspen, the boss of my life.”

“Don’t you mean love of your life?  And please, don’t try to fool me into thinking that you weren’t the one who suggested pulling the fire alarm,” the pretty young woman replied, her brown eyes shining with mirth, “Justin, it’s so great to finally meet you.  This big lug has mentioned you quite a few times, so I’m happy to finally put a face to the name.”

“Pleasure to meet you as well.  Anybody that can keep him in line is okay in my book,” Justin replied as they shook hands.  Alex merely rolled his eyes.

“So, Justin, how long are you in town for?” Aspen asked after Alex had poured her a glass of white wine, “Please tell me you’re staying through the new year.  I’ve got quite a few fun activities planned for the next couple weekends.”

“Aspen is part of the Eversfeld Christmas Committee,” Alex said, as if that explained everything.

“Christmas Committee?”

“I work in real estate and I’ve done so much research on all the old buildings on Main Street and the festivities that used to occur.  I finally convinced the mayor that we needed to have a committee to ensure that we keep some of the old Christmas traditions alive,” Aspen supplied as she sipped her wine.

“So Eversfeld is going to somehow be even more Christmas-y?” Justin asked in disbelief.

“You can never have too much Christmas,” Aspen animatedly stated.

“You’re talking to Santa’s number one elf.  She practically bleeds Christmas,” Alex dryly commented.  Justin laughed.

“I’m a transplant from California and we don’t have white Christmases.  After moving here a few years ago and seeing snow for the first time, well I feel like Christmas is even more magical,” Aspen stated, “I’ve kind of been leading the charge to get all the buildings on Main Street as decked out as possible for the holiday.”

“Well it’s pretty festive so far,” Justin agreed.

“Oh babe, that reminds me, you’ll never guess the property I closed on today,” Aspen cried as she bounced excitedly on her stool.

“Oooo, did you sell off City Hall?” Alex teased, grinning.  Aspen rolled her eyes.

“Har, har, you’re so funny.  No, your next-door neighbor, the Moody building finally has a new owner,” Aspen explained, “I never thought I’d pull this one off!  The place has been sitting empty for over two years and needs a ton of work inside.”

Justin’s ears perked up at the information.  The large, two-story brick building had always held a certain fascination for him as a kid.  The huge, arched windows on the second floor had always caught his eye, and after his years of school and work, he appreciated the architecture and design of the building so much more.  He was dying to see what the second floor looked like.

“Please tell me that Hope finally has her space,” Alex said.

“Like I would let Spencer Anderson get his greasy hands on the building and knock it down to create some ugly ass condos.  Guy is slicker than water but I was able to hold him off so Hope could get all her paperwork in order.  I handed over the keys to her today,” Aspen replied with a smile.

“Hope as in little Hope McKinley?” Justin questioned, butting into the conversation.

His mind quickly conjured up a picture of a petite, dark-haired pixie with large, expressive green eyes.  She’d always been shy around him but was his younger sister Eve’s shadow growing up.  The two had practically been attached at the hip.

“The one and only,” Alex confirmed, then grinned, “Dude, you’ve been away too long.  I know you’re remembering her as that skinny little shy kid who was your sister’s best friend, but she’s all grown up now.  And man that woman can cook anything.”

“I’m gonna get so fat,” Aspen moaned, “Her butternut squash gnocchi is to die for.  She’s been working over at the diner and Mitch has let her put it as a special on the menu every so often and I’ve never seen such a crowd in my life.”

“Well the place will need a ton of work to get it looking like a restaurant again.  The last tenant left it a wreck and I don’t even think there’s a kitchen anymore since the last restaurant in the space was about ten years ago,” Alex mused after taking a slug of his beer, “Total gut I’m guessing.”

“Any idea who she’s got in mind?” Justin asked, even more curious now that someone he knew had bought the building he’d always been fascinated by.

“Nope but I would guess your dad since Hope and Eve are still best friends,” Alex said, “Maybe you can help out and get those architect hands dirty again.”

“Not a bad idea since I’ve got nothing better to do at the moment,” he responded with a shrug, “I’ve been dying to see the second floor.  Those four big arched windows have always drawn my eye.”

“She’s lucky, the second floor is in better shape.  The apartment was remodeled maybe seven or eight years ago so mainly needs a deep clean, some updated hardware and lights and maybe some new hardwood floors depending on what she wants to do with the space,” Aspen said.

“I didn’t know the second floor was an apartment.  Must be why I saw a light on up there on my way in,” Justin mused.

“Shouldn’t be any lights on.  It’s been vacant almost as long as the first level,” Aspen replied, frowning as she pulled her phone out, dialed and let it ring until it hit voicemail, “Damn, she’s not picking up.”

“Who?” Justin asked.

“Hope.  She’s now got the only set of keys for all the doors and the locks for the apartment were changed after the last tenant moved out.  Maybe her boyfriend will answer the phone,” she explained as she dialed another number

While she was doing that, Justin felt his phone vibrate in his pocket.  He pulled it out and saw his sister’s name light up the screen.  He immediately answered.

“Justin, thank god you picked up,” Eve cried, her tone worried.

“What’s wrong Evie?”

“You remember my friend Hope, right?” she said, he grunted in acknowledgement but she just barreled on as if she hadn’t heard him, “I just got a call from her boyfriend, who never calls me for anything and he was asking if I’d seen her.  Of course, I’d said no cause she’s supposed to be home with him, but he said they had a massive fight and she stormed off.  He thought she’d be with me, but I haven’t seen her and now she’s not answering her phone or responding to my text messages.”

Justin almost laughed at the verbal diarrhea his sister spouted at him.  She was still the most talkative, bubbly person he’d ever met.  She could talk the ears off a cow if she put her mind to it.

“…she’s been alone since her grandma passed on over a year ago and the rest of her family is living in Traverse City.  Well, not really alone if you count that douchebag she’s been dating, but I wouldn’t put it past him to lie about them having an argument.  I mean, she’s much better off without him anyway, he’s always working late and…”

“Evie.”

“I’ve already called Sophie and Emery and they haven’t seen her since this afternoon, but Emery mentioned that Hope finally closed on the Moody building today.  She picked up the keys today from the real estate office and Emery said…”

“Evie!” Justin cried as his sister continued to ramble on.

“What?” Eve said, stopping mid-sentence.

“While I appreciate the extreme detail of the situation, what do you want me to do?” he demanded, “Hope is your friend, not mine.”

“I know, but can’t you just do me a huge favor and see if she’s somehow hiding out in her new building?  There’s an apartment on the second floor.  You mentioned you were going to grab a beer at The Hangout and its right next door.  Pretty please?  Just a quick check?” Evie pleaded.

Justin sighed.  He was such a pushover when it came to his two younger sisters and had a hard time telling them no when they asked him for something.  Especially considering he was hardly ever home and neither Eve nor their baby sister Faith asked him for much of anything these days.  What a class A jerk of a brother he was turning into…

All he’d wanted to do this evening was enjoy a beer in peace and try to figure out what his next move was supposed to be.  Finding out that he’d been passed over for a promotion in favor of one of the boss’ sons had made him angrier than he’d ever been.  After all the hours he’d put in, all the projects he’d completed and all the ass kissing he’d done, to see the job he wanted handed to someone just because they shared a last name with the boss had left the bitterest taste in his mouth.  Giving notice had been the best choice but it still left him directionless.

Which is why he’d basically come home to wallow for a bit and pick up the pieces of his professional life.  But the universe, it appeared, had other plans.

“Yeah, I’ll go see if she’s there.  Can’t promise if she is that she’ll open the door to me,” Justin finally stated.

“Just try,” Eve replied, “She’s probably not even there, but I’m super worried right now and I don’t want to leave any stone unturned.  The snow is starting to pick up and I’d feel much better if I just knew where she was.  The last time she and the douchebag had a fight she was halfway to Traverse City before she would answer her phone, but she still answered.  I just want to make sure she’s not in a ditch somewhere.  She’s my best friend.”

“I get it.  You two have been attached at the hip since you were nine years old.  I’ll pop next door and let you know if I find her,” he replied before disconnecting the call.

He shoved the phone back into his pocket with a sigh.  Alex had moved to the other end of the bar to wait on a few customers and Aspen was just hanging up her phone as he took another guzzle of beer.  She quickly walked over, worry on her face.

“I just got off the phone with Hope’s boyfriend Jacob and he hasn’t heard from her in a few hours,” she began.

“My sister just called me and said the same thing.  She’s tried calling Hope a couple times and also sent texts but hasn’t gotten a response,” Justin explained as Aspen sat at the bar and Alex made his way back over, “She asked me to go check next door to see if she might be hiding out there.”

“I’ll go with you,” Aspen immediately volunteered as she downed the rest of her glass of wine and went to pull her coat back on.

“Babe…” Alex started as he grabbed her hands, “I’d rather you didn’t.  What if it’s some lunatic who broke into the building?”

“I’ll be fine with Justin,” she stubbornly stated; he sighed.

“How about I go with Justin and you hold down the fort for me for a bit?  I could use a break for a minute,” Alex said.  Aspen rolled her eyes.

“Fine,” she huffed as she pulled her hair up into a ponytail and made her way behind the bar, “But text me as soon as you get up there so I don’t worry and accidentally call the sheriff.”  Alex laughed.

“Pretty sure it won’t be accidental when you call,” he dryly responded before laying a long kiss on her and leaving her behind the bar.

The two men shrugged into their coats and made their way down a side hallway and out the back door into the alley beyond.  The snow was now falling at a rapid pace and starting to accumulate, silencing the noise from the town.  Justin quickly lead the way to the two back doors of the Moody building, one that led into the first floor and one that was for the second floor.

He was surprised to find one of the doors unlocked and opened easily to reveal a flight of stairs leading up to the second floor.  An old brass chandelier hung over the stairwell casting an eerie glow on the walls.  The steps, while dusty and scuffed up, looked sturdy.

“Man, this feels like a scene in a scary movie.  I’m just waiting for the creepy music to play and the stairs to start giving out underneath us,” Alex whispered as they began to ascend.

“Dude, the stairs are rock solid.  The design of this building is flawless,” Justin stated with a laugh as he led the way.

“Sure, easy for you to say Mr. Architect,” his friend retorted with a grin.

As they approached the top of the stairs Justin noticed a light coming from beneath the door.  He tried the knob but found it locked.  He frowned, not sure if he was relieved it was locked or concerned about what was going on behind the door.

“So…should we pick the lock?” Alex asked right before Justin raised his hand and knocked on the door, “What the hell, now you gave away the element of surprise.”

“You watch too many scary movies,” Justin said, rolling his eyes, “This is Eversfeld, nothing crazy or interesting ever happens here.”

As the door swung open, the words suddenly died on his lips, his breath essentially stolen from his lungs.  The woman before him was petite, maybe an inch or two over five feet and clad in a pair of Christmas-printed flannel pants and a fitted thermal top.  Bare feet with red-painted toenails peeked from beneath the pants.  Her long dark hair tumbled over her shoulders, mussed as if she’d been sleeping….or been busy NOT sleeping.

Blood flowed south and he quickly swallowed, willing away an image of naked skin and firelight.

But the intense green eyes that stared up at him….those he instantly recognized.  Those same eyes had stolen glances at him over the years.  They’d made him feel like he hung the moon when they’d crinkled up with laughter.  He’d even wiped away a couple tears from them.

But the eyes that currently looked up at him were sadder than he’d ever seen them.

“Hope?” he softly began, taking a step towards her, his feet moving of their own accord.

“Justin?” she replied, confusion written on her face, “What are you doing here?”