Pure Chance - a Holland Harbor Small Town Romance Book 3 - First Chapter

Chapter 1

Quinn had been working at Waverley Farms for a couple of months, and she loved it. Even though she hated moving out of California, she no longer felt she could stay there because Richie would never leave her alone. And to be honest, as much as she liked the area where she had been born and raised, it was exciting to move across the country and start an adventure. Quinn had never been out of California, not even for vacation, which was why she figured Richie would never think of looking for her here. 

Moving had put a strain on her relationship with her mother, which was already tense most of the time. The woman was never happy, always a glass-half-empty person, and Quinn often wondered if it was what had driven her dad to leave when she was ten. Her older sister had alluded to it more than once but hadn’t come right out and said it for fear of hurting their mom’s feelings. 

Quinn wasn’t as close to their mom as Riley was and didn’t dance around her feelings, not like Riley did. Her mom didn’t like to be contradicted. Quinn would never intentionally hurt someone’s feelings, of course, but she wasn’t about to buy into the constant negativity spewing from her mother’s mouth. She preferred to live her life from a place of abundance and positivity, something which often seemed to annoy her mother.

“Hey, Quinn, did you finish up with those baby goats that needed bottle-feeding?” Bill, the farm manager, asked. 

Since coming to Waverley Farms, Quinn had enjoyed working with the baby animals. A few of the baby goats’ mothers had died in childbirth, as sometimes happened, or weren’t bonding with their babies, leaving the baby goats needing extra nourishment. Whatever the case, Quinn loved working with them and helping them thrive. 

She had always wanted many brothers and sisters and remembered asking for more siblings several times when she was young, much to her mother’s annoyance. While her mother always acted like she and Riley were enough, Quinn could think of nothing better than a big, noisy family. Now as an adult with no dating prospects on the horizon, it didn’t seem like that was happening anytime soon, so working with the baby goats would have to do.

“Yep, I finished up with them. I’m a little nervous about one of the girls, though. I noticed quite a difference in size between her and the others born at the same time. I think she could use some extra vitamins. Maybe we should check her over at the next feeding and see if we can help her gain some weight," Quinn replied.

“Sounds good. Let me know if you need anything. I’m heading out to run some errands. I’ll have my cell if you need me,” Bill said.

That was one reason Quinn enjoyed working here. Chan, the owner, and Bill were laid back, giving her space to do her job without micromanaging her every move. Quinn liked that autonomy; it had been a long time since she’d had that kind of freedom in both her work and personal life.

Quinn ran her fingers through her hair, noticing pieces falling out of its ponytail. She needed a haircut, but it seemed like an unnecessary expense when funds were tight. It wasn’t like she ever wore her hair down anyway. Quinn couldn’t even remember the last time she had. There wasn’t much reason to fuss over it. Her ponytail and a T-shirt were her standard uniform—another thing her mother liked to complain about. 

“You’ll never get a man to marry you if you don’t take more care with your appearance,” her mom had said more than once. 

Maybe there had been some truth to that since she was single, but Quinn doubted her hairstyle was the reason she wasn’t dating. Richie’s controlling behavior had driven her away, and the real trouble had started when she finally stood up for herself.

Her phone vibrated in her back pocket, and when she pulled it out, her mother’s name lit up the screen. It was uncanny, Quinn thought, how she had been thinking of her mom, and now here she was, calling. The last thing Quinn wanted to deal with was her criticism, but she sighed and answered.

“Hello, Mom,” Quinn said.

“Surprised you answered. You never seem to pick up my calls anymore.”

Maybe if you didn’t always call during the workday, I’d answer more often, but Quinn didn’t say it out loud. “I’ve been really busy.”

“Your sister’s busy too, and she makes the time to talk to me.”.

“Sorry, Mom. I’ll do better.” It was easier to placate her than to argue. 

A few seconds of silence passed.

“Is there a reason you called?” Quinn asked.

“Do I need a reason to call my own daughter? Can’t I check up on you?”

“Yes, of course, you can. Everything is going great.” 

Quinn told her about the baby goats she was working with, though her mother was never that interested in her work. Sure enough, her mother quickly pivoted to Richie—exactly why Quinn avoided these calls.

“Richie came by to see me yesterday.” 

There it was. Her mom thought Richie was a catch because he had a good job. She didn’t know how he had treated Quinn—and Quinn wasn’t sure her mom would care if she did.

“Mom, Richie and I are over. We’re never getting back together,” she said. Anxiety at the mention of his name settled in her chest.

“I don’t know what happened between you two, but he’s willing to give you another chance.”

Him give her another chance…Quinn nearly laughed.

“Mom, Richie and I are done. Please get that through your head.”

“Because you two broke up doesn’t mean you had to move so far south. Why Texas?”

“What’s wrong with Texas? Texas is a fine place to live,” I said crossing my fingers at the little white lie.

“I don’t even know where you’re living or what’s going on with you.”

“My living arrangements are fine. Like I said, things are in flux right now, but I’ll let you know when I’m settled.” Her mom started to say something, but Quinn cut her off. “Mom, I really have to go. I’ll call you in a couple of days.”

“You’re always brushing me off. Makes me wonder if you’re homeless or something. Why else wouldn’t you give your own mother your address?”

“I’m not homeless. I really need to go.” Quinn ended the call and took a deep breath.

“Everything okay?” a voice from behind her asked, making her jump. 

Quinn whirled around to Caleb Waverley, brother of the farm’s owner. He ran the Waverley restaurant in town and was often here, picking up goat cheese. Every time she saw him, she couldn’t help the butterflies in her stomach. He was devilishly handsome, with close-cropped blond hair and blue eyes. Even though he spent most of his time in the kitchen, it was clear he worked out.

“You startled me,” she snapped.

Caleb held his hands up in surrender. “Didn’t Bob tell you I was coming? I need to pick up some milk for a soup I’m making. I forgot to add it to my order.”

“No, but we have some in the storeroom.” Quinn turned to head there, with Caleb easily keeping up beside her.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?”

“Because your mom thinks you’re homeless.”

Of course. The last thing Quinn needed was for people to start prying into her personal life.