Evelyn looked at her daughter with a mix of concern and understanding, her eyes reflecting the flicker of the firelight, memories dancing behind them. “Juni, I hope that’s really why and it’s not because of what happened with you and your friend Amanda… Your home is here..”

Juniper’s smile faltered slightly, a shadow crossing her face, the pain of that loss still a dull ache in her chest. “The drive is all highway, and if you take express, it’s only three hours. Don’t worry, I’ve already met people down there that I know.”

“That’s nice. Who?” Evelyn inquired, a hint of curiosity lacing her tone.

“No one,” Juniper admitted with a light laugh, shrugging casually. “Maybe I will move back up here again, huh?”

Evelyn’s head went side to side, smile saying she knew. “So, how are things going with work?”

“Good,” Juniper replied, her gaze shifting to the window where the snowfall was growing heavier, blanketing the world in white, muffling the sounds of the outside world.