Harrison laughed. “It’ll take more than divine intervention to make that happen. Richard’s been practicing his three-pointers, and he’s good.”
“We’ll just have to see what happens.”
After John left, Harrison watched Daniella follow Shelley into her office. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something more powerful than friendship was forming between them. Maybe it was because they were each at a crossroads, searching for what was next in their lives.
Or maybe it was because he needed something special to hold on to. Something that would make days like this seem like a normal part of life, instead of a mountain he had to climb.
CHAPTER4
Daniella stood in the corner of the general store, pinning her handwritten note to the community noticeboard. The worn corkboard was a kaleidoscope of flyers, announcements, and advertisements, a testament to the vibrant community in the small Montana town.
“Looking for a house to rent,” she read aloud as she tacked her notice in place. She stepped back to admire her handiwork, the request scrawled in neat, deliberate letters. It was a simple plea for help, a beacon of hope in a sea of information.
As she straightened the notice, Daniella’s eyes wandered to the shelves lined with canned goods, fresh produce, and all the ingredients you’d need for a delicious dinner.
A sense of nostalgia filled her as she remembered shopping here with her grandma when she was a child. Sapphire Bay had a way of making even the most mundane tasks feel like cherished rituals.
Each Monday afternoon, she’d carry a woven basket around the store, filling it with all the essentials her grandma said she needed. And each week, without fail, her grandma added a treat to the basket for Daniella. Sometimes, it was a small book. On other days, it was a candy bar or a bag of sweets. They were good days filled with the simple pleasures of life. Times she’d forgotten about in her rush to climb the corporate ladder in Atlanta.
She was about to leave the store when a familiar figure caught her attention. Harrison stood near the end of an aisle, browsing the selection of pasta. There was a quiet strength about him that intrigued her. He was so different from the other men she’d met. He wasn’t loud or flashy. He didn’t try to impress her with a charming personality or an in-depth knowledge of the world. He was a good guy, working hard, and making a difference in other people’s lives.
Even though he was interesting, there was no point thinking there could be anything more than friendship between them. He was leaving Sapphire Bay, and she was staying. And nothing would change her mind.
She’d invested her heart, soul, and every penny she owned into The Fairy Forest. Even if she wanted to, she couldn’t afford to leave.
She smiled as she approached him. “Hi, Harrison,” she called out softly.
He turned around, a surprised but pleased expression lighting up his face when he saw her. “Hi. How was the meeting with Shelley?”
“I’m on the waitlist for one of the cottages on Anchor Lane,” she admitted, her voice tinged with uncertainty. “But it doesn’t look very hopeful. I thought there’d be a list of people looking for accommodation, and I wasn’t wrong.”
“Did Shelley know how long it’ll take to rent one of the cottages?”
Daniella shook her head. “It depends on the criteria they use to assess each application. If I was looking at the list of people needing somewhere to live, I’d put my name at the bottom. Did you know there were only four houses available to rent last month? That’s lower than it’s ever been.”
Harrison’s eyes filled with empathy. “Don’t lose hope. Sometimes, the right opportunity comes along when you least expect it.”
She appreciated his words of encouragement, but they wouldn’t help her find somewhere to live. “Shelley said I could always pitch a tent in my parents’ backyard. With summer coming, it might be my best option.”
“As long as there aren’t any unexpected thunderstorms, you’ll be fine,” Harrison said half-jokingly.
“If that happened, Mom and Dad would have a houseguest sleeping on their sofa.” She looked at the groceries in Harrison’s shopping cart and a thought crossed her mind. “Would you like to have dinner with me? It won’t be anything fancy. I put some meatballs in my slow cooker at lunchtime. All I need to do is cook some pasta and make a salad, and it’s done.”
Harrison's smile disappeared, and Daniella’s heart sank. Was he reading more into her invitation than she’d intended? “As friends. It always feels better when you’re sharing a meal with someone else instead of eating alone.”
A heaviness settled in his eyes. “It’s not a good time. I’ve got a lot on my mind and I wouldn’t be good company.”
“That’s okay. But, sometimes, it helps to get out of your own head, if you know what I mean.”
Harrison took a deep breath. “I know what you mean, and you’re right. If you’re happy to have me, dinner sounds great.” He pointed to the frozen cheesecake and the carton of ice cream in his cart. “I’ll bring dessert. Is there anything else you need?”
“I’ve got a pantry full of food,” Daniella told him. “So, we’ll be fine. I can wait for you to finish your shopping if you want to follow me home.”
“Sounds good. Why don’t you walk with me around the store? I only need a few more things and then I’m done.”
As Daniella followed Harrison along the aisles, they fell into an easy conversation, discussing everything from the weather to the latest happenings in Sapphire Bay. The same sense of comfort and familiarity she’d felt with him earlier snuck up on her. After thinking about the anniversary of her brother’s death for far too long, just being with Harrison took away some of her despair and gave her something to smile about.
It was a pity he wasn’t staying in Sapphire Bay for longer.
