Daniella frowned. “You have PTSD?”
Harrison nodded. He hated giving what he had a label, as if that made it any easier to deal with. “I was married for ten years to an amazing woman. Audra and I were like chalk and cheese, but we loved each other beyond words. She died in a car accident. It would’ve been her thirty-fifth birthday today.”
Daniella’s face turned white. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt your evening. You’d probably planned on doing something completely different than having dinner with me.”
“Spending time with you is the best thing that could have happened,” he told her. And it was true. He’d been dreading today, but having dinner with Daniella had made the evening bearable. “We’d gone away for the weekend and our flight back to Nashville was canceled. Instead of waiting for the next plane, we rented a car and drove home. I fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into a truck.”
“That’s horrible.”
Harrison didn’t say anything for a few seconds. The accident had killed his wife and left him physically and emotionally broken. “I stayed in Nashville for about a year after Audra died but I had to leave. Everyone I met had heard about the accident. Each time someone asked how I was doing, I felt guilty for being the person who’d survived.”
“How do you feel now?” Daniella asked.
“Better. Pastor John welcomed me into the support group as if I was always meant to be there. They’re great people who want to live normal lives.”
Daniella took a deep breath. “Thank you for telling me what happened to your wife. I’m sorry it happened.”
Harrison reached across the table and held her hand. “And thank you for telling me about your brother. I’m glad Marcus made you promise to come back to Sapphire Bay. I wouldn’t have tasted your delicious meatballs if you’d stayed in Atlanta.”
“You might want to rethink your thankfulness,” Daniella said with a smile. “I have a long list of things I need you to do before the opening of the community housing project.”
“I thought you were determined to do everything yourself,” he teased.
“That was before I spoke to you,” Daniella replied. With a sparkle in her eyes she added, “You convinced me I should accept any help I’m offered. So, I am.”
“I’m glad you listened to my suggestion, even if it means more work for me.” Harrison picked up his knife and fork and smiled. As they enjoyed their meal, their conversation flowed easily from one topic to another. They spoke about their families, childhoods, and the people who’d shaped their lives.
Daniella laughed at a story about his sister, and he enjoyed hearing about the adventures she’d had with her brothers. In a lot of ways, their childhoods were similar. They both had families who loved them. They’d gone to college, forging careers they thought would change the world. And then tragedy struck, and they’d both done what they could to heal their broken hearts.
“Are you ready to see what I’d like you to do for the community housing project?” Daniella asked.
If the gleam in her eyes was anything to go by, he wouldn’t be leaving the table in a hurry. “Okay,” he groaned. “But give me the shortened version. Otherwise, I might reconsider my offer to help.”
Daniella picked up her laptop from the kitchen counter. “You can’t wriggle out of a promise that easily. Besides, I’ve already given Penny a copy of the project plan.”
With an exaggerated sigh, Harrison pushed away his plate so Daniella could open her laptop in front of him. “You’re intelligent, resourceful, and sneaky. Giving Penny a copy of the plan means I’ll have to do everything you want me to.”
“Exactly,” Daniella said proudly. “Don’t worry. I was exaggerating when I said how much work was involved.”
As she showed Harrison what she wanted him to do, he breathed a sigh of relief. Apart from moving some furniture into the cottages, and helping the historical society hang some photos, there wasn’t a lot more he had to do.
Which was just as well. The construction crew had two weeks to finish the first cottage and get the others to the stage when people could safely walk through them. Otherwise, the official opening of the community housing project would have to be delayed.
CHAPTER5
As Daniella and her family entered the cemetery, the early morning sunlight sent dappled shadows across the headstones.
They walked the familiar path in silence, each lost in their own thoughts as they approached the final resting place of Marcus, Daniella’s eldest brother.
The granite headstone stood solemnly, an unwavering testament to a life that had ended too soon. Daniella’s mother laid a bouquet of wildflowers at its base, the vibrant colors a stark contrast to the gray stone. Her father’s hand trembled as he took a worn baseball glove out of a bag and held it close to his chest.
Daniella felt the weight of the moment settle around her like a cloak.
Owen had a shadow in his eyes as he traced Marcus’ engraved name with a finger. “Hey, buddy,” he whispered. “We miss you.”
The family shared stories, each anecdote a fragile bubble of memory floating up to the heavens. They laughed softly at the tales of Marcus’ childhood antics, and tears glistened in the corners of their eyes as they recalled his generous spirit and the warmth of his laughter.
Daniella’s mom wrapped her arm around Daniella’s waist. “Do you remember the Christmas Marcus made a homemade ice rink as a surprise for everyone?”
