* * *
Harrison ranhis hand along the fresh trim of the cottage’s window frame. They were slowly making their way along the four buildings they had to remodel. With the first community housing cottage finished, they were focusing on completing the next one.
He looked up when he heard a pair of high heels clicking on the tiled entryway. There was only one person who wore heels on the building site, and that was Penny.
He frowned when he saw the determination on her face. Combined with the plans in her hand, he had a feeling he wouldn’t like what she had to say.
“We’ve got approval from the county,” Penny announced before he could greet her. “They’re happy for me to change the last two cottages.”
Harrison frowned, setting down his tools. “Change?” he echoed, the word hanging between them like a challenge. He knew how Penny’s mind worked. If he made it too easy for her to alter what they’d already agreed to, she’d be here each day, changing the layout for the sake of it.
Penny spread the plans out on a sawhorse. “We’re dividing the main bedroom into two separate bedrooms to turn the last two cottages into three-bedroom homes. It’ll be tight, but the demand is there.”
He glanced at the plans, his mind already sifting through the logistical challenges. “We’re more than halfway done with the remodels. This is a major change.”
She met his gaze squarely. “I know, but it’s necessary. We need to maximize the space for the families. It needs to happen.”
Before he could respond, the sharp ring of his phone cut through the discussion. He excused himself and checked the screen. It was his mom. “I won’t be a minute, Penny.”
“Take your time,” she told him. “I want to check on a few things.”
Harrison answered the call. “Hey, Mom,” he said, his voice softening.
“Harrison, your friend, Frank Edam called me. Nashville State Community College is looking for a counselor,” she said without preamble, her voice a mix of excitement and urgency. “He’s been trying to reach you, but he can’t seem to get through.”
“I changed my email address when I arrived in Sapphire Bay,” Harrison explained, his gaze drifting back to the incomplete cottage. “The only people who know the new one are you and Dad, and a few friends.”
He could hear his mother’s sigh, a sound that carried a world of meaning. “Well, are you interested? From what Frank said, it sounds like a good position.”
He hesitated, the crossroads of his life suddenly stark against the backdrop of Anchor Lane. If he were offered the job, it would mean leaving Sapphire Bay earlier than he wanted to. “I’m not sure, Mom. There’s a lot to consider.”
The silence on the other end was telling, his mother’s concern palpable even through the phone. “Just think about it, honey. It could be a fresh start. A way back.”
Harrison ended the call with a promise to give it some thought, his eyes now seeing not just the unfinished work before him but the unfinished business within himself.
Penny walked into the room. “Is everything all right?”
“It’s fine. Let’s talk about the changes you want to make. If we’re doing this, we need to get it right.”
As Penny began to outline the next steps, Harrison’s thoughts lingered on his mother’s words. A fresh start. A way back. But, as he turned his hands over, calloused from the work on the cottages, he wasn’t sure which direction back truly was.
CHAPTER10
Daniella smiled at the sound of soft laughter and gentle music filling the air at The Fairy Forest.
Surrounded by pastel balloons and the sweet scent of vanilla cupcakes, she felt a surge of happiness. She enjoyed hosting events like this baby shower, where the joy of new life and the promise of new beginnings filled every corner of the room.
As she moved from guest to guest in her favorite fairy costume, she made sure everyone’s teacups were full, and they had delicious treats beside them.
Amid the laughter and the opening of ribbon-wrapped gifts, Daniella’s phone vibrated in the pocket of her tulle skirt. As soon as she could, she stepped into the quiet of her office to return the call. When she saw her mom had left a message, her heart skipped a beat.
“Thank goodness you called me back, Daniella. Have you heard from Owen?” Her mom’s voice was taut with worry.
A knot of concern formed in Daniella’s stomach. “Not for a couple of days. What’s wrong?”
“He’s been gone for over twelve hours. He left his phone at home and we don’t know where he went,” her mom replied, the tremor in her voice betraying her fear.
Panic laced Daniella’s response as she asked if they had reached out to Owen’s friends or checked his usual haunts. When her mom said they had, she was even more concerned.
