“I only have a few weeks to find somewhere else to live.” Daniella took her sketchpad out of her bag and opened it to the first page. “But we’re not here to talk about my living arrangements. Do you want to see my ideas?”
Harrison moved closer and she flipped open the book, turning the first drawing around to him.
She showed him each page, pointing out what had resonated with her when she’d first seen the cottages. Daniella’s imagination took flight as they brainstormed more ideas for the opening ceremony. They could have a series of displays throughout the cottages that told the story of the town’s heritage. Harrison suggested asking members of the historical society if they wanted to dress in period costumes to recount tales of Sapphire Bay’s past.
She pictured floral arrangements featuring local flowers, and a small ensemble of musicians playing background music as the community admired what Penny and the construction crew had done.
“We could have displays in each cottage showcasing different aspects of Sapphire Bay’s history,” Daniella suggested with growing enthusiasm. “Photos, antiques, maybe even some interactive elements for the children.”
Harrison listened carefully, nodding as she wrote more ideas in her notebook. “Interactive’s good. It keeps the families engaged. What about something for the evening? Lanterns, maybe? You have thousands of fairy lights at The Fairy Forest. Do you know if you can rent or buy some for the cottages?”
Daniella liked the idea. “Lanterns would be fantastic, and I have the perfect contact who could help me. We could line the entire lane with them and make it a real community event.”
She added more information to her notebook and showed Harrison the colors she was thinking of using in the decorations. Throughout their conversation, she was struck by his patience and systematic approach to problem-solving. He listened carefully, his easy-going nature making the collaboration feel effortless.
As they walked through the other cottages, Daniella imagined living in one of them. They were old, but they had a wealth of character and charm that spoke to her soul. “They’re all beautiful,” she said, her voice soft with awe. “Each cottage has a completely different personality.”
Harrison smiled, clearly pleased with her reaction. “I’m glad you think so. It’s been a lot of hard work to get them to this stage, but well worth it. With everything we’ve done, the cottages will still be standing in another hundred years.”
As they wrapped up their plans for the event, Daniella felt a spark of inspiration. “I’ll work on the new ideas and see if I can incorporate them with what I’d already planned. We’ll make the opening something to remember.”
“Anytime you need help, just let me know,” Harrison assured her. “I’m only a phone call away.” He reached into his pocket and handed her a card. “Here’s my phone number.”
“Sounds good. If you think of other ideas, I’ll be at The Fairy Forest for the rest of the day. ” As she left the cottages, Daniella felt a surge of optimism. Not only about the event but also about the potential of finding a new home. She looked back at Harrison and smiled.
Sapphire Bay was full of surprises, and Harrison was one of them.
* * *
Two days later,Harrison closed his eyes and leaned against the wall outside one of the meeting rooms in The Connect Church. His thoughts were still going over what had been said in the PTSD support group he’d just left.
Each month, about twelve people met at the church to discuss how they could build better, more resilient lives. They’d all experienced intense trauma of some description. For Harrison, it was losing his wife in a car accident. For others, it was the things they’d done in war-torn areas of the world or injuries that had robbed them of the life they’d thought they’d have.
For whatever reason, they’d found The Connect Church, Pastor John, and a community who cared about them. For some of Harrison’s friends, it was the first time they’d expressed what was on their minds.
Today’s meeting was difficult. His wife would’ve been thirty-five today. They’d always joked about growing old and wrinkly together, watching their children become parents, and holding their first grandchild. But none of that had happened. The profound sense of grief he felt for never having had those experiences with Audra made his heart heavy.
When Daniella’s voice rang out through the foyer, he straightened in surprise.
When she saw him, she waved and walked toward him.
Seeing her smile made everything a little easier to bear. “I thought you’d be busy at The Fairy Forest,” he said.
“I don’t have to be back for another hour. I’ve come to talk to Shelley about the cottages on Anchor Lane.” Her curious gaze settled on him. “What about you? Are you here for a meeting?”
He hesitated before answering. Sometimes, he felt like a fraud. It’d been three years since Audra had died. He should be moving on with his life, not feeling grief-stricken each time he heard a familiar song or smelled the scent of freshly baked bread.
Instead of telling Daniella why he was here, he offered her a half-truth. “I’m helping Pastor John with a special project.”
Her eyes lit with interest. “Is it something to do with The Horseshoe Adventure Camp?”
“No, but I’ve heard a few things about it.”
“It’ll be amazing once it’s open,” Daniella told him. “Pastor John’s helping Aidan, Jackie, and me organize the opening day celebration.”
Harrison smiled at the excitement in her voice. “Are there any events you aren’t involved in?”
“I only have enough time for a few projects that aren’t directly involved with The Fairy Forest. The camp and the cottages were my two volunteer projects for the year.”
