Harper smiled at the grin he sent her. “That must be where you got your adventurous streak from.”
Owen’s smile disappeared as he thought about what had happened in Detroit. “I used to betooconfident. Are you ready to look at the rest of the cottage?”
Tilting her head to the side, Harper studied him for a moment. The intensity of her expression went straight to his heart. “Life changes us, Owen. That’s not a bad thing.”
“It is when it cost my partner his life.”
Harper didn’t seem surprised by what he’d said. “You didn’t know what would happen. From what you’ve said, it wasn’t your fault.”
A heaviness settled in his heart. “It doesn’t feel that way.” With a lot of effort, he focused on the crown moldings on the ceiling. His eyes stung with unshed tears; with the regret of his friend’s life ending on a tiled floor on the second floor of the mall.
Harper’s hand rested on his arm, her warm touch comforting the ache that never went away. “Show me the rest of the cottage.” With a gentle nudge, she pushed him into the hallway.
After looking at the two small bedrooms, then rechecking the kitchen, they were ready to return to work. As they walked toward Main Street, Harper told him about her life in New York City; the bustle and the noise, the small apartment that was her refuge. Owen listened, appreciating the experiences that were similar to his life in Detroit.
With a thoughtful expression, Harper looked along the street. “Granddad told me Sapphire Bay has a knack for making dreams come true. Maybe not the dreams you arrive with, but the ones you find along the way.”
Owen frowned. “What do you dream about?”
“A peaceful life,” she replied softly. “And being somewhere that makes me happy.”
Owen’s heart ached for the same thing. He’d spent too long searching for something that could calm him when his deepest, darkest fears resurfaced. For someone who could be his soft place to fall. Being happy was almost more than he could hope for.
Harper’s voice broke through his thoughts. “Your sister’s business has the same kind of magic as this town. Each time I visit The Fairy Forest, it makes me happy.”
Owen thought of Daniella and what she’d gone through to open the fairy-themed events center. “She made a life-changing decision to come here, and it’s paid off. She’s created something special.”
“A lot like your glass studio could become,” Harper told him.
He wasn’t sure his studio would ever be on the same level as The Fairy Forest, but it gave him something to think about. As they approached Sweet Treats, Owen slowed to peer in the front window. Brooke’s latest range of fudge was on display, and it looked delicious.
“I have to be careful how often I visit Sweet Treats,” Harper told him. “I’ve tried everything at least half a dozen times.”
“You’re lucky it’s only that many,” Owen teased. “Working close to my favorite store doesn’t help my waistline. It’s just as well I enjoy running.”
“You don’t have to worry. You look great.” Harper’s eyes widened. With a soft blush, she cleared her throat. “Not that I’ve ogled you or anything. But I can tell you’re active.” She lifted her hands to her hot face. “That sounds even worse.”
Owen chuckled. “I’ll take what you said as a compliment,” he said, giving her a friendly nudge.
Harper grinned. “Before I say something worse, let me buy you some fudge. After showing me the gorgeous cottage, it’s the least I can do.” And with her hand wrapped around his, she pulled him toward the front door.
Owen wasn’t complaining. It felt good holding Harper’s hand, as if they were connected by more than their broken lives. He liked the friendly way she greeted the people in the store, and her confidence as she made her way to the counter. She had a heart of gold, a determination that would see her through any hard days, and a sweet tooth as big as his.
On a scale of one to ten, she was perfect in every way.
All he had to do was find the courage to ask if she wanted to be more than friends.
Chapter10
As Harper cycled toward The Starlight Café, she tried to steady her pounding heart. The last time she’d seen Henry, he was on his way to another ward. He hadn’t needed the ventilator to breathe, but he still had a long way to go before he could return home.
The message she’d received from her friend at the hospital had taken her by surprise. Out of all the COVID-19 patients she’d helped, only a few had returned to see her after the hospital reopened to visitors. Most of the patients left messages, hoping their thanks found its way to the staff who’d helped them.
Meeting Henry and his wife, Margaret, so long after he’d been discharged from the hospital was surreal. Since she’d talked to him on the phone, she’d thought about what he’d been through, the health issues that still plagued him. He was a survivor, a fighter, and a gentle soul they’d nearly lost.
Parking her bicycle outside the café, she took a moment to compose herself. A group of women smiled at her as they walked toward A Stitch in Time. Their voices were full of laughter and joy, two things that were so far from how she felt that it worried her. Even the pretty bouquets outside The Flower Cottage couldn’t lift the heavy shadow of regret weighing on her heart.
She checked her watch and bit her bottom lip. It was time to meet Henry and Margaret.
