Harper nodded as she watched him roll the hot glass in small chips of red and blue glass. “They made me realize how much of a difference we made.”
Owen smiled and sat at his workbench. “It was worthwhile meeting them, then. Do you want to blow into the pipe to create a bowl?”
Harper laughed and shook her head. “I’ll leave this one to you.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive. After my last attempt, I’ve realized I don’t have enough patience to do glassblowing. I’ll learn a lot more from watching you.”
Owen re-heated the glass and then retuned to the workbench. “The patience comes when you see the piece you’re making take shape. If you change your mind, let me know.” Spinning the blowpipe with one hand, he used the other to shape the glass with his tools. Harper leaned against the bench, silently watching him as he blew into the pipe, creating an air bubble within the molten glass. The bubble expanded, forming the interior cavity of the multi-colored bowl.
Harper sighed. “I’ll never get tired of seeing you do that. It’s like magic.”
A warmth filled Owen’s chest. When Harper watched him work, it made him proud of how far he’d come. Proud of the new life he’d created in the small town he called home.
After he was happy with the shape of the bowl, he turned to Harper. “What do you think?”
She tilted her head to the side. “Another gorgeous addition to your collection.”
With that recommendation ringing in his ears, he carefully finished the bowl and placed it in the annealing oven to cool down.
“Would you like a piece of fudge before you start the next bowl?” Harper asked.
He wiped his hands on a cloth before opening the bag she’d brought. “It smells delicious. I don’t know how Brooke does it, but she’s really good at making fudge.”
“She’s almost as good as you are with glass,” Harper joked, her gaze catching on a shelf of colorful paperweights. “You’ve been busy.”
“They’re for the exhibition,” Owen admitted. “The paperweights I made for the festival were so popular that I decided to try some different designs.”
Harper held one of them in her hand. “This is stunning. The silver frit catches the light and sparkles like sunshine.”
Owen watched Harper as she carefully placed the paperweight back on the shelf. “I haven’t named the collection yet. What do you think I should call it?”
Harper studied the paperweights. “They’re all amazing.” She picked up another one and held it up to the light. “Because the sparkles remind me of sunshine, what about The Magic of Sunshine?”
He thought about the name, the way he wanted his customers to feel when they saw the small glass orbs. “I like it. I’ll have to come to you for inspiration next time I create a new collection.” Taking a piece of fudge out of the bag, he broke it in half and gave one of the pieces to Harper. “Thanks for this, too.”
“You’re welcome. How are you feeling about the exhibition?”
“I’m a little nervous,” he admitted. “Mom and Dad said they’d help. Daniella’s put flyers up in The Fairy Forest and at Pastor John’s church to let everyone know it’s happening.”
“Have you let Mabel know?” Harper asked. “She’ll make sure it’s advertised on the community Facebook page.”
Owen nodded. “I talked to her yesterday and she’s happy to advertise it. While I was there, she called Theo. He’s interviewing me for the radio station.”
“Before you know it, you’ll be world famous.”
The idea of fame was so distant from Owen’s reality that he chuckled. "World-famous in Sapphire Bay, maybe.” He looked at Harper, taking in her easy smile and the way she fit so naturally into his studio. It was as though she’d always been an important part of the fabric of his life here.
Her gaze met his and a spark of chemistry flickered between them.
He wanted to be more than Harper’s friend. He’d seen things most people never witnessed in their lifetime. His career in the police force had changed him forever. But, when he was with Harper, he felt as though none of that mattered.
What he didn’t know was how she felt about him. And he’d never know unless he asked her. Placing the bag of fudge on the bench, he cleared his throat. “There’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you, Harper.” He paused as he tried to find the right words. “We’ve spent a lot of time together over the last few weeks, and I think we get along really well. Sharing parts of our lives with each other has meant a lot to me.”
Harper frowned. Was that a good sign?
“We’re both finding our way through a lot of changes,” he said as his heart pounded against his chest. “And we’re not sure what’s ahead. But what Iamsure about is how I feel when I’m around you. You make everything brighter.”
