“What’s first, Granddad?”
“As if you need to ask.” Benjamin joked, offering her a small piece of chocolate from the bag meant for the cookies. “Quality control taste tester, of course.”
Harper popped the chocolate into her mouth, her eyes closing momentarily as if savoring a fine wine. “Hmm. It passes the Harper quality check. We may proceed.”
Owen laughed. It was great to see Harper in her element, her love for her grandfather shining through every word and gesture. As they moved through the steps of making the cookies, Harper often checked on Benjamin, making sure he had everything he needed and occasionally brushing his arm or shoulder in a quiet gesture of affection.
“So, Granddad,” Harper said as she mixed the dough, “tell us about when you first learned to bake. Was Nana your teacher?”
Benjamin paused, a nostalgic glint in his eyes. “She was. Your grandmother had the patience of a saint, especially when I turned more than one recipe into charcoal.”
Harper smiled and leaned into her grandfather. “I bet you were a quick learner, though. You’ve always been a great cook.”
“As long as I had your Nana by my side, I could conquer any recipe,” Benjamin said, his voice tender. He looked across at Owen. “Sprinkle the chocolate chips into the bowl, son. Try to spread them across the dough. It makes it easier for Harper to mix them evenly through the other ingredients.”
Owen followed Benjamin’s instructions, feeling privileged to witness the genuine affection between Harper and her granddad. From her light-hearted teasing to her attentive listening, moments like this were about more than baking cookies; they were about keeping alive the love and memories that tied Harper and her family together.
After Benjamin was happy with the amount of chocolate chips they’d added, Harper scooped the dough onto the counter, and Owen washed the bowls. While he was doing that, Harper told her granddad about their time on the trail. She painted such a vivid picture of the autumn leaves, the crisp air brushing against her skin, and the breathtaking view of the bay, that Owen could imagine himself right there with her again.
“It sounds like the fresh air was good for your soul,” Benjamin said gently to Harper.
“It was, but spending time with Owen was better. He’s a good influence on me.”
The warm smile Benjamin sent Owen made him feel welcomed and deeply respected.
“I’m glad to hear that.” As he pressed a cookie cutter into the flattened dough, Benjamin said, “Your grandmother and I had a simple philosophy about our marriage. We always kept the lines of communication open, no matter what.”
Owen stole a glance at Harper. She was making sure the oven was at the right temperature but still listening to her granddad.
“I can’t remember you ever disagreeing about anything,” Harper told him.
“We had our fair share of disagreements,” Benjamin replied. “It wasn’t always easy, but loving someone means showing up for them, even when it’s hard. And your grandmother was the kind of woman who made showing up easy.” His voice held a hint of wistfulness as he spoke of his late wife.
Harper frowned as she picked up another cookie cutter. “Were my parents happy together?” she asked, with a vulnerability in her voice that made Owen want to reach out and comfort her.
Benjamin paused, a sadness drawing his brow into a frown before he answered. “Your parents had their struggles, like any couple. But they loved you deeply, Harper. Sometimes, love gets tangled up in the daily grind of life, but that doesn’t mean it’s not there.”
Owen watched Harper absorb her grandfather’s words, saw the way she was piecing together her own understanding of love and happiness. She didn’t talk about her parents’ relationship, and that was okay with him. But it was good to learn about her life after she’d left Sapphire Bay, the changes that had shaped the person she was today.
His respect for her deepened with each story they shared in Benjamin’s kitchen. These moments weren’t only about passing time or baking cookies; they were about weaving the fabric of their lives together, thread by thread.
As Owen placed the cut cookie dough onto the baking sheets, Benjamin told them more stories about his wife. Like her grandmother, Harper was kind and caring. She felt things deeply and held the people she loved close to her heart.
When Benjamin talked about what Harper had done last Christmas, her gaze found Owen’s. He grinned when her eyes twinkled with mischief. She’d surprised Benjamin and her mom by arranging a secret visit from Santa, complete with personalized gifts and lots of laughter.
Benjamin ended his story and smiled at his granddaughter. “We’d better get these cookies into the oven. Wouldn’t want to waste all this hard work.”
As they busied themselves with the final preparations, Owen glanced at Harper. Whatever the future held, moments like this were as precious as the people whose lives had been touched by her love and kindness.
Chapter15
As Harper finished the day’s paperwork at the medical clinic, Daniella burst through the doors. From the worried look on her face, Harper guessed something major had happened. It was time to close, so she quickly locked the front door before turning her full attention to her friend.
“You look stressed. What’s wrong?” Harper asked.
“It’s the wedding venue,” Daniella explained, her voice thick with worry. “The Montgomery’s barn has a structural issue and they don’t know when it’ll be fixed. Someone’s already booked The Fairy Forest for the same weekend. I’ve called everywhere else, and they’re booked solid for mid-March. What am I going to do?”
The urgency in Daniella’s voice pierced Harper’s heart. She knew how much Daniella had dreamed of a perfect spring wedding. “Let’s go to Granddad’s house and figure this out,” she suggested, her brain already racing through possible solutions.
