“Teddy, I presume?” He finally extended a hand, squeezing harder than necessary as we shook. “Thank you for taking care of our boy.”
“No thanks needed,” I assured him. I wasn’t sure how I felt about everyone thanking me for doing something that wasn’t exactly optional. When I told Shiloh we were in this together, I meant it.
Shiloh’s mom, enveloped me in a warm hug, her eyes shining with gratitude. “It’s lovely to meet you, Teddy. Shiloh’s told us so much about you.”
I blushed, unsure of what to say, but grateful for her kindness. “It’s nice to meet you both as well. Shiloh’s told me a lot about you too.”
As Shiloh’s sister and her family trickled in, the atmosphere in the house grew lively and chaotic. Despite the initial awkwardness, I was relieved to find Shiloh’s family welcomed me with open arms. They seemed genuinely happy Shiloh had someone by his side during this difficult time, and they went out of their way to make me feel included.
Shiloh’s sister, Lila, was especially warm and friendly. With a bright smile, she introduced me to her husband and their two young children. As they chatted animatedly with Shiloh, I could see the resemblance between the siblings, the same expressive eyes and easy laughter. It was heartening to see Shiloh’s spirits lift as he spent time with his family, a sense of comfort and belonging washing over him.
Throughout the evening, as we shared stories, laughter, and memories, I began to get a sense of the strong family bonds that shaped Shiloh into the man he was today. It was clear that he was loved, and his family would do anything to help him get back on his feet.
After we finished snacking, Thomas cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention. “Shiloh, we’ve been talking, and we want to help you get the bakery up and running again. Your grandparents already offered for you to go through the storeroom to see what equipment you can use. None of it’s new, but everything was refurbished before it was stored. And whatever they don’t have, we’d like to invest and help you secure.”
Shiloh looked taken aback, his eyes widening in surprise. “I don’t know what to say. That’s incredibly generous, but I can’t accept it.”
Eleanor exchanged a knowing glance with Thomas before speaking up. “Nonsense, Shiloh. We want to help, and we know you need it. It’s what family is for.”
Shiloh hesitated, clearly torn. It was obvious that he was uncomfortable accepting help, but I could see the gratitude in his eyes. Lila chimed in, placing a supportive hand on her brother’s shoulder. “Quit being such a stubborn butt and say thank you. We all got together and talked about this last night and you don’t have a choice.”
Before he could protest further, his dad chimed in. “Shiloh, when your grandparents first opened their bakery, they had a lot of help from family. We’ve all pitched in and created a fund for you to tap into once you find a new location. We want to help you get back on your feet as quickly as possible.”
Shiloh looked around the room, his eyes brimming with emotion as he took in the faces of his supportive family. Finally, he sighed, a small, grateful smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Thank you. Thank you all so much. I promise I’ll make you proud.”
“You already have,” Thomas insisted. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room when Shiloh’s grandfather crossed the room and pulled him into a fierce hug. “I couldn’t have done any better than what you’ve done. And I’m not sure I could have done that much without the help we got.”
I reached over, giving Shiloh’s hand a reassuring squeeze, silently reminding him that I was there for him too. Together, with the help of his loving family, we would rebuild his bakery and his life. And maybe, just maybe, he’d start to understand that success didn’t mean doing everything on his own.
Over the weekend, Shiloh’s family worked tirelessly alongside us, sorting through the equipment, scouring the internet for the best prices on whatever they didn’t have on-hand, and discussing a timeline for getting him into his own building again. We even had an online meeting with a real estate agent back in Harmony Grove who’d been scouting potential vacant storefronts. The love and support they offered were unwavering, and it seemed to have a profound effect on Shiloh.
As we continued to work on finding a new home for Shiloh’s bakery, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the incredible people who had come together to support him. They were a testament to the power of family, and I knew their love would be the foundation upon which Shiloh would build himself up again.
Once we got back to Harmony Grove, we explored various spots along Main Street, discussing the pros and cons of each, and envisioning the possibilities. Shiloh’s excitement was contagious, and it was inspiring to watch him dream big once again.
One afternoon, as we stood in a spacious, sunlit storefront with large windows overlooking the four-way intersection at the center of town, Shiloh turned to me, his eyes sparkling with hope. “Teddy, I think this could be the one.”
I couldn’t help but smile, knowing that with the unwavering support of his family and our combined efforts, we were on the cusp of a new beginning. The road ahead would be challenging, but I had no doubt that together, we would rise to meet whatever obstacles came our way. And through it all, we would grow stronger—as individuals, as a couple, and as a family.
18
SHILOH
For the firsttime since the fire, I climbed out of bed excited for the day to come. I’d signed the lease for a new storefront a few days ago, and Teddy had immediately declared the weekend would be spent cleaning up. Having learned our lesson from the remodel at the old location, we did a walk-through as soon as we got the keys. There wasn’t nearly as much junk hiding in dark corners but the space had definitely suffered from years of vacancy.
My plan had been to wake up and have a leisurely breakfast together since the days of us having quiet mornings were dwindling now that we were rebuilding. Teddy had other ideas. He said he needed to run to Birch Lake to pick up some reclaimed wood he hoped to incorporate into the new design. It frustrated me that this was the morning he needed to go but I understood he couldn’t exactly be picky when he was getting something for nothing.
Instead of dwelling on how the morning wasn’t starting exactly the way I’d planned, I focused instead on the positives in my life, something the therapist I’d been seeing since shortly after the fire encouraged me to do more often.
I had family who supported me. Since our first visit, we’d been down to spend time with them twice more. It was fun to listen to my grandpa and Teddy talking about woodworking while Grandma and I tested new recipes for both of our bakeries. Just thinking about those cherished memories was enough to make me get a bit emotional. I’d left home thinking I had something to prove, but it turned out I was the only person who felt that way. I couldn’t wait until opening day, when I’d debut some of the desserts Grandma had finally deemed me ready to learn.
I had a boyfriend who loved me unconditionally. I’d thought sharing my life with someone would mean turning my back on my dreams. As it turned out, having him by my side allowed me to spread my wings so much further than I ever could have on my own. When everything fell to shit and I was convinced I’d never get back on my feet, he was the one who pushed me to keep fighting. He was the one promising mewewould rebuild. Together. And now we were.
And I had a bakery. Or, I would within the next month or two. Hopefully, it was only a month because I didn’t want to try baking for the fall festival in the church’s kitchen. They were sweet to give me a space to work without charging me for it but it wasn’t set up for an operation the size I needed based on last year’s sales.
After eating, I quickly loaded my breakfast dishes into the dishwasher, filled my to-go mug with coffee, and hit the sidewalk. While it was only two blocks closer to home than the original location, something about being right at the center of townfeltclose enough to be walkable. A few people honked and waved as we passed on the street. I waved back, never knowing if it was someone I knew or simply someone being friendly. Around here, you never could tell.
Teddy was already inside when I arrived, directing a flurry of activity as our friends and family worked to clean and prep the new space. His eyes lit up when he saw me, and he jogged over, enveloping me in a hug.
