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“I thought he was the love of my life. But you, my darling, you are the love of my life. No contest.” Molly looked up at Hazel and saw the tears dripping down her daughter’s face. “Oh honey, come here.” She rounded the kitchen bench and wrapped Hazel in a tight hug.

“Is he really dead? Or did you just say that to protect me?”

“My darling, I’m sorry, but yes, he is. He had a heart attack when you were eighteen months old.” Molly kissed the top of Hazel’s head, tasted salt on her lips.

Hazel’s mouth pulled to one side as she tried not to sob. She’d never really dissected how the absence of her father had made her feel. Abandoned, she supposed, in a way. But Molly had always made her feel loved. She’d never once questioned that. Her mother’s love had always been unconditional, incontestable. Hazel had never had to earn it, never had to behave a certain way. It was like breathing, second nature. Always there. Perhaps Molly’s love had outweighed any trauma of an abandoned father.

“Going back to love, I’m of the belief that when you know, you know. If you aren’t sure, then you probably aren’t in love.” Molly paused before she asked the big question. “Is this about Sam?”

Hazel nodded. She was silent before she finally whispered, “I think I know.”

Molly began to smile, but faltered as she noticed Hazel’s troubled face. “What is it, darling? Being in love should be a wonderful thing!”

“I still haven’t decided if I’m staying.”

“Hmm,” Molly mused. “Well, only you can make that decision.”

“I’m aware. It’s ruining everything. I can’t fully enjoy things because the thought is always there in the back of my mind, but today, I forgot for a while. It felt so nice.”

“Can I offer some advice?”

“Sure.” Hazel sighed, running both hands through her hair, fingers catching in the salty strands.

“I know it’s been weighing on your mind. The job, the city, the career - I understand it all, I do. This is who you think you are.

“I know why you had to leave all those years ago. You needed to work out who you are, without me, without Bells Bay. And you did. But what about the you who might want this?” Molly waved her hands around the room. “You’ve got a great friendship group here. I’m here. Rosie Wilder could really be something. You have Sam.” Molly’s eyes twinkled when she said his name.

“I just don’t want to make the wrong choice,” Hazel said softly.

“I know, sweetheart.” Molly reached out and laid her hand over Hazel’s. “If you forget the logic and you listen to what your heart wants, is it ever the wrong choice?”

“I suppose,” Hazel said eventually. “What if I stay and I regret it?”

“I don’t think you would.”

“How do you know?”

“Wouldn’t you rather regret the what if of a career? There’ll always be another job. People are the ones who are irreplaceable. You’ll never meet another Sam again.”

Hazel wasn’t sure what to say. She had no reasonable response to that mic drop of wisdom.

Satisfied that her advice had hit its target, Molly returned to the other side of the bench, continuing with the dinner preparation.

Hazel watched her mother chop vegetables, the knife moving back and forth across the board. It was rhythmic, meditative. She mulled over the conversation they’d just shared. It was true, she probably wouldn’t meet another Sam.

Now it seemed she had to weigh up what she’d regret more. Leaving Sam or leaving her career? Her brain felt like it was about to explode.

She stood up from the stool and stretched her shoulders back. She was exhausted from the day, but she needed some time to think. “I’m going to go for a walk, clear my head.”

“No problems. Bailey and I will go and water the garden when I’m finished with this, so if we aren’t here when you get back, we’ll be outside.”

Hazel nodded and padded to the door. She slipped her sandals on and headed for the beach.

Hazel’s feet sank into the soft golden sand. The sky was cotton candy pink over the bay as the sun began its descent behind the hinterland.

The tide was climbing up the beach, turning the white dry sand a golden yellow. Hazel thought back to the beach picnic, how she’d likened her decision to the tides. Yes, then no, multiple times a day. Not much had changed. She was still wavering on a decision. She laughed at the lameness of her own internal pun.

She thought back to what her mother had said that afternoon. The Hazel that might want to stay. She could really lean into it, fall deep into the romance of that idea. How idyllic it would be. Settle down in this picturesque town, grow her business, be with her family, her friends. Fall in love. A real life fairytale.