Sarah’s eyes widened, and she looked at Wes. Marissa wanted her to attend parents’ day at camp. She’d love to go and support Marissa, but she didn’t want Wes to think she was getting ahead of herself with regards to their relationship. They’d only spent one incredible night together…

“I think it’s a great idea. If you’re free,” he said, his gaze filled with all the love and affection she’d always dreamed about. He squeezed her hand across the table and looked almost as nervous waiting for her answer as Marissa did.

He wanted her to go. Marissa wanted her to go. Her heart felt like it might explode out of her chest as she nodded. “Yeah. Absolutely. Wouldn’t miss it,” she said.

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-One

A blast of wind whipped Sarah’s hair in front of her face as she walked along the nearly empty boardwalk toward the blown-glass hut the next day. What a difference from two weeks before, when locals and tourists had filled the air with sounds of summer. But the current rain and windstorm had tourists staying indoors.

That upcoming long weekend would be the official shutdown for the season.

On the ocean, the fierce waves appealed to only the most hardcore surfers, and even they looked to be calling it a day as the yellow caution flag was replaced with a red warning on the lifeguard tower down the beach. All the market huts had dragged their outside tables inside, and the dark-gray clouds made it feel as though it were evening despite it only being a little past noon.

Since reading the latest journal entry, she’d been putting off picking up the decorations she’d ordered. It was odd knowing that this man had meant so much to her grandmother and not feeling as though she could bring it up or ask him about it. It was none of her business, but she was dying to know why he’d treated Dove that way. Walked away from her and the love they’d once shared. Yet she hadn’t been able to read further.

Reaching the shop, she struggled against the wind to open the heavy door and hurried inside, shaking her wet hair away from her face. The forecast had predicted the storm, but she’d expected to be back at the B&B before it hit.

Either way, she’d needed to pick up her order. She didn’t want Mr. Harrison to think she no longer wanted it.

“Hello?” she called as she walked toward the back of the shop. “Mr. Harrison?”

“Be right with you,” she heard the older man say, followed by the sound of terrible coughing.

She waited, but the coughing continued. Deep, throat-tearing noises that sounded really unhealthy.

Finally, he emerged, with a white napkin, wiping his mouth. His eyes were watery and slightly bloodshot. Somehow, he looked older than he had before. “Oh, hi, Sarah…”