A solitary beam of sunlight pierced through the dark sky and streamed in through the open blinds at the window. Sarah shivered, an eerie chill washing over her she couldn’t explain.

She set the box on the counter and reached for her wallet.

Jack shook his head. “No charge.”

“I have to pay you.”

“Sarah, chances are I won’t live long enough to spend the money I already have. Take them. A gift to Dove’s granddaughter.”

She released a deep breath, knowing there was no point in arguing with him. “Thank you, Mr. Harrison. This is very kind of you.”

The beam of sunlight moved across the floor and retreated into the clouds as new rain—big, heavy-sounding drops—started pelting against the window.

“Looks like we’re not out of the woods yet. You better hurry back to your car. Let me get the door for you,” he said, opening the shop door.

She eyed the ominous-looking sky as she stepped outside. “Bye, Mr. Harrison,” she said, hoping it wasn’t the last time she’d see him.

…

Wes glanced at Marissa in the passenger seat of the truck as they drove along the coast toward Camp Crowley. Dressed in her Girl Guides uniform, her oversize duffel bag at her feet, she looked slightly nervous as she turned her cell phone over and over in her hands.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Yeah, fine…”

She didn’t seem herself that morning. Quieter, more withdrawn as she’d finished packing her things, eaten breakfast, and they’d headed out. Was she really hating these summer camps? Maybe forcing her to go wasn’t the right thing to do. She usually enjoyed them once she got there, and by the end of the week, there was always a teary farewell to friends she’d reconnected with.

He cleared his throat. “I was thinking next year, we can skip this one and try that STEM camp instead.” She’d be ten then, and it was time to start giving her more freedom and independence. She was growing up, and that terrified him, but he suspected he’d worry about her when she was forty. That didn’t change for parents as their kids got older.

She nodded, her gaze lost out the window. “Sounds great, Dad.”

Okay, something was definitely up. “Hey, are you okay with…the whole Sarah and me thing?” She’d been pushing them together before, and she’d seemed excited about it at dinner, but maybe now she wasn’t feeling so great about it. Maybe she felt her own friendship with Sarah would be challenged if he and Sarah were spending more time together. Or that she’d lose part of his time and attention.

But she turned to him and gave the first real smile that day. “Yes, Dad. I think you and Sarah together is great.”