Mr. Olsen sighed. “That’s Trudy Figg’s shop, isn’t it?”

Maya nodded. “And her sister, Violet. Trudy makes beautiful things, and she just finished a wind chime made from driftwood and little pink and white shells. She didn’t intend for it to be a mobile, but I think it’d be perfect over a baby bed.”

“It’s been years since I’ve seen Trudy.”

“You should come by the shop then. Trudy’s there every day.”

Billy smiled, and for a quick moment, Tyler could see what Billy must have looked like as a young man. Hopeful and handsome. “Thank you very much, young lady. I just might do that.”

Tyler showed Mr. Olsen to the enclosure where they kept the chicks, and a little while later, he left the store with three fuzzy yellow chicks in a shallow box.

Tyler took Maya through to the loading dock in the back where they sat on folding chairs in front of a big box fan.

“I have to tell you something.” He leaned forward onto his elbows as the warm breeze from the fan swirled around them.

“That sounds serious.”

“It’s not bad.” He squeezed his hands into fists, then stretched his fingers out straight. “I just . . . I told my dad I want to go to college. And that I can’t take over the store.”

She leaned toward him. “You did?”

“Yeah. It sounds weird, but I think hearing the Figg sisters tell their truth gave me courage to tell mine.”

She reached forward and wrapped her warm hands around his. “It doesn’t sound weird at all. How’d your dad take the news?”

Tyler shrugged. “Fine, I guess. He said he’d had a feeling I didn’t want to stay with the store.” He rubbed a hand across his forehead. “I applied to Auburn last fall, just to see what would happen. Turns out I got in, and with a partial scholarship, too, but I turned it down. I didn’t have the nerve to tell my dad I wanted more than what this place could give me.”

“But you got in.” Maya grinned. “And you got a scholarship? That’s amazing.”

“I’ll have to call and see if there’s even still a spot for me. If there’s not, I’ll reapply for January.”

“But you’re going to college.”

“I guess so. As long as I can still get in. And as long as the scholarship still stands.”

She gave his hands a squeeze. “You’ll be great. Any kid would be lucky to have you as a teacher.”

She didn’t get it. “But I’ll be in Auburn. It’s four hours away.”

“Okay,” she murmured, still not understanding the problem. She leaned forward a little closer.

“And you’ll be here.”

“I will.” She lifted a shoulder. “This is where I belong.”

He ran his thumb over the tops of her fingers. “I hate that we’ve only just started and now I’ll be leaving.”

“It’s okay. Because you know what?” She leaned in and kissed him, long and sweet, then whispered in his ear. “You belong here too. But take your time. I’ll be here when you get back.”