And when Sydney had walked into the kitchen half an hour ago, arriving downstairs later than usual, Lilian had whispered that she’d walked in on Maggie and Neil having a quiet discussion at the table earlier.

“I think things are better now,” Lilian had said. “Or getting there, at least. I wonder if she’s made any decision about Tatum Carter. I hope he tells her about the treehouse soon.”

She’d itched to ask what Lilian thought of the treehouse and Neil’s plans. But Indi had walked in then and announced that her fiancé would be driving down from Augusta this evening to join them for dinner. Déjà vu, that.

“I think the most efficient way to get this done is to split up.” Lilian pointed to the porch. “We only have two ladders and three tubes of caulk. I can start on the windows at the side of the house. Sydney, you want to start in back? Indi hates ladders.”

She nodded. “Sure thing.”

Indi took the third tube of caulk. “Maggie and I will get the windows on the porch and then move on to weather stripping.”

Why did it feel so good to be a part of this? To have a simple job to do and such lovely people to do it with. This was the kind of contentment she’d been trying to find for years at Mezzani’s. Why did it come so much easier here?

Maybe because Neil was right. Maybe she wasn’t only here because Wilder had come up with a theory and Maggie had insisted he act on it. Maybe she wasn’t only here because Nikola had urged her or because she wanted to show Micah what it was like to choose something new.

Maybe she was here because God had led her here. Laid a path for her feet and whispered for her to walk. Maybe He hadn’t forgotten her, after all.

At the back of the house, she propped the ladder against the wall and climbed until she could reach the frame of the first window, then pulled out her phone, watching just enough of a YouTube tutorial to know what to do with the caulk. She squeezed the tube and ran it along the seam between the siding and the window frame.

“You look good up there.”

Neil’s voice drifting on the breeze surprised her enough that she dropped the tube of caulk. “You shouldn’t sneak up on a girl on a ladder.”

“Try not to fall.”

She’d have sent him a mock glare if she were anywhere near capable of it. If her toes weren’t curling inside her boots this very moment. Instead, she twisted on the ladder, hoping against hope her cheeks weren’t as red as they felt. “Already teasing me and you haven’t even said good morning yet.”

“Well, come down and I’ll say it.”

God bless Lilian for suggesting they split up. She clambered down the ladder, sure her eagerness must show in her movements. Not even minding. And then she stood in front of him, wearing what had to be a too-wide smile, convinced he’d somehow become even more handsome overnight.