“I should be thanking her for everything she has done for me.”

“Did she fix your laptop? She’s great at that. And cooking. And if your car won’t start, she’ll get it going. She’s great at everything. Well, maybe not singing.” He grinned at Ashley, who poked her tongue out.

He was so proud of her. She could see it in his eyes, the way he looked at her.

“Joanna?” Now it was Ashley who was turning pink. “Can Jon stay at Otter’s Nest for a few days?”

“He can stay as long as he likes. You both can. Nessa will be staying, too.”

And it would be fine, she realized. Whatever happened, she was going to be fine. Because her life was different now. She belonged here. She was part of something. Or maybe she was older and wiser. It wasn’t that she didn’t want things to work out with Nate, because she did. Oh, yes, she did. But her life wasn’t going to fall apart if that didn’t happen. And whatever did or didn’t happen, she wouldn’t be leaving this place.

Nessa stepped forward. “Good to meet you, Ashley. I just saw your romantic moment live streamed on the internet. Best thing I’ve seen all year and I watch a lot of movies. I’m happy for you both.”

They laughed and chatted and Joanna served a couple of customers, taking time to choose exactly the right book for the little girl who loved dinosaurs.

“We’ll see you later, Joanna.” Ashley edged up to her when she finished. “We’re taking Nessa to Frozen Flavor because I keep telling her she hasn’t lived until she’s tried their mint chocolate chip, and then we’re going to pick up food for tonight and she’s giving us a ride back to Otter’s Nest. We’re going to make you dinner.”

“That sounds perfect.”

Almost perfect. Of course, she would have loved Nate to be there. She was human, wasn’t she? She wasn’t going to pretend to herself that she didn’t care. But she understood.

She didn’t blame him for not showing.

She walked back into the storeroom and took another glance at her phone, cringing as she saw the intimacy of those photos. Who would voluntarily sign up for that? Who needed it? Not her and, apparently, not him. It had felt good to stand up in front of those photographers for once. Good to stand her ground. But she was never going to enjoy it, or embrace it.

Fame, whether positive or negative, was something she could happily live without.

She put her phone away and was lifting books out of boxes when she heard the door open again.

At least they were busy. Mary-Lou would be happy about that.

She walked through to the front of the store, a smile on her face. “How may I—?”