Her phone buzzed at an incoming call, and she recognized the number from the previous voice mail. Joshua had promised to call back later. She appreciated that he hadn’t put the burden to call back on her like a lot of people did. And she had looked him up on Facebook. Not only was he a handsome doctor, but he regularly posted pictures of his family, and he had an adorable black Labrador named Bear, to boot.

She set down her knitting and answered the call. “Hello?”

“Hi, is this Sophie?”

“Speaking.”

“Hi, Sophie. It’s Joshua Stevens—my grandmother is a friend of your grandmother.” He said the last a little sheepishly.

“I hope she didn’t have to twist your arm too hard.”

His laugh was a pleasant one. “Not once I found you on social media. I confess to stalking you a little.”

“In the vein of honesty, I’ll fess up to a little stalking myself.”

“And you still answered my call?”

“It was Bear that sealed the deal.”

He laughed. “Your grandmother didn’t lie. You really are delightful.”

“You know, she never says nice things to my face.”

“I have a sister like that. Other people tell me things she’s said, and when I bring it up to her—okay, hold it over her head—she denies she ever said such a thing.”

Sophie laughed. She caught Aiden’s eye, and her stomach gave a little wobble. She looked away. “Sounds about right. I have two siblings myself.”

“Full confession, I saw them on your Facebook page. You were recently in your sister’s wedding—this is weird, isn’t it? I should at least pretend I don’t know your life history.”

“Would it make you feel better if I ask how your nephews are doing on their mission trip?”

He laughed. “It would, actually. Dating in the modern day sure is a wild adventure. I took somewhat of a break during the rigors of med school, and when I jumped back on the merry-go-round, everyone was meeting on apps and cyberstalking.”

“It’s a brave new world. I admit I’ve been on a bit of a break too.”

“Your grandmother said you were opening a bookshop in Piper’s Cove.”

“Guilty as charged. It’s been a long time in the works.”

“I gathered . . .” He paused for so long Sophie nearly checked her connection. “Listen, it sounds as if you’re wanting to grow roots there on the coast—and I’m stuck here in Raleigh, at least through my residency.”

Sensing a dismissal, Sophie shifted in her seat. “Ah. I see what you’re getting at.”

“No, no. I’m just saying . . . distance is an obstacle, at least a short-term one. But I really like you, Sophie, and I’d like to get to know you better.”

“I’d like that too.”

*  *  *