“Ethan, there you are,” his mother’s voice called out.

He jumped back as though he’d just been splashed with boiling water. He swallowed hard and turned. “Mom. Dad. You’re both here.”

His mother sent him a big smile. “Well, don’t just stand there. Give me a hug.”

And so he did just that. All the while Hannah’s mind raced to figure out what had just happened. Before his parents had interrupted them, what had he been about to tell her? She had the feeling it was something profound.

Ethan pulled back from his mother. “Mom and Dad, I’d like you to meet Hannah. Hannah, these are my parents Clara and Marshall.”

As hands were shook and explanations were provided, she noticed a yawning distance looming between her and Ethan. Their moment had passed. Would they ever get it back?

What was going on?

Birdie didn’t like to be so far away from the action. Sure there were phone calls from her friends in Bluestar filling her in on the goings-on, but it just wasn’t the same as being there. And after that stunt Agnes pulled at the wedding reception, well, someone needed to be around to keep her in check.

And worst of all, Birdie’s sources had told her that nothing appeared to have changed between Ethan and Hannah. If the festival didn’t get them to reveal their feelings for each other, it would be too late. Ethan would head back to the city and who knew when he’d be back. And in the meantime, the island would fill up with vacationers—any of whom might catch Hannah’s eye. That just couldn’t happen.

Birdie picked up the phone and dialed. “Betty, I need your help.”

Her friend didn’t say anything at first. “Birdie, if this is about your nephew, I think you’ve done enough.”

“No. I can’t stop now. They are so right for each other. They’re just too stubborn to see it.”

“Did you ever think you might be wrong?”

“I know as sure as I’m sitting here that they love each other. I don’t know why they’re fighting it so much, but if we give them just one more push, perhaps a big shove—”

“Birdie, no.”

“Betty, please. It’ll be easy. I promise. And if this doesn’t work, I’ll leave you and them alone.”

Betty didn’t say a word for a moment, as though she was considering the idea. “What do you have in mind?”

And so Birdie told her best friend the plan. This just had to work. She wanted her nephew to be happy—just like she’d been with her dear Gilbert. Everyone should know that kind of love—at least once in a lifetime. It was her greatest wish for her nephew.

Chapter Twenty-One

This morning was the Bloomin’ Tulip contest.

Hannah yawned and then promptly gulped down some more coffee.

She’d been up late last night. After going with Ethan and his parents to Sunny Days to deliver the Easter baskets, they’d returned home much later than she’d expected. And there still had been some decorating to do at the community center before today’s festivities commenced.