Just as quickly his vision filled in with a devoted husband and loving father. A frown tugged at his mouth as he pushed aside the troubling vision.

“What’s wrong?” Hannah asked.

He blinked and glanced at her. “What?”

“You were frowning about something.”

He replaced the frown with a smile. “You must be mistaken. How could I be frowning when I’m with the two most beautiful women in the room?”

Nikki giggled. “You’re silly.”

“I am?”

She smiled and nodded. “But I like you. Auntie Hannah likes you too.”

“Nikki shush.” Hannah’s face filled with color.

“It’s true,” Nikki said. “She told me.”

His gaze met Hannah’s, and her face grew rosier. And then he glanced back at Nikki. “I like her too.”

This made Nikki smile. Then she held out her egg. “I don’t know where this goes.”

He took the egg from her and turned it over. On the bottom was a number and letter. “The number is what identifies it as yours and the letter is the table it goes on for judging. Yours is table C.”

“I see it.” Nikki rushed over and added her egg to the table.

Ethan turned to Hannah. “It’s your turn.” He glanced around for her egg, but her hands were empty. “Did you already put it on the table?”

Hannah shook her head. “I don’t think it’s a good idea. I don’t want to cause any more trouble.”

“The only trouble today is Agnes. You saw the town. They are all behind you.” He held out his hand. “Let’s have it.” He wiggled his fingers, anxious to see her creation.

She hesitated as she stared at him, but then she pulled the egg from her purse. It was wrapped in a napkin. He didn’t know what he expected when she held up the egg, but it certainly wasn’t the work of art in front of him.

He stared at Peter Rabbit, who appeared to be in a vegetable garden with a carrot in his hand. It wasn’t so much the scene itself but the delicate strokes that created such a detailed picture on such a small egg.

“This is amazing,” he said. “I had no idea you were this talented.”

Her cheeks filled with color. “It’s what I do. I paint pictures but usually they’re on cakes. It was fun to see if I could do such a small picture.”

“I’d say you did an amazing job.” He checked the bottom to see which table it should be placed on. “I’ll just put it over here.”

“Ethan, are you sure it’s a good idea?”

“I think it’s a great idea.”

“Me too,” Nikki chimed in. “I think it’s the best.” And then softly she added, “Even better than mine.”

While Hannah and Nikki discussed all of the different styles of eggs from painted ones to others covered with glitter, his mind returned to the fact that Hannah liked him. When their gazes met and she blushed, was it the confirmation he needed? He desperately wanted to pull her away so they could be alone, but that was impossible now.