“Where are they?” Birdie asked.

“Who?” Ethan’s mother asked as she held onto Peaches’s leash.

“Ethan and Hannah. I thought they’d still be here, helping with the cleanup.”

Ethan’s parents, Clara and Marshall, glanced at each other. Worry lines creased their faces as the silence dragged on.

A sense of foreboding came over Birdie. “Out with it.”

Marshall cleared his throat. “We didn’t want to upset you with this being your homecoming.”

“It’s too late for that.” Birdie turned to Clara. “Is it Ethan?”

Clara shook her head. “He’s fine. But there was a fire last night.”

“Oh no.” Birdie released a hand from her walker to press it to her chest. No wonder they’d been hesitant to tell her. “Where?”

“The Bell Farm. And luckily no one was hurt.”

Birdie’s mind raced with possibilities. “Was it the house?”

Marshall shook his head. “It was a new barn.”

Birdie shook her head. “This is unbelievable. Sam has been through so much—too much for someone his age.” When they both looked confused, Birdie continued. “Sam lost his young wife, Beth, not long after they had their daughter. And more recently his father unexpectedly died. When they say bad things come in threes, they weren’t kidding.”

“Everyone feels terrible for him and his daughter,” Clara said. “I wish there was something we could do.”

Birdie wasn’t sure how to help, but there had to be something the town could do. “Let me think about it.”

“Anyway, everyone was up late,” Clara said. “Maybe Ethan and Hannah decided to skip the festivities today.”

It didn’t sound right to her. Both Hannah and Ethan were responsible individuals. They’d want to see Spring Fling through until the end.

Betty strolled up to Birdie and hugged her. “Welcome home.”

“Thanks.” Birdie resumed searching the familiar faces.

“Did you lose something?” Betty asked.

“Yes. Where are Ethan and Hannah?”

Betty shrugged. “I don’t know. I saw Hannah a little while ago, but come to think of it, I haven’t seen Ethan all day.”

“Maybe he’s finishing up at the bakery,” Ethan’s father said. “I’ll walk over and see.”

“They were so happy yesterday, well, before the fire. You heard about it, didn’t you?”

Birdie nodded. “It’s just awful.”

“Agreed. But before that Ethan and Hannah were having a good time together. Entering them in the jelly bean relay worked out just like you thought.”

Ethan’s mother agreed. “I’ve never seen him so happy.”

Betty sighed. “I suppose this means I owe you an apology.”

Birdie finally tore her gaze away from the crowd of people. She noticed the way her friend’s brows knitted together in a frown. “Apologize for what?”

“I told you to stop matchmaking, but it appears you were right about them.”

Birdie glanced back at her best friend. “I have a feeling that by this evening, they’ll be an official couple. It’ll be so great to have Ethan on the island permanently.”

Peaches barked her agreement. Birdie bent over to pet her four-footed friend. Oh how she’d missed Peaches. She’d missed this island. She didn’t know it was possible to miss a place that much. There was something special about Bluestar. It might not be perfect all of the time—her thoughts turned to the fire—but its residents looked out for each other. It was exactly what her nephew needed after all he’d gone through. And she would love to be a regular part of his life.