At the door, her mother went one way on the sidewalk and Hannah went the other way. Hannah replayed her conversation with her mother. Was it possible she’d been upset with the fire department all of this time because it was easier to be angry with them than deal with the pain of her father’s absence?

And if she was ready to move past being upset with the fire department and her father, did that mean she’d wrongly put up barriers between herself and Ethan because of his career?

Chapter Twenty-nine

Cleaning. Check.

Inspection. Check.

Baking. Check.

The Elegant Bakery was officially open for business. And Hannah felt as though she were living a dream—well, almost. It just didn’t feel complete without Ethan to share this moment.

And yet everywhere she looked around the bakery, she saw his touch—in the beautiful trim work, with the chandelier that gleamed overhead, and then there was the table he’d created from some scrap lumber. She wanted to call him—to hear his voice—but she resisted the urge. She was certain he was busy settling back into his life. Just as she was settling into a new routine of being up before the sun to fill the display cases with her finest pastries.

As one week became two and two weeks became three, she was certain she wouldn’t hear from him again. He must have realized the thing between them—the springtime romance—had been fleeting. The thought made her heart ache.

Sometimes late at night, she let herself imagine what might have happened if she’d have told him about her true feelings. She let herself imagine he felt the same way.

And then the logical side of her reminded her that if he’d have stayed in Bluestar just for her, he would have eventually resented her. She didn’t want to be responsible for him giving up everything in his life, from his home to his closeness with his parents. And then there was his career—his family’s legacy. They just weren’t meant to be. But she was still having a hard time buying that too. Because when they were together, it felt so right.

As she walked through Beachcomber Park, she searched for something to make this feel right—for a way to let go. Maybe what she needed was closure. She just needed to hear that he was happy back in his old life.

Not giving herself time to change her mind, she reached for her phone. She selected his number and the phone started to ring. Once. Twice. It continued to ring. She should hang up. But she hesitated, hoping he’d take her call. And then the call switched to voicemail. The sound of his voice still made her heart beat faster. Deciding not to leave a message, she disconnected the call.

She continued walking to Birdie’s house. She gazed out at the ocean, wishing that she had time to walk along the sand. But that would have to wait. She had more work waiting for her back at the bakery.