“I can’t take a handout,” Hannah said. “I need to do this on my own.”

“It’s not a handout. You know a lot about the festival. Your mother used to plan it back before…” Lily’s voice trailed off.

“You can say it, before my father died.” It’d taken her a while to get to the point where she could speak of it without her emotions rising to the surface. “Everything changed after he died. But I know what you mean.”

“You should take him up on the offer.” Josie’s voice drew Hannah’s attention back to the conversation. “It gets you both what you want.”

She knew her friends were right. She should readily accept Ethan’s offer but still she hesitated. Why was she holding back?

“You’re trying too hard to go solo,” Lily said. “I know Brad tried to steer you wrong and almost ruined your deal to buy the bakery, but Ethan isn’t Brad.”

Hannah’s ex had gone behind her back to talk to the former owner of the bakery, telling Mr. Hamil that she didn’t know what she wanted. Just the memory of hearing it from Mr. Hamil filled her with anger. Brad had gone on to tell Mr. Hamil that when they were newly married, they’d be trying for a baby right away, and she wouldn’t have the time to devote to the bakery. She’d immediately confronted Brad and asked him where all of those plans had come from because they hadn’t come from her. Her plans had been focused on opening the bakery and then figuring everything else out.

She’d been angry that Brad would go behind her back. And Brad had been hurt that her first priority wasn’t their wedding and family. It was in that moment she realized he was right. If she could put her business ahead of their wedding plans, they just weren’t meant to be. She’d given him the ring back that night.

He’d been furious. He told her she would regret breaking things off. To this day, her only regret was not doing it sooner.

Josie’s voice drew her from her thoughts. “Sometimes you need to rely on your friends—even new ones.”

Hannah felt so lucky to have them as friends. But what would they think of her if she failed? What would her family think?

“There’s something else bothering you,” Josie said. “What is it?”

“What happens if I fail?”

“But what if you succeed?” Josie asked. “Take Ethan up on his offer. He knows what he’s doing and you don’t have to pay him. With you helping to coordinate Spring Fling in exchange for him working on the bakery, it’s not a favor. It’s bartering. In the end, you won’t owe him anything.”

Hannah’s gaze met her friends. “You honestly think this is a good idea?”

“We do.” Lily smiled and nodded enthusiastically.

“Do it,” Josie said. “This is exactly what you need.”

Hannah narrowed her gaze on Josie. “Why are you pushing so hard?”

“Because I’m hoping you’ll bake donuts for the inn. Guests will love them.”