She sat up straighter. Worry pumped through her veins. She’d definitely been away for too long. “Tell me what it is and we’ll figure out how to fix it.”

His eyes widened. “It’s not like that. Nothing’s broken.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “The thing is that I have no idea what I’m doing with Spring Fling.”

“Oh, is that all?” She waved off his worry. “Don’t worry. I’m planning to get out of here soon. You won’t have to do it alone.”

“Wait. The doctors said you were being released early?”

“Well, no.” She averted her gaze. “Not exactly.”

He nodded. “Then don’t worry because I found someone to help me with Spring Fling.”

Her astute gaze zeroed in on him. “Who would that be?”

“Well, she needed someone that’s good with their hands, and I needed someone that’s familiar with the festival. And well, we made a deal.”

Birdie was more confused now than she was when they’d started the conversation. “You made a deal with whom?”

“Oh, I forgot that part—Hannah Bell.”

Inwardly she cheered. Outwardly she maintained a calm expression. “And you’ll be working on the bakery for her?”

He nodded.

Birdie resisted the urge to grin and rub her hands together. Instead she continued her nonchalant demeanor. She knew her nephew. He wasn’t one for commitments and certainly wasn’t one to be pushed into anything. She couldn’t let him know this is what she’d been hoping would happen.

She nodded in understanding. “Hannah is a good choice. Her mother used to organize Spring Fling until the accident.”

“What accident?”

Birdie shook her head. It wasn’t her story to tell. “Doesn’t matter.” Actually, it did. Everyone in town could see how hard the loss had hit the Bell family, especially Hannah. If ever there was a daddy’s girl, it had been her. “What matters is that you and the festival will be in good hands with Hannah’s guidance.”

“Really? I mean you’re not upset that I asked for help?”

She waved away his worry. “Not at all.”

“But soon you’ll be home to take over.”

She let out a deep sigh. “The truth of the matter is, I think I’ve been pushing myself too hard. I think I need to lie down for a bit. Would you mind pressing the call button next to the bed?”

“Um, sure.” He did as she asked. “One more thing.”

“What is it, dear?”

“I noticed you still have Uncle Gil’s tools. Would you mind if I used them?”

“Not at all. Help yourself.” Anything to make him feel more at home on the island.

With Ethan occupied, she could stay on at Sunny Days. Perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad to slow down like that handsome PT guy kept telling her to do. After all, everything was now in good hands—Ethan and Hannah’s. She did like the sound of their names together.

Maybe with a little more time on the island that frown and those worry lines on Ethan’s face would be permanently wiped away. After all, Bluestar was known to wash away people’s worries and to bring couples together. Perhaps it would work for Ethan and Hannah.