“Even though he’s a good guy?”

“Even then.” And now it was time to change the subject. “I’m working on a plan to get the renovation back on track.”

Her mother looked around at the unfinished walls. “I wish you’d let me help you.”

“Thank you but I’ve got it.”

She knew her mother would do everything possible to help her, but Hannah couldn’t ask her to do it. After her father died, her mother had been forced back to work to make ends meet. She felt guilty for taking the small amount of money her father had left her. Her siblings felt the same about their similar inheritances. But their mother wouldn’t hear of keeping it.

Her mother glanced around, not that she knew anymore about construction than Hannah did. “And how are things?”

“They’re going good.” Not exactly a lie.

“And Ethan, he’s helping you finish the bakery?”

There was no way she would be able to keep that information from her mother. “Yes. Well, maybe. He’s looking into things and he’s going to give me a quote—”

“If it’s money, I can help.”

And there it was, the problem she’d been hoping to avoid. “Thanks, Mom. But you and Dad already helped me enough. I need to do the rest on my own.”

Her mother smiled and shook her head.

“What?” Hannah asked.

“I was just thinking how you’re so like your father. Stubborn to the core.”

“And that’s a bad thing?”

“Sometimes. When you’re too stubborn to let those that care about you help out.”

“I’m okay, Mom. Honest. I’ve got this. And Ethan is helping me.”

“That can’t be cheap.”

“Actually, we did a bit of bartering.” Hannah went on to tell her mother about their arrangement.

“And Birdie’s okay with this?”

“I haven’t personally spoken to her yet, but Ethan talks to her all of the time.”

“Maybe you should talk with her before you two get too deep into this plan. I know how much the festival means to her. It must be so hard for her to be out of the loop.”

“I’ll speak to her as soon as possible.”

Her mother looked around the bakery once more. “Well, if I’m not needed here, I have to get to the community hall for a quilter’s guild meeting about our latest charity project.”

Her mother gave her a hug and then headed out the door. Hannah loved her mother dearly but didn’t want her emotionally or financially invested in the bakery. The risk of failure was too great. If she couldn’t open on time—if she couldn’t meet the bank payment—it would be disastrous. But hopefully her deal with Ethan would keep that from happening.

Hannah grabbed her phone from her back pocket and selected Ethan’s number. The phone rang once, twice, and then a third time.

“Hi. What did you need?”

“I was wondering when you were going to visit Birdie because I’d like to go with you, if it’s all right. Or I could just go alone.” She wasn’t used to inviting herself on outings. And the longer he was quiet, the more anxious she became. “On second thought, I’ll just go on my own—”