Once seated in the wheelchair, Aunt Birdie said, “Let’s go.”

“Your wish is my command.” He pushed her down the hallway.

“Is this all the faster it will go?”

He merely laughed. He hadn’t seen his aunt this excited, well, ever. His footsteps came quicker.

When they were outside, Aunt Birdie called out, “Peaches!”

Immediately the dog turned. When Peaches’s gaze landed on Aunt Birdie, she barked as her tail rapidly swished back and forth. She set off at a run. Hannah wisely let go of the leash or she would have been dragged across the lawn.

Aunt Birdie looked ten years younger as she fussed over her four-footed buddy. “I’ve missed you.” Peaches licked her cheek. “Yes, I have. I’m so sorry to have left you. But Ethan appears to be taking good care of you.” His aunt glanced up at him. “You aren’t giving her too many treats, are you? She’s a beggar but we don’t want her gaining weight.” She turned back to Peaches. “No. We don’t.”

Ethan joined Hannah on the bench. He was glad he’d looked into bringing Peaches for a visit. It was like the visit had breathed new life into his aunt. The worry lines framing her eyes and mouth smoothed out. And her smile went the whole way to her eyes and made them sparkle.

Aunt Birdie turned to them. “I’m sorry. Where are my manners? Hello, Hannah. Thanks so much for coming to visit me.”

“It’s so good to see you,” Hannah said. “You’re looking good.”

“Tell that to my doctor.” Aunt Birdie frowned. “I’ve been telling him that I can do my exercises at home, but he says I’m still not good enough to be discharged. And I have so much to do—obligations to fulfill.”

“And that’s why I’m here,” Hannah said.

“It is?” Aunt Birdie sat up straighter. “How so?”

Ethan was more than willing to sit back quietly and let the women talk. Hannah seemed quite at ease with his aunt, but then again they lived in the same small town. Living in Bluestar was so different from what he knew growing up in a big city where neighbors would move in and move out without him catching their names. But it wasn’t that way on Bluestar Island, where everyone knew everyone and from what he could tell it was virtually impossible to keep a secret.

“Ethan mentioned that you had a lot planned for Spring Fling,” Hannah said. “And I’d be more than willing to take over until you’re able to do it.”

Aunt Birdie’s brow arched as her gaze moved to Ethan. “You’re having poor Hannah do all of the organizing when she already has her hands full with starting a new business?”

“It’s not like that—”

“We’re helping each other out,” Hannah interjected.

“Really?” Curiosity reflected in Aunt Birdie’s eyes. “Tell me more.”

Hannah explained what happened at the bakery and neither he nor his aunt stopped Hannah to let her know he’d kept his aunt updated on the situation with the bakery. To his surprise Hannah touted him as a hero for stopping her from stepping in the flood water with the electricity still on. He didn’t feel like a hero, but this was her story so he kept quiet.