As Hannah rode through town, she waved at everyone she passed. She couldn’t imagine there was any nicer place to live. Spring had blossomed in vibrant shades of red, purple, yellow, and so many other lovely colors. The tulips were in full bloom. They were such a welcome sight as the colorful flowers encircled the tree trunks lining the street.

This was going to be the best year ever. These days she felt as though she were walking on clouds—big, white, puffy ones. Yes, life was that good. And dreams did come true.

“Good morning.” Agnes Dewey’s weathered face lifted with a smile as she paused from sweeping the sidewalk in front of her house.

Agnes knew everyone who lived on the island year-round, as well as everything that happened within the town limits—and probably even what was going on in the outlying areas. The woman was a fount of information. And what she didn’t know, she surmised—usually in a dark foreboding manner.

“It’s going to be a beautiful day.” Hannah paused pedaling.

“That it is. Too bad it’s not going to stay that way. Today’s horoscope was troubling—”

“So sorry to hear that but I don’t have time to chat.” Hannah resumed pedaling. She knew stopping to talk would deflate her good mood. Some days Agnes predicted good things. And then there were days like today where doom and gloom lurked in her words. “Hope you have a good day.”

Agnes’s brows drew together. And with her gray hair pulled back tightly in her customary bun, she looked a bit intimidating. “You don’t want to hear about the prediction?”

“Maybe another time. I’m late.” She kept pedaling right past Agnes. Nothing was going to ruin her good mood.

A couple of blocks later, Hannah paused to speak with Lisa West, an old schoolmate of hers, and peek in the stroller at her sleeping little girl, who was already nine months old. How had that much time passed already? It seemed like she was just born.

As Hannah continued on her way, she realized she was the same age as Lisa, but their circumstances were quite different. Lisa was happily married to the manager of the hardware store. And she’d just quit her job at the fish market in order to stay home with the baby. Hannah couldn’t help but wonder if she’d been so focused on having her own bakery that she’d missed out on having a family of her own. Was it true that you couldn’t have everything in life? And if so, had she made the right choices?

Being the middle child of three kids, Hannah sometimes felt invisible. Her big brother, Sam, had been the best at everything he touched from sports to taking over the family farm. And then there was her younger sister, Emma, who had won one of those nationally televised singing competitions. And she was now off in Nashville, cutting a record. At least Hannah thought that was the right terminology. On the rare times that Emma called, she was always so excited that her words all ran together.