“Hey, you started without me!”
Adam walked into what had once upon a time been a barn, but had been turned into a workshop some twenty years ago, when Adam’s father had moved his vet practice into his new office downtown, letting his own father take control of the place. The smell of hay had long been replaced by the smell of wood and polish, a smell that Adam used to relate to happy times in his childhood and adolescence spent carving little toy figurines with his grandfather. Now it only reminded him of those tough months after he came home from Seattle. When spending days and nights taking out his rage onto chunks of wood had been the only thing that kept him sane.
Whereas back then he’d used the workshop whenever he’d felt restless, nowadays he enjoyed coming out here just to unwind and spend a little time with his Grandpa Eamon, sharing a hobby nobody else in the family had taken up.
“Curtis stopped by to drop off a few pictures,” his grandfather said now. “A young woman has moved into the Daughertys place. Dora bought most of her furniture, so she needs some new pieces quickly.”
“She was at the shop when I brought in the Gardiners’ order. Dora praised our furniture so much, she must’ve convinced her to buy something,” Adam said, nodding as he reached for the pictures Dora provided with every order—unless it was some custom-made item, in which case they’d meet with the client and discuss the details in person. “So, what have we got?”
Adam sat on the stool opposite his grandfather, who was already busy carving what seemed like a table leg out of a chunk of oak wood.
“I take it you’ve picked the coffee table, so I’ll get started on the nightstand,” Adam said, reaching for his tools.
Eamon nodded, focusing on giving the leg the right shape and size. Adam had always loved the quiet of the workshop, and the fact that his grandpa never pushed him to talk. It was one of the reasons why he’d enjoyed spending time with him, back when everyone wanted him to talk about his feelings while he just wanted to be left alone to grieve in peace.
Now he treasured a few hours of silence, after listening to Sophie’s constant chattering. He loved his daughter to bits, but lately her inquisitive phase was driving him nuts. She never seemed content with whatever answer he gave her, since a moment later she came up with another question. And this went on from dawn till dusk, until she fell asleep.
“When are you starting at the Sheriff’s office?” Eamon asked some time later, when Adam was already half finished with the frame of the nightstand and his grandfather had already finished three legs. Adam never seemed to notice time passing by whenever he was in the workshop with his grandpa.
“In a couple of days. I figured I’d better start while I’ve still got a full babysitting team at home, take some extra shifts, so maybe once I’m on my own Glen will let me work around Sophie’s schedule.”
“Makes sense.” Eamon nodded, blowing the wood dust off the leg. “I’ll miss that little girl once you’re out of here, though.”
“I wouldn’t worry about that. I’m pretty sure we’ll be here often enough.”
Adam lifted the piece of wood, tilted his head and squinted, checking it was perfect. He had his doubts about surviving as a single father, especially once Sophie started school. He wanted to be independent, but raising a child on his own wouldn’t be a piece of cake. He’d leaned too much on his family, especially when it came to raising Sophie, and he was afraid he’d screw up. Would his parents take him back if he came crawling home in a few months?
“I should hope so. Who else do you think would help me with the orders? Your brother?” Eamon quirked a bushy, white eyebrow.
Adam smiled. “No way. I could never let Kean destroy our reputation.”
The old man laughed, shaking his head, and reached for a new chunk of wood. “Stop talking and get back to work now. That nightstand isn’t going to finish itself.”
Adam stared at him for a moment; he was pretty sure his grandfather had known from the very first moment he’d involved Adam in his custom-made furniture project three years ago that this would be more beneficial to his grandson than to him. Adam loved him for providing the help he’d so desperately needed back then, but hadn’t wanted to ask for.
“Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!” Sophie burst into the barn a moment later, with her usual never-ending supply of energy, and ran straight toward Adam. He braced for impact and opened his arms to scoop her up, before she flung herself at him. “Gwammy says you have to go to the gwoss store.”
Adam chuckled, hugging Sophie to his chest, and kissed the top of her head. “And did she tell you what I have to buy at the grocery store?”
Sophie’s face puckered in concentration, as she brought a finger to her lips. “Ice cweam. And chocolate bunnies. Oh, and cawwots for Buzz.”
Adam smiled. “That all?”
Sophie nodded, her face serious as if she’d just told him a list of vital stuff she couldn’t do without.
“Are you sure Grammy said I should buy ice cream and chocolate bunnies?” he asked “’Cause I’m pretty sure you already had your sugar fix for the day when you stuffed your mouth with Grammy’s cookies just a couple of hours ago.”
“But Gwammy’s cookies are healfy, they don’t come fwom a box,” Sophie said, rolling her eyes in a very grown-up way, as if she was talking about the benefits of organic food in a diet, and he didn’t get it. He bit his lip, swallowing back a chuckle. He had a hard time remaining serious when she said things lately, but since everyone else enjoyed spoiling her rotten, he had to be the one to put his foot down and play the part of the responsible grown-up. Sometimes.
“Okay, how about you go tell Grammy I’ll be there in a minute, and she can give me a list of things she needs me to buy?”
Sophie nodded, but made no move to go. She turned her attention to his grandfather. “What are you doing, GG? Is dat a toy?”
When Sophie was learning to talk, Great Grandpa had seemed much too hard to say, so she’d found it easier to just call him GG. Even though her speech had improved now, the nickname remained, and his grandfather didn’t seem to mind. Adam could swear the old man melted like ice cream in the sun whenever Sophie called him GG.
“Nope, it’s a small table.”
“Is it for my dolls?” Sophie asked, her face already brightening at the thought of a new item for her tea parties—the tea parties Adam was often a guest at.
Eamon chuckled. “No, love. This is for a young lady who needs it for her house.” When Sophie’s smile faded, and she let out a disappointed, “Oh,” Eamon stood up and came closer to her. “But maybe once I’m finished with this, I will make a small table for your dolls, too. Would you like that?”
Sophie’s smile was back in record time, and she nodded enthusiastically. Adam rolled his eyes. So much for teaching his little girl she couldn’t have everything she wanted, when everyone around him did their best to destroy his efforts.
“Go back inside now, so we can finish this. Then your dad can go into town.”
Sophie nodded and got off Adam’s lap. She ran to the door, then turned back and gave them a toothy, megawatt smile. “Thank you, GG. Elsa and Anna will be vewy happy.”
Adam smiled. Well, at least he’d managed to teach her manners.
“Since you’re already going into town, would you bring a book back to the library and pick up another one for me?” Eamon asked as they were leaving the workshop ten minutes later.
His grandfather spent half his day in the workshop and the other half reading thrillers and mysteries. He even went to the monthly book club meeting at the library and, as far as Adam knew, he’d never missed it. He wasn’t a man who liked idling.
“Sure, no problem. I’ll actually take the opportunity and get a book for Sophie’s bedtime read. Last night she told me she wants to hear some new stories, and I’m not really qualified to make up stories for a three-year-old.” Adam smiled, remembering the sassy way his daughter had told him she was tired of always hearing the same stories, and she already knew how they ended. He’d fought back a smile and promised he’d read a different story tomorrow.
“That little one’s going to give you grief when she grows up,” Eamon said, following Adam into the house. “She’s a lot like her mother, but I’m sure she inherited your mischievous side, too.”
Adam stopped walking and stared at his grandfather with wide eyes. “I’m not mischievous!”
“Maybe not anymore, but you and Kean weren’t angels.” The old man grinned, and Adam thought his face was the exact picture of mischief right then. “But it’s okay—it’s a Cavanagh thing. Runs in the family.”
“What about Kyle? How come you didn’t include him?” Adam said, feigning offense. Their younger brother, being the baby and all, had always gotten away with most of the things he did. Apparently, his grandfather had a soft spot for him, too.
“All Kyle cared about was playing ball. Apart from a broken window, he never got into trouble. Unlike the two of you: the cowboy and the sheriff.”
Adam laughed, remembering the days when they were little and played cowboys. He always played the part of the sheriff who rescued the damsel in distress, Hannah, from the bad cowboy, Kean. And the process always involved skinned knees, bumps on the head, and even stitches and broken bones once, thanks to Kean’s penchant for jumping off tree branches. Kyle, on the other hand, had always been the quiet one, playing ball with Hannah’s younger siblings, and leaving the dangerous stuff to the older daredevils.
“Fine, I’ll give you that. She might have got a little bit of mischief from me; she’s a Cavanagh, after all. Go get the book you need me to return. And write down what you want me to pick up.”
“I want the next one on my list. Shelly has a copy, she knows which one.”
Adam quirked an eyebrow and smiled. “Shelly knows, huh? Seems to me you’re getting extremely up close and personal with the former librarian, Gramps. Anything you’d like to share with your favorite grandson?”
Eamon shrugged and continued walking down the corridor to his room. “Don’t know what you’re talking about. And who said you’re my favorite, anyway?”
“Hey, I thought I was your favorite.” Kean came out of the kitchen, munching on something he’d probably stolen from their mother when she wasn’t looking.
“I’m the only one with a kid, it goes without saying I’m the favorite.”
“Sophie won’t pass on the family name, so it doesn’t count.” Kean smirked in the annoying way he used to when they were teenagers and he played the ‘I’m the first born’ card.
“Once you’ve got your own kid we’ll have this discussion again. For now, I’m the only one who produced an heir, and I deserve to get the top spot.”
Kean opened his mouth to argue, but their grandfather shoved the book at Adam, interrupting their banter. “Go get me a book, and stop acting like eejits before your mother hears you.”
Adam walked out laughing, but before he closed the door he heard Kean arguing with their grandfather that he was the first born and deserved to be the favorite. Adam didn’t hear Eamon’s reply, but from the way he grumbled, he suspected it wasn’t something nice.
* * *
Ellie’s first week in Spring Harbor flew by, and at the start of the second week, with every inch of the house clean, she found herself out of things to do. So she decided to visit the local library and get a few books to last her until school started.
She parked her bike outside the library and stopped for a moment to enjoy the beauty of the brick building in front of her, with its intricately sculpted white columns at the side of the bright yellow Georgian door.
She had her hand on the brass doorknob when the door opened from the inside. She recovered just in time not to fall against the person who’d opened it.
“Sorry, Miss,” a warm voice said. A voice that sounded familiar. A voice that made her body tingle. Huh?
She looked up, and her eyes feasted on the handsome face in front of her—the tall, dark and very handsome man she’d met at the antiques shop.
“Hi,” Ellie said, barely containing a squeal of joy at the sight of him. In the four days since she saw him, she’d felt like a teenager looking forward to seeing the object of her crush. It had to be fate that made them meet again today.
Adam stared blankly at her, and a part of her heart withered like a neglected flower. She fought to swallow her disappointment at the failed recognition. Just because she’d thought he was her one, it didn’t mean he felt the same. For all she knew, that shock she’d felt the other day might have been caused by a static charge. And, seriously, how silly could she be, believing in fairy tales at twenty-eight?
“It’s Ellie. We met at Tales Of Old Times last week.”
His frown eased as realization dawned. “Of course, sorry. My mind’s all over the place today.” He smiled half-heartedly, and even though it hurt that he didn’t remember her, she couldn’t prevent her silly heart from beating wildly. “We’ve been working on your order. We should be done soon.”
Ellie couldn’t stop the smile that formed on her lips. She felt like the klutzy teenager talking to the popular quarterback. She just hoped her blush wasn’t showing.
“No rush,” she said, surprised that her voice hadn’t come out in a squeak. “When I saw the pictures Dora showed me, I couldn’t help myself—I had to order something. But they aren’t vital pieces, so just take all the time you need. I don’t mind waiting.”
“Okay. Dora will call you when they’re done.”
A tiny pang of disappointment hit her, as she stupidly hoped he’d ask for her number. Seriously, what was she: sixteen? She nodded and smiled, despite the sour taste in her mouth.
“Sorry, I’m blocking the entrance.” He took a step aside and opened the door wider for her.
Wow. He was handsome and an old-fashioned gentleman, too. Greg had never opened doors for her, nor had any of the men she’d met in her life—unless they were over seventy. And no, he didn’t look a day over thirty, so he was definitely the exception to the rule.
“Um, thank you.” She shook herself from the daze she’d fallen into, and took a tentative step into the library, letting the door close behind her as Adam left after saying goodbye.
Two ladies stood by the mahogany counter, where a computer screen and a pile of books sat.
“My, my. I swear that young man gets more handsome with every passing year,” said the older woman with pearly gray hair styled in a modern pixie cut. She fanned her face and let out a dramatic sigh. “If only I were a couple of decades younger, I’d be only too happy to help him get over his broken heart.”
A broken heart? She’d be very happy to be his rebound. She blinked away the thought and mentally chastised herself. He didn’t even remember you, Ellie. Wake up.
“You mean, a half-dozen decades younger.” The younger woman said, bringing Ellie back to the present. She was probably in her early fifties, and her blond hair was pulled back in a short ponytail, with a few wisps framing her oval face. She smirked at the other lady, shaking her head. “You could very well be his grandmother, Shelly dear.”
Shelly brought a hand to her heart and gasped. “That’s a low blow, Candice. I’m not geriatric yet.”
“Yet being the keyword there.”
Ellie couldn’t hold back the chuckle that escaped her lips, and both women turned their attention on her.
“Oh, hi there, dear. I hadn’t noticed you coming in,” Shelly said, giving Ellie a bright smile.
“Of course you hadn’t, seeing as you were busy having dirty thoughts about a young man.” The other woman scoffed, shaking her head.
Shelly rolled her eyes and smiled, waving at Ellie to come closer. “How can we help? Are you new in town or are you just visiting? I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”
Ellie nodded. “I’ve just moved here, and I wanted to get a library card. I’m not used to living by myself, so a few good books would be welcome company.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful! Welcome to Spring, then. I’m Candice, the official librarian, and this is Shelly, former librarian, who unfortunately can’t seem to enjoy her retirement outside these four walls.”
Shelly let out a huff, shaking her head. “You don’t seem to mind that much when I bring you coffee and cinnamon rolls from Spring Delights, though.”
Candice smiled and winked at Ellie. She was sure the two women were best friends, despite the banter. Charli loved teasing Ellie and pretending she didn’t care about her, when she’d probably cut off an arm and a leg if Ellie needed them.
“Come, I’ll put your details in our system and print your brand-new library card.”
Ellie gave Candice all the information she required, while answering questions from Shelly who, as it turned out, had been a good friend of Ellie’s grandmother. Ellie didn’t remember her, but ten years had passed since she’d last been here, and when she was a teenager she used to spend most of her time on the beach with Ethan or baking and gardening with her grandmother. When Lilian’s friends came to visit, Ellie would usually just let them be and go find something else to do while her grandmother was busy.
Ten minutes later, Candice handed her a laminated card with a magnetic stripe, very similar to a credit card. Ellie had expected to have to fill in a notebook whenever she borrowed a book, and this very modern system had taken her by surprise. Spring Harbor wasn’t as old-fashioned as she’d thought—or as Charli had predicted.
“Feel free to browse the shelves, or if you prefer, you can check out our computerized catalog here and find the shelf where the book is.”
Ellie’s eyes widened. Yes, way more technological than she’d expected. Candice smiled at her reaction, and Ellie blushed a little. “Bet you weren’t expecting Spring to have moved into the twenty-first century, were you?”
“I guess not. I mean, it’s been a while since I’ve been here and things were a little less… well, technologically advanced back then.”
Candice laughed. “We like to keep up with the rest of the world, even though we’re a small town.”
Ellie nodded and walked toward the shelves stacked with books, browsing the spines and checking the blurbs of the ones that caught her attention.
“Oh, well. I’d pegged you for a romance kind of reader,” Candice said, as she scanned the barcodes on the back of the books Ellie had picked—two by Mary Higgins-Clark and one by Dan Brown. She was a voracious reader, and since she’d have a lot of time on her hands until school started, she figured one book wouldn’t be enough to last her through the weekend and save her another trip into town.
“I outgrew fairy tales and Prince Charming a long time ago.”
It came out more bitter than she’d intended, so she smiled to soften her statement a little. What she wished she could say was that she’d love to believe in fairy tales and romance, to think that loving someone wouldn’t destroy you, that it could actually bring you to life and make you walk on air. Instead, she knew that all love did was bring you to your knees and squeeze life out of your heart until you could no longer breathe. That was also what had happened to her mother, after all. It didn’t matter that she had at least another forty years’ worth of life, that she had a son and a daughter who loved her, and she could be a grandmother one day. Once she lost the love of her life, she’d lost the will to live, and forgotten everything and everyone else. No, Ellie didn’t want to believe in romance and happily-ever-afters if it meant she’d have to annihilate herself and depend on another person to be happy—especially after she misjudged Spencer so badly. She could be very happy by herself.
“If you like mysteries and thrillers, you should join the book club,” Candice said, handing her the books. “It’s the first Thursday of every month, at eight o’clock, right here. It would be a good way to meet new people and find some friends. I bet moving to a new place where you don’t know a soul isn’t easy.”
Didn’t she know it. She’d spent most of her life doing just that and, to be honest, she’d gotten quite used to being by herself. But since she was hoping to make Spring Harbor her permanent home, she’d love to have some friends to hang out with. Just because she didn’t want a man didn’t mean she planned on becoming a hermit.
“I’d love that, thanks for letting me know. I’ll definitely be there next month.”
“Good, I’ll let my son know. He’s the one who set this all up in the first place. He’ll be happy to have a new member in the group.”
Ellie smiled the whole way back home. With the sun on her face and the wind tousling her hair as she rode, she felt even more confident that her new life was going to be awesome.