Nora pulled up the online article in the Charlotte paper and read every word with a profound sense of satisfaction. Davey would be pleased with this piece and it would get his sponsors off his back. “There,” she said, brushing her palms together. She’d righted her previous wrongs. She rose and headed toward the kitchen to brew tea but circled back to the computer nook when the phone rang.

She checked caller ID before answering, something she’d begun earlier in the week after Davey had blown up her phone. Sure enough, it was him.

“Nora, pick up. Please.” She nibbled on her fingernail. She wanted to talk with him, but she didn’t think it was wise. “Damn it, Nora. I’m sorry for being an ass.” He let out a long breath. “I don’t know what to do to make it right.” At his next pause, she reached for the phone, then snatched her hand back. She didn’t belong in Davey’s world. This incident had been a glaring reminder. “Will you go out with Ben and me on Tuesday night?” His voice sounded genuine…and a little desperate. She slowly reached for the phone. “Again, I’m really sorry. Call me.” Thankfully, he ended the call before she caved.

“I wish he’d stop calling,” she mumbled, trudging toward the kitchen and practically tripping over Cosmo.

When she ungracefully hopped over the dog, Cosmo gave her a long look.

“What?” She shoved at her hair. “I didn’t mean to trip over you.”

When Cosmo continued to stare at her, she got that he wasn’t talking about her clumsiness. It was Davey’s call.

Nora lowered to the floor and sat next to her dog. She put her hands around his head. “I made things right,” she said. “Now, I just want him to go away. Not from Ben, but he needs to stop bugging me.”

Cosmo angled his head. Is that really what you want?

“Yes. No.” She scrunched her face. “I don’t know. He didn’t even listen to me. He just left,” she whispered, not wanting Ben to wake up and overhear. “He didn’t just leave me, he left Ben too.” Just like her father had done.

Cosmo pinned her with a look.

Rubbing her dog’s fluffy ears, she sighed. “I guess he had to meet with his sponsors.” Cosmo nudged his head against her side as if prodding her to look for more. “Okay, he called Ben on the drive to Charlotte to let him know he had a work emergency.” She scrunched her lips together. “But Ben was still disappointed.” Cosmo bumped her again. She puffed her cheeks. “He’s been calling every day, and not just for Ben.” Hope blossomed but she quickly tamped it down. “It’s not going to work. He’s Davey Johnson…and he’s a man. It never works with men, so why bother?”

Cosmo shook his head. Don’t let the past ruin what could be a magnificent future.

She kissed the top of her dog’s head, then rose. Thinking about his advice, she made her way to the kitchen. No sooner had she gotten there than the doorbell rang. “Jeez, I’m never going to get my tea.”

She opened the front door and a delivery man extended an enormous bouquet of flowers. “For you,” he said.

“Morning,” Steph called from her porch.

“Hello.” Nora glanced over. Steph also had an arrangement of flowers in her arms.

“Have a great day.” The delivery man tipped his hat and turned to leave.

“Wait,” Nora said. “Give me a minute so I can grab a tip.”

“No need.” He grinned. “It was included.” The young man sprinted down the steps and into his van.

As Nora drew in the sweet scent of her bouquet, she nodded at Steph’s flowers. “Are they from Cruz?”

“Yes.” Steph’s lips curved into a slow smile. “He said he missed me this week.”

“Aww.” Nora hugged her flowers close to her chest. “That’s so sweet.”

“Yes.” Steph’s eyes turned dreamy as she waved a hand toward Nora’s bouquet. “Are yours from Davey?”

Were they? Nora didn’t know who else would send her flowers. Hope bloomed in her chest bright as the flowers in her bouquet. She removed the card and read it out loud. “Sorry for being an asshole. Love, Davey.” She snorted out a laugh.

Steph laughed too. “At least he’s trying.”

Nora conceded that point as she took the flowers inside and put them in a vase on the kitchen table. Even though she was still annoyed with Davey, the flowers brightened her mood. She hummed through her morning tea and the warm, fuzzy feeling stayed with her as she worked through the busy lunch shift at OTR.

After the lunch crowd had dwindled, Steph called out from the stockroom. “Nora, delivery’s here.”

Nora asked Jenna to cover the bar, then made her way into the back.

Steph pulled on a jacket at the same time as Nora. “I thought we’d work the truck together,” Steph said, “since it’s a large order today.”

Outside, a Moonshine Brews and Beverages truck was parked in front of the loading dock. Anxiety tapped in Nora’s stomach. She wondered if her grandpa would show up, and if he did, if Steph would be able to see him too. If he was only visible to Nora, Steph would think she was a whacko. But it had been a while since he’d last appeared so Nora wanted to see him anyway. She brushed a strand of hair away from her face as an odd mix of dread and excitement whirled in her belly.

Steph wrapped her arms together. “It’s cold.” She blew out a visible puff of air. “I can see my breath.”

Nora studied the gray-white sky, which hung low and heavy like a thick blanket of fog. “I wouldn’t mind the cold if the sun were out.” They’d had several consecutive days of overcast skies and it was taking its toll on Nora. Ella had dubbed Nora the poster child for Seasonal Affective Disorder and her best friend was right. SAD was an appropriate acronym for the disorder, considering that’s how Nora felt without light. She’d been tired and cranky for most of the week.

“Well, well, well,” Scott said, rounding the corner of the truck. “Two lovely ladies.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “This must be my lucky day.”

“Here we go,” Nora whispered, rolling her eyes.

She and Steph greeted Scott, then he hopped onto the back of the truck, opened the door, and dropped the ramp. He strolled down with a dolly. Leaning against it, he gave Nora a slow grin. “Have you changed your mind about going out with me?”

“Uh, no.” As Nora gave Scott a firm look, Steph spoke up.

“She’s dating my son.”

“What?” Nora turned toward Steph. “Davey and I aren’t dating.”

Steph smiled. “He’s sending you flowers.”

“I could send you—” The rest of Scott’s words were lost when his body started to fade.

“What…what’s happening?” Steph gripped Nora’s arm. “It’s like he’s vaporizing.”

“It’s my grandpa,” Nora said in a tight voice. Because what normal person would believe that?

Sure enough, her grandfather began to materialize from the bottom up. His feet and legs filled in first, then his mid-section, and finally his head.

“Do you see him?” Nora asked quietly, hoping beyond hope that Steph was experiencing the same inconceivable encounter.

“Uh-huh,” Steph murmured. “But I don’t understand.” She continued to clutch Nora’s arm as she gaped slack-jawed at Nora’s grandfather taking form.

After his body had formed, his features sharpened. His hair shaded gray-white like the sky, his teeth turned white as the snow that threatened to fall. Honey-colored eyes sparkled with delight as his gold pocket watch appeared and attached to his pants.

“Good day to the two of you,” Pap said, rubbing his pocket watch. He pulled Nora into a tight hug. When he drew back, he extended a hand to Steph. “Jeffrey Williams, Nora’s grandpa.”

“Hi,” Steph chocked out. “But…what…how…”

“Scott’s grand-dad and I go way back.” Pap gave Steph a charming smile. “Bill said Scott wouldn’t mind if I borrowed his grandson’s skin now and again to see my Nora.”

“That’s lovely,” Steph said, her voice still a little shaky. “It’s just not something you see every day.”

“That’s the truth.” Pap rolled back on his heels. “Took Nora a while to warm up to the idea too. Isn’t that right, Cupcake?”

Nora nodded, pleased that her grandfather had appeared to both her and Steph. She wondered if there was a particular significance or if he’d just happened to arrive at a time when Steph was with her.

“Anyhoo,” Pap said, flashing his warm eyes at Steph. “I sent Nora to see you about the job.”

“I’m so glad you did,” Steph said, her voice nearly back to normal. She brushed a hand along Nora’s arm. “Nora’s such a blessing. She connected me with my son and introduced me to my grandson.”

“All a part of the grand scheme.” Pap stuffed his hands in his pockets. “Today, I want to talk with both of you,” he said, answering Nora’s previous inquiry.

“Let’s go inside where its warm.” Steph’s lips curved into a smile as she held the door open. “Please come in.”

Nora was surprised when her grandfather stepped inside the building. When he’d appeared in the past, it had always been outdoors. Because of that, she had thought he’d been limited in where he was able to go. Then again, in the past, he had only presented himself to her, and now Steph could see him. Unease poked at her gut as she followed him inside, wondering if others would be able to see him too. But it was a moot point since there was no one else in the hallway.

Steph led them to her office. “Make yourselves comfortable.” Steph sat in one of the arm chairs as Nora and her Pap settled on the loveseat.

“I only have limited time here on Earth,” her grandfather said.

Nora’s heart pounded. She didn’t want Pap to leave. “I don’t want to lose you again,” she said, tears brimming in her eyes.

“I’ll be here for as long as you need me,” he assured her, brushing a tear from her cheek. “But I can’t overstay my welcome in Scott’s body.” He took her hand. “I know you had a difficult childhood and I’m sorry I had to leave Earth when I did. But despite everything, you’ve grown into a beautiful woman.” He patted a hand over his heart. “On the inside, where it counts,” he said, his lips curving. “Although you’re quite the looker too.”

Steph reached over and touched Nora’s arm. “He’s right. You’re an amazing human being.” She glanced at Nora’s grandfather. “And she’s a wonderful aunt too.”

“She sure is.” Pap hugged Nora. “I’m proud of you, sweetie.”

Nora blinked back the tears at her grandfather’s and Steph’s unexpected praise.

Drawing back, Pap looked Nora in the eye. “Now, we need to work on the baggage that you carry from your past.” He squeezed her hand. “It holds you back.”

“Like what?” she asked, tilting her head to one side and pursing her lips. She had overcome the hell she’d lived through as a child and had taught herself how to be a good mother-figure for Ben.

“You think every relationship is doomed,” Pap said, “and that men always leave.”

Oh, that. That was her belief, but not only because of her childhood. She’d never seen a romantic relationship work, at least not in real life. Sadness closed in on her, dark and heavy as wet cement. With her current convictions, she had no hope of ever having a happy marriage, no hope of creating a connected, contented family.

“Your grandmother and I had a wonderful marriage.” Pap smiled nostalgically. “We had fifty-five beautiful years together before she passed. Sweetie, your parent’s relationship failed simply because your mother and your father were a bad match. It happens, but it doesn’t happen all the time.” He met Nora’s gaze, his eyes warm and twinkling. “Without the two of them, you wouldn’t be here and neither would Ben.”

Nora had never thought of that.

“I want you to start living in the now. If you get stuck, Steph can help,” he said, nodding his head toward Steph.

Nora pondered his words. She’d heard the suggestion before; from Steph, the Kent’s cow, and the podcasts she listened to while jogging. But she wasn’t entirely sure what it meant. Didn’t everyone live in the now? “What does that mean?”

Pap shifted toward Steph. “I’ll let you take this one.”

Steph’s mouth curved into a smile. “It means you live fully in every moment, without dwelling on the past or being afraid of the future.”

“That’s right.” Pap winked at Steph. “I want you to think about the last part of what you said. We’ll talk about that in a minute.” He turned back to Nora. “When you’re persistently thinking about the past, you pour energy into things occurring the same way. Since like attracts like you only create more of the same.”

Confused, Nora angled her head. “I’m not following.”

“When you dwell in the past, you give away your personal power to create what you want in that moment because your energy and point of leverage is all directed in the past and on what has already happened, so you keep creating new versions of the past. If you’re overly focused on the future, you’re living in a time that doesn’t yet exist.” He paused for a minute as she considered his advice. It kind of made sense. If she stopped thinking about negative things from her past, like her dad leaving, she might be open to a long-term relationship. If she didn’t worry about the future, she wouldn’t expect every man to leave. According to her grandfather, she was creating that outcome with her mental focus.

“You’re getting it.” Pap patted Nora’s knee. “I promise you a more fulfilled life if you live in the now and allow that which is meant to be to come to fruition.”

Nora nodded, taking it all in. The information Pap had shared was overwhelming. Even so, light entered her chest, sunny and bright, melting the walls she had erected around her heart and allowing hope to grow.

He kissed her cheek, then turned to Steph. “As for you, my dear,” Pap said, leaning toward Steph. “You mastered focusing in the now years ago. But you can’t use the now as a tool for avoidance.” He touched a hand to Steph’s arm. “You can be focused in the present moment while taking actions that move you toward your desired future.”

Steph gave Nora’s grandfather a single nod. She didn’t look at all surprised by his statement, but she’d been studying this kind of wisdom for a lot longer than Nora had.

“Thanks for the lovely visit,” Pap said, rising. Chuckling and patting his chest he said, “It’s time for me to give these atoms and molecules back to Scott.” He paused on the way out of the office and looked back over his shoulder at them. “One more piece of advice before I leave.” He slid his gaze back and forth between Nora and Steph. “Your mind is the only thing that keeps you from living in the present.”

Deep in thought, Nora leaned back against the loveseat. Pap had given her a lot to think about. If what he’d shared actually worked, she needed to retrain her mind. She didn’t want to keep reliving the past, so she would make a point of focusing on what she wanted in the present moment.