The next few days flew by far too quickly. Abby showed Nadia around town, introducing her to Verna, Mr. Bingley, and Sage. They even had a girls’ night at CeCe’s and made patchwork quilt potholders while sipping peppermint lattes.
But Abby’s favorite moments with Nadia were spent at home with Logan and Max. They’d built a gingerbread house, played Christmas trivia games, read aloud from A Christmas Carol—Logan was surprisingly skilled at the different voices—and crowded around the small table in the breakfast nook every morning, laughing and making plans for the day.
Abby would miss those loud, laughter-filled mornings.
But she didn’t want to tarnish the night’s memories by dwelling on the future.
Tonight, they’d experience an event Verna called Bells on the Bay.
Linking arms with Nadia, Abby stood on the tranquil beach watching the moonlit waves lap against the shore. The gentle whisper of the ocean and presence of her dearest friend had a calming effect on her heart. And for the first time in a long while, she felt truly content.
“I wish you didn’t have to leave tomorrow.” She rested her head on Nadia’s shoulder.
“Me, too. It’s so different here, like finding your own corner of paradise.”
Abby smiled, appreciating Nadia’s description, which couldn’t be more accurate. Her gaze swept the glittering sand, illuminated by hanging lanterns and pillar candles in large hurricane votives. Lounge chairs and beach blankets surrounded several firepits and townspeople clustered around various s’more stations. The gentle strumming of an acoustic guitar harmonized with the melodic laughter and chatter.
Logan caught her eye at the nearest firepit, and for a fleeting moment, an unspoken, intimate connection passed between them.
Then Max’s marshmallow burst into a fireball, and Logan had to help him put out the flame.
“I saw that.” Nadia nudged her arm.
“Saw what?” Abby flushed.
“The way you two looked at each other. Since the day I arrived, it’s like I’m watching that man fall even harder for you.”
“We’re friends, Nadia.” Abby hoped her tone resonated with an air of conviction, but the truth was, she wasn’t sure about anything anymore. She had noticed something shift in Logan’s gaze over the last several days. His glances had become softer, and deeper, somehow, as though each one delivered more meaning than before.
The realization both thrilled and terrified her.
She never thought she’d want to be noticed—really seen—by another man again. In some ways, it felt like a betrayal to Donnie. And yet, there were times she forgot about everything else, fully present in the moment, too caught up to feel anything except… happy.
That’s what scared her the most. Those times were increasing in frequency and duration and she wasn’t sure they should.
“You’re talking yourself out of it,” Nadia said softly. “But I can see it written on your face, too. You care about him. As more than a friend.”
“I don’t know if I’m ready for more than that,” Abby confessed in a whisper. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready.”
“You will be. Someday. And if Logan is the man I think he is, he’ll wait.”
Abby watched as a young woman inched beside Logan at the firepit. She appeared to be making small talk while skewering a marshmallow.
Without really trying to size her up, Abby observed the woman’s warm, open smile and glossy blond hair tucked beneath a white knit cap. She possessed a sweet, effortless appeal—a universal kind of pretty surely any man would notice. Any man except Logan. He seemed oblivious to the woman’s flirtatious overtures.
Despite the walls he’d built around himself, Logan Mathews was a catch. And she wasn’t the only woman to make the observation.
If he’d really started to fall for her, was it fair to him?
What possible future could they have?
She’d be leaving soon.
And her heart still belonged to someone else.
Logan scanned the crowded beach for Abby. She’d been standing with Nadia nearby a few minutes ago, but both women had disappeared.
The stranger next to him tried to make casual chitchat, but he found it difficult to concentrate. Where had Abby gone?
“Mind if I squeeze in?” Nadia asked the woman with a friendly smile, appearing out of nowhere.
“Not at all. I just finished.” She handed Nadia her roasting skewer before heading toward her group of friends.
Nadia slid two marshmallows onto the fork prongs and held them over a clump of coals. “Abby went to get Max some hot chocolate. We heard the parade is starting soon.”
Logan smiled to himself. Of course Abby went to get Max hot chocolate. She was always thinking of him, often putting his needs above her own in a way she made look effortless, even enjoyable. Motherhood suited her.
“I have to say”—Nadia inched closer and lowered her voice—“it’s been great to see Abby with Max. She’s really come alive here. To be honest, I was starting to worry about her. But being in Blessings Bay, with you and Max, has reignited her fervor for life.”
Logan wasn’t sure how to respond to that, but if he got to be a part of bringing some joy back into Abby’s life, he’d count himself fortunate.
“I can’t believe I’m saying this,” Nadia continued, “but I’m starting to wonder if coming home is the best thing for her.”
His heartbeat stuttered, and he almost dropped his marshmallow onto the smoldering embers. He hadn’t dared to hope that Abby might stay, but he’d be lying if he said the thought hadn’t crossed his mind… more than once. “Do you think there’s a possibility she would stay?”
“Maybe. It depends. Obviously, your living situation is unconventional. I don’t think Abby would be comfortable with it long-term.”
“I’ve been thinking about that.”
“I had a feeling you might be.” Something in Nadia’s smile sent heat creeping up Logan’s neck. Was he that transparent? Or only to Nadia?
He cleared his throat, about to elaborate, then froze when Abby approached.
Her gaze darted between them as if she suspected they had been talking about her, but she didn’t press, turning her attention to Max. “Last s’more for you, mister. The parade is about to start.”
As if on cue, the guitar music faded into silence and a hush settled across the cove. People hastily finished their s’mores and turned their chairs toward the water.
Logan led the way toward their throw blanket situated beside Verna and Bing, who both sat on low-reclining beach chairs.
When Max sat down, the pup flopped off his cushy seat and nestled beside him, resting his oversize head on Max’s knee.
Logan smiled. It looked like Bing had found a new best friend.
At Verna’s suggestion, Nadia co-opted Bing’s vacated chair, leaving the remainder of the blanket for Logan and Abby. She tossed him a conspiratorial wink behind Abby’s back, and Logan grinned.
Although her mind-reading skills made him nervous, he liked Nadia. And as badly as he wanted Abby to stay, he knew she’d miss her friend. To his increasing surprise, he would, too.
“What kind of parade is it?” Max asked, happily accepting the cup of hot chocolate Abby passed him.
“A boat parade,” Verna explained. “It’s been an annual tradition since the town’s founding. Of course, the style of boats has changed over the years.”
“Do you think my dad will be in it?” Max asked hopefully.
Verna exchanged a sorrowful glance with Abby and Logan, and Logan’s heart twisted. Poor kid. How would they explain to him that his father wouldn’t be coming back? At least, he probably wouldn’t be. In actuality, they didn’t know much beyond the rumors. They’d scheduled an appointment with Clara after the holidays to find out more about the situation, but Logan had already braced himself for the difficult news—and the even more difficult task of sharing the news with Max. Although, he suspected Clara had already tried to tell Max more than once.
“Not tonight, dear,” Verna said gently, patting his hand.
Max’s lower lip protruded, and his brow furrowed with heartbreaking disappointment.
“This was a mistake,” Abby whispered for only Logan to hear, her tone laced with equal parts regret and concern. “Maybe we should take him home.”
As quickly as the shadow had overtaken Max’s features, it lifted, replaced by a confident smile. “That’s okay. He’ll be back soon, though.” He sipped his hot chocolate, seemingly content for the moment.
“He’ll be okay,” Logan whispered back, but even as he said the words, his stomach clenched.
Would he be okay? The kid needed concrete answers sooner rather than later.
And Logan wished he had them.
For Max and himself.