Chapter 2

Two

Elena

“We’re here if you need anything, Ellie!”

I waved a quick hand at Misty, our receptionist, in response, hoping they couldn’t see how frazzled I was. “Please cancel all my appointments for the remainder of the day.”

My heart raced as I made a beeline for my car, and my hands shook as I fumbled in my bag, searching for my keys. “Come on,” I muttered, finally gripping them, and hurried to unlock the door.

Sliding into the driver’s seat, I jammed the key into the ignition, not even giving myself time to catch a breath. I just needed to get to Jake—everything else could wait. I turned the key, but all I got was a sputter, a pitiful stutter from the engine that sent a jolt of frustration through me.

“Of all days for this to happen,” I muttered through clenched teeth, twisting the key again. But the engine only groaned in protest before going silent, leaving me alone with nothing but the pounding of my heart. I tried once more, but it was no use. The car was as stubbornly silent as ever.

Another wave of panic hit me. I gripped the steering wheel, banging my fist against it, feeling my carefully held composure slip. Jake needed me, and I was stuck here, helpless.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself, and glanced around, desperate for a solution. Then I spotted him—Cory, just a few steps away, about to climb into his SUV. The last thing I wanted was to ask for help, especially from a stranger. But at this point, I didn’t have a choice.

Swallowing my pride, I rolled down my window and called out, “Cory! Could you… give me a hand here?”

He looked up, surprised, and then his expression softened as he took in my flustered state.

“What’s going on?” he asked, glancing at my car, his expression soft but steady.

I let out a frustrated sigh, motioning to the steering wheel. “It just… won’t start. I tried everything I could think of, but it’s dead.”

He gave a small nod, his eyes scanning the car like he could figure out the problem just by looking at it. “Mind if I give it a try?”

I handed him the keys, grateful but feeling a touch self-conscious. “Be my guest.”

He slid into the driver’s seat, his broad shoulders nearly filling the space. As he turned the key, the engine stuttered once and went quiet, refusing to do anything more than that weak sputter I’d heard before.

“Looks like this car’s battery is dead,’ he said with a tight smile.

I couldn’t help but crack a tiny grin, appreciating his attempt to lighten the mood. “Dead battery… perfect,” I muttered, trying to keep the edge of panic out of my voice.

Cory’s gaze met mine. “I can give you a lift if you want. Sounds like you need to get to the hospital more than you need to deal with this.”

I hesitated, glancing back at my car, half-expecting it to spring to life out of sheer willpower. The last thing I wanted was to rely on someone else, especially someone I’d just met. But Jake was waiting, and I didn’t have the luxury of being picky.

“Are you sure? I mean, I don’t want to pull you out of your day?—”

“Ellie,” he interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument. “You need to be with your son. Let me help.”

I nodded, letting out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. “All right. Thank you.” As he opened the passenger door, I slid in, still feeling slightly out of my element.

As we pulled out of the parking lot, I couldn’t help but steal a quick glance at him. There was something familiar about the way he moved and the quiet confidence with which he carried himself. I’d felt it ever since he walked into Reflections , a strange déjà vu that I kept brushing off. He looked a little like my high school boyfriend, CJ—but that didn’t make sense.

CJ had been wiry and boyish, and this man’s build looked like it could hold up half the town if he wanted. His face, though, had a familiar ruggedness, now lined with a few extra years and experience.

I shook my head, dismissing the thought. Cory was probably just one of those faces that reminded you of someone else—especially in a town as small as Cedar Cove, where familiarity was part of the territory.

Despite my worry for Jake, a small part of me felt the odd comfort of being in this man’s presence, even if he was practically a stranger.

“Thank you,” I managed, my voice a little shaky. “This… this means a lot.”

He nodded, glancing over at me with a calm expression. “Not a problem, Ellie. I’m just glad I could help.”

There was something reassuring in the way he said my name, a casual ease that made me want to believe everything would be okay. I looked out the window, trying to distract myself from the million worries racing through my head—how Jake was handling things, if he was scared if they’d need to do any procedures… but every question seemed to lead to another worry.

“Jake’s going to be fine,” Cory said, almost as if he’d read my mind.

I looked over at him, surprised. “How can you be so sure?”

He shrugged, his gaze fixed on the road ahead. “I’ve dealt with worse situations in my work. Kids are tougher than we think.”

I felt a small pang in my chest, both from the compliment and from the unexpected kindness in his tone. He barely knew me, and yet, there was a sincerity there, an understanding that felt… familiar. Almost too familiar.

“Thanks,” I murmured, not sure what else to say. I hadn’t let myself rely on anyone like this in a long time, and it felt strange to accept help so openly, especially from a man who still felt like a mystery.

As we turned onto the main road toward the hospital, I stole another glance at him, studying the line of his jaw and the quiet confidence in his profile. Something about him stirred a feeling I hadn’t expected. It was like a dream or something from the past, a memory that hovered just out of reach.

After a few moments, he glanced over, a hint of curiosity in his expression. “Are you a single mom?”

I nodded, feeling a familiar weight settle over me, a mix of pride and exhaustion. “Yeah, it’s just Jake and me.”

He didn’t say anything, just gave a small nod of understanding. There was no pity in his expression, no judgment—just acceptance. Somehow, that look made me feel seen in a way I hadn’t felt in a long time.

“Thank you,” I said again, turning to look at him. “For everything.”

He gave me a quick nod, his gaze softening. “Anytime, Ellie. Really.”

The automatic doors of the ER slid open as I hurried inside, my heart pounding. I scanned the signs to find the emergency room check-in. I barely heard Cory’s footsteps behind me, his steady presence trailing along as I reached the reception desk.

The nurse looked up, and I quickly called her by name. My hands trembled as I fished my ID out of my purse for proper verification. “Hello, Beth. My son, Jake, was brought in from Cedar Cove Elementary,” I said, my voice shaking slightly.

Beth took my ID, glancing between me and the computer screen as she typed. “Yes, Elena, let me just check here…” she said, her voice calm and professional.

Elena!

The name felt foreign to my ears. In my current circle, I was simply known as Ellie—a nickname that had become second nature among friends and clients alike.

Finally, the nurse looked up, giving me a reassuring nod. “Jake’s in Room 3, just down the hall. The doctor is with him now, but you can go in.”

“Thank you,” I breathed, already moving toward the hallway. Cory stayed a few steps behind me, his presence steady, somehow grounding, as if he knew that I needed to feel some support without a word spoken.

When I stepped into the room, I felt a rush of relief at the sight of Jake sitting up on the examination table, looking only mildly uncomfortable as he clutched his wrist. His face lit up when he saw me.

“Mom!” he called out, his voice full of relief and just a hint of embarrassment.

“Oh, Jake,” I whispered, rushing to his side and wrapping him in a careful hug. “What happened? What hurts?”

“It’s just my wrist, Mom,” he mumbled, shrugging. “The doctor said I’m okay. I fell playing ball.”

The doctor, who stood at the foot of the bed, gave me a reassuring smile. “Jake has a mild sprain, but thankfully, nothing’s broken. We’ll just wrap it up, and he should take it easy for a few days.”

I let out a shaky breath, my shoulders relaxing as relief washed over me. “Thank you, Doctor,” I said, my tone grateful.

As I took in the sight of Jake chatting easily with the doctor, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude—not just for Jake’s safety but for Cory’s unexpected support. Turning back toward the door, I caught his eye, giving him a small, appreciative smile.

He returned it with a simple nod, leaning casually against the doorway as if he belonged there.

Jake, ever the social butterfly, quickly took notice of Cory. “Who’s that?” he asked, grinning and nodding toward him.

“Oh,” I said, realizing I hadn’t introduced them. “This is Cory. He was kind enough to bring me here when our car wouldn’t start.”

“Hey, there.” Cory nodded.

“You look like you’d be good at baseball,” Jake blurted out, ever blunt. “Do you play?”

“Yep. I used to. Played a bit back in elementary school.”

Jake’s eyes lit up. “Cool! You should come to my game this Saturday. Mom says we’re getting better every week!”

Before I could interject, Cory met Jake’s hopeful gaze with a smile. “Sounds like a plan.”

I watched their easy exchange, something warm and unsettling blooming in my chest. At first, Cory’s tone was a bit gruff, like he was just humoring a kid, but Jake seemed to break right through that with his bright, curious questions. The way Cory responded to him, his tone shifting to a mix of serious and amused, seemed… familiar. It was like watching an old friend interact with my son—comfortable and natural.

As Jake chatted away, asking Cory everything from his favorite team to whether he could throw a curveball, I caught myself studying Cory’s face again, still trying to piece together why he felt so familiar. Still, the longer I looked at him, the more that feeling of déjà vu settled over me like I was trying to recognize someone from a half-forgotten dream. I couldn’t shake the thought that I knew him, but the details didn’t align. Cory had the kind of presence that felt… important as if he were somehow meant to be here in this moment with Jake and me.

I pushed the thought aside, turning back to Jake as he continued chatting away. It was stress, I told myself, just the mix of relief and gratitude messing with my head. There was no reason to believe I knew him from anywhere beyond the walls of the salon.

But as we left the hospital, the reality of my car situation sank in again. Cory seemed to read the hesitation in my step, his keys already in hand.

“I can drive you both home,” he offered, his tone casual but leaving little room for argument.

I glanced at Jake, who was looking up at Cory with something close to hero worship. I knew I didn’t have a choice, not without a working car. “Thank you,” I said, trying to keep the gratitude from spilling over. “I’ll call the mechanic once we get back.”

“Great idea,” he replied with a nod, leading us to his SUV.

The drive home was short, and the quiet felt easy rather than awkward. I stared out the window, watching the scenery blur into twilight, while Jake dozed off in the backseat, his head lolling gently against the headrest.

When we pulled into my driveway, Cory parked and climbed out, coming around to help Jake. His movements were careful, almost instinctive, as he lifted my half-asleep son from the car.

As I unlocked the door and pushed it open, Cory gave Jake a soft smile. “Looking forward to seeing you play baseball real soon, Bud.”

Jake, still groggy but clearly pleased, managed a sleepy grin. “You’ll come?”

“I wouldn’t miss it,” Cory replied, his voice kind.

I thanked him as he stepped back toward his vehicle, his presence somehow grounding even as he prepared to leave. Watching him drive away, his taillights disappearing down the street, I felt a tug of something I couldn’t quite name.

Even after Cory drove away, the familiar aura he left behind lingered like the soft echo of a favorite song long after it stopped playing. There was an undeniable ease about him—a way he fit so effortlessly into Jake’s world and maybe into mine, too.

But as I closed the door and leaned against it, my thoughts drifted to my upcoming date with Luke. I’d been looking forward to it all week, eager for a distraction and the chance to feel something lighthearted again. Now, after seeing Cory with Jake, after the quiet moments we’d shared, my enthusiasm faltered.

Luke was charming, handsome, and everything I should want as a boyfriend. Yet, the flutter of excitement I’d felt the last few days had dulled, replaced by the quiet echo of Cory’s presence. No matter how much I tried to push those intrusive thoughts aside.