Chapter 3

Three

Cory

One Week Later

The Sunday drive into Beaver Creek felt like stepping back in time. The same old storefronts lined Main Street, the lampposts looking like they hadn’t been replaced in decades. In a way, it was comforting. The town didn’t pretend to be anything other than what it was. I was here to surprise Mom for her birthday, but part of me wondered if I was looking for something else. Maybe some grounding.

I parked outside Beaver Creek Hardware and took a moment to just sit there, watching a few locals stroll down the sidewalk. This town felt like a quiet stranger to the life I’d built in Dallas as if the Cory Harrison who’d grown up here and the one who ran a fortune now were two different people.

Prescott Harrison, my grandfather, had left his oil fortune to me instead of Dad, who’d never wanted anything to do with it. He was content running the hardware store and living a quiet life here. And maybe, some days, I wished I could be, too.

Stepping out of the car, I glanced up, hearing someone call my name.

“Well, if it isn’t Cory Harrison, back from the big city!”

Old Mr. Daly was sitting on a bench outside the diner. I waved my hand, managing a polite smile. “Good to see you, Mr. Daly,” I replied, shaking his hand.

“Thought you forgot about us,” he chuckled. “Don’t see you around these parts too often.”

“Life’s busy up there,” I said, shrugging it off, but his words hit harder than I let on. “But I come back when I can.”

He nodded, giving me a kind pat on the arm. “Your folks are good people, you know. Your dad, he’s got this town’s respect.”

I returned his nod, feeling the familiar mix of pride and guilt. Dad had made his choice to stay here and run the store. And I’d made mine to leave, though sometimes I wondered if I’d made the right one.

I headed into Beaver Creek Hardware, and the smell of wood, metal, and faint coffee filled the air, instantly transporting me back to a time when I’d helped out here as a kid. It was strange—this place was a living memory, and walking into it made me feel like a stranger in my own life.

Dad was at the counter, helping a customer with a new drill. When he saw me, he gave a familiar, gruff smile and crossed his arms with a hint of mock sternness.

“Look who decided to show up,” he said, shaking his head. “Didn’t expect you ‘til Christmas.”

“Surprise visit for Mom’s birthday,” I replied, going in for a quick hug.

He patted my back, chuckling. “She’ll like that. You know how she gets if you miss a birthday.”

“How about you? Still running this place like it’s the only hardware store in Texas?” I joked, glancing around.

He laughed, shaking his head. “Somebody has to. How’s life treating you in the big city?”

“About the same as the last time I saw you.” I shrugged, knowing he was teasing but still feeling the weight of it. There were always unspoken things between us—how I’d taken on the legacy my grandfather left while Dad had stayed here, building something steady and grounded. Occasionally, it felt like he saw me as the one who’d gone off course.

He leaned against the counter, his eyes holding that familiar glint of wisdom. “You know, not everything’s about building an empire. Sometimes, just being happy with what you’ve got is worth more than all that money.”

I nodded, but his words stirred up something unresolved. Dad was content here, and maybe he was right. But life had never felt that simple for me.

After a pause, I shifted the topic, clearing my throat. “Actually, I ran into someone in Cedar Cove last week—a woman named Ellie. Reminded me a bit of my old high school sweetheart.”

Dad raised an eyebrow, giving me a curious look. “Elena Mitchell, you mean?”

I nodded, surprised at how naturally the name rolled off his tongue. “Yeah, Elena.”

He gave a small nod, glancing away as if he were thinking over something. “I remember her. Ran into her a few months after you left. Looked like she was expecting.”

The words hit me, and a wave of disbelief tightened in my chest. Expecting? Elena? I fought to keep my reaction calm, but inside, my mind was racing, images of Jake flashing through my head.

I reasoned that it was probably just a coincidence—plenty of kids had sandy hair and an easy smile. It couldn’t be the same person. Ellie had the wrong name, and her features weren’t quite the same as Elena’s—it wasn’t just from aging.

“Didn’t know that,” I said finally, keeping my tone even. “Guess she had her reasons for moving.”

He shrugged, and we fell into a comfortable silence, talking instead about the store, the familiar customers, and anything to keep my mind from spiraling.

As I left, the thought kept gnawing at me. I’d come here to surprise my mom, but I was leaving the store with questions I hadn’t planned to ask. And a gnawing feeling that the past was closer than I wanted to admit.

I drove the short distance to my parents’ house, turning onto the familiar curved driveway. The place looked the same as always, a cozy ranch-style home surrounded by towering oaks and a garden that Mom tended to with almost obsessive dedication. It was the kind of place that always felt welcoming, even if I’d drifted away from it over the years.

As I parked and climbed out, I spotted Mom on the front porch, chatting with a couple of her friends from town. She noticed me almost immediately, her face lighting up with surprise.

“Cory!” she called out, hurrying over with a smile that made me feel ten years old again. “Well, this is a wonderful surprise!”

I hugged her, feeling the warmth and strength in her embrace. “Happy birthday, Mom.”

She stepped back, beaming. “This is the best surprise I could’ve asked for.” She turned to her friends, proudly introducing me like she always did, as though they hadn’t known me my whole life. They laughed, exchanging greetings, and I endured the usual barrage of questions about life in Dallas, my work, and whether I was planning to stay around long enough to visit again.

After they left, I handed her the birthday gift I’d brought—a framed piece of an old quilt my grandmother had made for her when she was a baby. I’d found it stored away in the attic the last time I was here, and my assistant had helped me get it framed.

“Oh, Cory…” Her voice softened as she traced a finger over the delicate stitching, a bittersweet smile on her face. “I haven’t seen this in years. It was my favorite blanket growing up.”

“I figured it deserved a better spot than gathering dust,” I said, watching her expression with a mix of pride and warmth. She looked so happy, and for a moment, I felt that elusive connection to this place, to family, to everything that had made me who I was today.

Mom placed the framed quilt carefully on the table. Her eyes were still fixed on it as if lost in memory. “Thank you, sweetheart. This… this means more than you know.”

We spent the afternoon catching up, discussing everything from family stories to events happening around town. She shared information about neighbors, church activities, and her plans for the garden next spring. It felt familiar and comforting.

However, as Mom talked, I found myself reflecting on Cedar Cove, the mysterious woman, and her son. The unsettling realization struck me that the past I thought I had left behind was much closer than I realized.

Later, after dinner, Dad and I cleared the dishes while Mom settled into her favorite chair in the living room, chatting happily on the phone with her sister. The house felt cozy, filled with the low hum of conversation and the familiar scent of home-cooked food lingering in the air. It reminded me of all the nights I’d spent here growing up, the unchanging rhythms that made life here seem so simple.

As we stacked the last of the dishes, Dad leaned against the counter, crossing his arms as he gave me a once-over. “You look like you’ve got something on your mind,” he said, his tone casual but knowing.

I shrugged, feeling a bit exposed under his gaze. “Just thinking.”

He raised an eyebrow, waiting like he always did when he knew I had more to say.

I hesitated, then gave in. “You ever think about what would’ve happened if you’d taken over Grandpa’s company?”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “Not for a second. I had all I wanted right here. Dad’s world… that was never for me.”

I nodded, feeling the familiar pang of conflict. “Sometimes I wonder if I’m doing what I’m supposed to with it. You know, with everything he left me.”

Dad studied me, his expression softening. “That fortune doesn’t have to define you, Cory. You can still find your own way with it. Money doesn’t change who you are—not if you don’t let it.”

I gave a small nod, appreciating the words but still feeling the weight of it all. “It’s just… sometimes it feels like I’m straddling two worlds. There’s Dallas, with all the business and board meetings, and then there’s this place where everything’s just… real.”

He gave a quiet laugh, his gaze steady. “There’s a difference between running after something and knowing where you belong. I chose this life because I knew what mattered to me. Maybe you haven’t figured that out yet.”

The words settled over me, familiar yet somehow hitting harder than usual. My life had been a constant hustle, building something that felt both monumental and empty at the same time. And now, after meeting Ellie and Jake, I couldn’t help but feel like there was a part of my life I’d left unfinished.

“By the way,” Dad said, as though it were an afterthought, “I didn’t tell you that I heard about that little rescue mission you went on in Cedar Cove. Driving that lady to the hospital? Your cousin Sandra saw you in the ER.”

I rolled my eyes, chuckling. “Word gets around fast here, doesn’t it?”

“It does,” Dad said, giving me a thoughtful look.

I shrugged, but the truth was harder to dodge in the dim light of the kitchen. “Yeah… I mean, her car broke down, and she needed to get to the hospital to see her son. I thought her resemblance to Elena was just a coincidence.”

Dad’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully, and I saw something shift in his expression. “Maybe it’s a coincidence,” he said, though his tone didn’t seem convinced. “But if it isn’t, you might have some catching up to do.”

I let out a breath, nodding. “Yeah. It’s… I don’t even know where to start. She might not even be the same person.”

He gave me a small smile, clapping me on the shoulder. “I suggest you check it out. Sometimes, you don’t get a second chance. But if you do, don’t waste it.”

As he headed to join Mom in the living room, I stood in the kitchen, his words lingering in the air. I thought about Elena. I had never found anyone else who made me feel the way she did, not even close. Yet, after returning from my time in the Marines, I hadn’t tried to find her. Perhaps I was afraid of what I might discover or worried that too much time had passed. So, I buried myself in work and tried to let her memory fade. But now, that old fear had been replaced by something stronger—something that told me I could no longer ignore that part of my past.

After a warm evening with my parents, it was time to leave. I hugged Mom goodbye and promised her I’d visit more often, though we both knew that was an easy promise to make and a hard one to keep.

“Take care of yourself,” she said, squeezing my arm, her eyes soft. “Thank you for the beautiful gift. And don’t be a stranger, son.”

“Promise, Mom.” I smiled, feeling the weight of the day settling into my bones, a strange mix of nostalgia and something that felt like longing.

Dad followed me out to the driveway and extended his hand. “Drive safe,” he said, adding, “Remember, Cory. Don’t waste a second chance.”

I waved one last time as I backed out, heading down the road toward Dallas for the start of the work week. The city lights and boardroom demands felt distant, overshadowed by a pull I couldn’t quite shake.

Cedar Cove lingered in my mind, especially thoughts of Elena—or Ellie—and the easy connection I’d felt with Jake. That small-town peace, however fleeting, was something I couldn’t ignore.

Before I knew it, I’d taken the turn back toward the cabin. Just one more night there, I told myself. Tomorrow, I’d swing by Reflections Salon to see Ellie again and maybe find out when Jake’s next game was before heading on to Dallas.