Chapter 14

The evening air was crisp as Harper parked her bicycle outside Owen's studio. The front door was still ajar, light spilling out onto the sidewalk.

The last few days had been difficult. She'd spoken to her granddad about the accident, and the good and not-so-good memories it had pushed to the surface. What she didn't expect were the sleepless nights and a heart that raced out of control when she least expected it. Or the memories of the people she'd looked after in New York, and the tragedy of the souls who'd never made it home.

Tonight, she'd needed to do something to make everything easier to bear. Taking a deep breath, she straightened her tracksuit and stepped inside the studio.

Owen was on the far side of the room, wiping down his workbench, his back to the door. The studio was filled with his latest creations, the vibrant hues of the glass sitting like rainbows of light on the wooden shelves.

Owen didn't realize she was there. She hesitated for a moment, watching him, admiring the way he'd found his way out of the horrible place PTSD had taken him.

"Hey," Harper called out softly, not wanting to startle him.

He turned, and his face lit up with a surprised smile. "It's good to see you. I was going to call you later."

She shuffled her feet, suddenly nervous. "I was wondering if you'd like to go for a run with me?"

His eyes narrowed slightly as he took in her appearance, the tracksuit, the sneakers, and then, the dark circles under her eyes.

Feeling self-conscious, Harper touched her face, realizing what he'd seen. "I'm a bit tired," she admitted, the words little more than a whisper.

Owen's expression softened. "I thought you didn't like running."

Harper stepped toward him. "I could ride my bicycle while you run."

"That sounds like a good compromise." He opened his arms and hugged her. "Are you still having nightmares?"

As she nodded, her cheek rubbed against his green sweater. "I woke Granddad last night. He thinks I should see Ethan."

"What do you think?"

Harper looked at Owen. "He's a great therapist, but I'd prefer to talk to Pastor John. I feel uncomfortable talking to Ethan now that I'm working at the clinic."

"I can understand that. And, to answer your question, a run sounds great. Give me a few minutes to change."

As Owen disappeared through a door, Harper wandered around the studio, taking in the projects in various stages of completion. She stopped when she saw some pretty glass bottles sitting on a table. Unlike Owen's other glass collections, these bottles were plain, transparent glass. Running her hand along the uneven sides, she wondered what they were for.

When Owen returned, dressed in his running gear, Harper felt a twinge of gratitude. He didn't press her about the sleepless nights or the unspoken worries that hung between them.

Instead, he offered her a gentle smile. "Ready?"

"I hope so."

On their way out of the studio, he turned the sign on the door to ‘Closed' and flicked off the light switches.

With her helmet securely fastened, Harper followed Owen through the streets of Sapphire Bay. Before long, they made it to a trail that wound around the edge of the lake.

The rhythmic sound of Owen's footsteps and the soft huff of his breath soothed Harper's mind. And, as they passed The Lakeside Inn, the tension unwound from her shoulders. This part of Flathead Lake was her favorite. With its wide stone shore and the pretty gardens of the properties overlooking the glistening water, there was always something different to see.

Owen glanced at her and smiled. "Tell me about your day."

Harper thought about the chaotic morning. "It was crazy busy. There's some kind of tummy bug going around town. Megan saved the day with a batch of fresh muffins. She'd heard about the accident and wanted to thank us for helping. Don't worry. I saved one for you, too. It's in my backpack."

"Is it chocolate chip?"

She grinned and shook her head. "It's apple and cinnamon with lemon frosting. But don't worry. It's delicious."

Owen pointed ahead. "Watch the log."

She veered to the right, then started pedaling again. "I still owe you some chocolate chip cookies. We could make them tonight after our run if you're free."

"I'd help you even if I had something else to do."

Harper laughed. "I hope I'm the reason and not the cookies." The wicked grin Owen sent her melted her heart. Anyone would think she was a lovestruck teenager with the way her pulse was pounding. "I'll take that as a yes."

"It'll always be a yes," Owen told her.

With a warm blush heating her cheeks, Harper rode through a pile of leaves scattered across the trail. Before she knew it, her days of riding around Sapphire Bay would be over until late spring.

But, for now, she was in her happy place.

They stayed on the trail, an easy silence making the journey even more special. At the halfway point, they stopped at a picnic area overlooking a view of the entire bay. Harper held her bike as she enjoyed the incredible scene below them.

Owen stood beside her. "The view never gets old," he said softly, his gaze on the horizon.

"No, it doesn't," Harper agreed, her voice barely above a whisper. She felt Owen's gaze on her, and she met his eyes, finding a concern there that mirrored how she felt.

"Are the nightmares about the accident or when you were at the hospital during COVID?" Owen asked.

The weight of the past few days pressed down on Harper. "They're about the hospital. I thought I'd be okay, but it brought back a lot of bad memories."

Owen reached out, his hand finding hers, and their fingers intertwining. "I'm here, Harper. Whatever you need."

Tears pricked at her eyes. The kindness in his voice brought everything rushing back. "I know," she said, squeezing his hand. "But it's hard not letting the past overshadow everything else."

Owen pulled her into a gentle embrace. "I know. I feel the same way, but we've got each other. We'll get through it together."

As they stood there, overlooking Sapphire Bay, a sense of peace settled over Harper. The fears and worries that had haunted her since the accident didn't disappear but, with Owen's arms wrapped around her, they felt less overwhelming.

"We should head back," Owen said, his tone reluctant.

She stepped away but kept hold of his hand. "Have I told you how amazing you are?"

"Not today, but I'm glad you think I'm amazing. You are, too."

With her lips brushing Owen's, Harper whispered the words she'd never told anyone. "I think I'm falling in love with you. And I'm not sure what to do about it."

Owen rested his forehead against hers. "You don't have to do anything about it. I love you, too. We can figure out the rest while we're eating chocolate chip cookies."

Harper laughed. "Trust you to think about your stomach. We'd better head home before you remember what's in my backpack." Before he moved, she jumped on her bicycle and pedaled away from the clearing. Her smile widened when she glanced over her shoulder.

Owen was standing with his hands on his hips, his expression happier than it had been in a long time—even though she had his yummy muffin in her backpack.

As Owenand Harper walked into her granddad's kitchen, Harper's face lit up with a warmth that filled the entire room. Benjamin, already bustling around with cookie ingredients, turned and smiled, his expression mirroring Harper's affection.

"Granddad, you started without us." Harper pretended to be disappointed, but she couldn't hide the smile creeping into her voice.

They'd called Benjamin on the way home to make sure he had all the ingredients they'd need to bake the cookies. He hadn't been kidding when he said he'd give them a hand. With the flour, sugar, chocolate chips, and lots of other ingredients on the counter, he was more organized than Owen thought he'd be.

Benjamin chuckled, a sound rich with fondness. "I had to make sure we had everything ready. Can't have you two complaining about my preparation skills, can we?"

Harper hugged her granddad. "As if we ever would," she said softly, pulling back to look at him with an expression full of love and respect. "You're the master chef around here."

Owen watched, feeling a deep appreciation for the scene unfolding before him. It was clear that Harper and her grandfather shared a special connection full of shared moments like these.

"All right," Benjamin said with a playful expression on his face. "Let's make these cookies the best Sapphire Bay has ever seen."

Harper and Owen washed their hands at the sink before joining Benjamin at the counter.

"What's first, Granddad?"

"As if you need to ask." Benjamin joked, offering her a small piece of chocolate from the bag meant for the cookies. "Quality control taste tester, of course."

Harper popped the chocolate into her mouth, her eyes closing momentarily as if savoring a fine wine. "Hmm. It passes the Harper quality check. We may proceed."

Owen laughed. It was great to see Harper in her element, her love for her grandfather shining through every word and gesture. As they moved through the steps of making the cookies, Harper often checked on Benjamin, making sure he had everything he needed and occasionally brushing his arm or shoulder in a quiet gesture of affection.

"So, Granddad," Harper said as she mixed the dough, "tell us about when you first learned to bake. Was Nana your teacher?"

Benjamin paused, a nostalgic glint in his eyes. "She was. Your grandmother had the patience of a saint, especially when I turned more than one recipe into charcoal."

Harper smiled and leaned into her grandfather. "I bet you were a quick learner, though. You've always been a great cook."

"As long as I had your Nana by my side, I could conquer any recipe," Benjamin said, his voice tender. He looked across at Owen. "Sprinkle the chocolate chips into the bowl, son. Try to spread them across the dough. It makes it easier for Harper to mix them evenly through the other ingredients."

Owen followed Benjamin's instructions, feeling privileged to witness the genuine affection between Harper and her granddad. From her light-hearted teasing to her attentive listening, moments like this were about more than baking cookies; they were about keeping alive the love and memories that tied Harper and her family together.

After Benjamin was happy with the amount of chocolate chips they'd added, Harper scooped the dough onto the counter, and Owen washed the bowls. While he was doing that, Harper told her granddad about their time on the trail. She painted such a vivid picture of the autumn leaves, the crisp air brushing against her skin, and the breathtaking view of the bay, that Owen could imagine himself right there with her again.

"It sounds like the fresh air was good for your soul," Benjamin said gently to Harper.

"It was, but spending time with Owen was better. He's a good influence on me."

The warm smile Benjamin sent Owen made him feel welcomed and deeply respected.

"I'm glad to hear that." As he pressed a cookie cutter into the flattened dough, Benjamin said, "Your grandmother and I had a simple philosophy about our marriage. We always kept the lines of communication open, no matter what."

Owen stole a glance at Harper. She was making sure the oven was at the right temperature but still listening to her granddad.

"I can't remember you ever disagreeing about anything," Harper told him.

"We had our fair share of disagreements," Benjamin replied. "It wasn't always easy, but loving someone means showing up for them, even when it's hard. And your grandmother was the kind of woman who made showing up easy." His voice held a hint of wistfulness as he spoke of his late wife.

Harper frowned as she picked up another cookie cutter. "Were my parents happy together?" she asked, with a vulnerability in her voice that made Owen want to reach out and comfort her.

Benjamin paused, a sadness drawing his brow into a frown before he answered. "Your parents had their struggles, like any couple. But they loved you deeply, Harper. Sometimes, love gets tangled up in the daily grind of life, but that doesn't mean it's not there."

Owen watched Harper absorb her grandfather's words, saw the way she was piecing together her own understanding of love and happiness. She didn't talk about her parents' relationship, and that was okay with him. But it was good to learn about her life after she'd left Sapphire Bay, the changes that had shaped the person she was today.

His respect for her deepened with each story they shared in Benjamin's kitchen. These moments weren't only about passing time or baking cookies; they were about weaving the fabric of their lives together, thread by thread.

As Owen placed the cut cookie dough onto the baking sheets, Benjamin told them more stories about his wife. Like her grandmother, Harper was kind and caring. She felt things deeply and held the people she loved close to her heart.

When Benjamin talked about what Harper had done last Christmas, her gaze found Owen's. He grinned when her eyes twinkled with mischief. She'd surprised Benjamin and her mom by arranging a secret visit from Santa, complete with personalized gifts and lots of laughter.

Benjamin ended his story and smiled at his granddaughter. "We'd better get these cookies into the oven. Wouldn't want to waste all this hard work."

As they busied themselves with the final preparations, Owen glanced at Harper. Whatever the future held, moments like this were as precious as the people whose lives had been touched by her love and kindness.