ays passed in

Noah had been working on. But in Willow Creek, even trying to keep your distance felt like chasing yo

ready start

o older women whisperin

these years... a

ink it'

, didn't she?

whispe

ed compared to what r

served

deserved to

made th

-

next morning,

iving room, fixing her hair, second-guessing

ang, she nearly jum

or, carefully arranging a l

the door - and

rs stiff under a soft blue T-shirt. His hair was damp, like he'd

aid, a littl

ey

nt to c

ted - the

Noah stepped insid

twitched. "Ye

," Liam said brightly. "You wanna s

beside him slowl

hed, nerves tangled in her

d why broccoli was "probably the worst idea ever invented." He didn't flinch w

of how monumental the moment

he brought Noah a glass of iced tea, th

said softly,

say, so she nodded, re

as Liam climbed into his lap,

m. Just l

t, he's already

tiful. And

-

porch steps, watching Liam and Noah thro

rang out, full

d every time he caught the ball and tossed it back, som

got tired and ran

the porch, wiping sw

ing me come," he

"Thanks for

out over

amaz

e

quietly. "And I know that's on yo

throat thick. "I liv

ife, Amelia. Fully. Not just playdates.

. "And if he as

to tell hi

ered. "Just... let

ywhere," he said.

it - quiet but sure

-

estival opened its gates, just like it

surprise, he asked if "the nice ma

hesi

r space. Hadn't pushe

texte

e sai

-

lls of fried dough and kettle corn, children running between h

and as they met Noah

baseball cap, and a simple T-shirt

expression when he looked at

ther - three people who looked al

, proudly winning a neon green stuf

e than she had in

red a fu

ctures in the

faces the

ssed. Like there were no regrets, no secrets. Just sunshin

ion couldn't

er woman passed by and

Bennett. And Amelia Clarke, toget

stomach

jaw t

the woman cooed, peering at

tight smile. "Hi

tective hand ac

n, but the air arou

his town's like,

t her. "We'll

t something ins

ghts of the carousel lit the evenin

settling him onto a

ide them, arms f

," she sai

r w

oday. For being.

said, his eyes meeting hers

d, heart

I want

her for a mom

saw it - the old Noah, the boy

again, Liam shouted, "L

he

long, long time, Amelia felt

-