This trip was supposed to be about focusing on her dreams, her goals. Brenda had told Stella to imagine something she’d always wanted, and Boston was where Stella imagined herself. It seemed silly at the time, but at some point on the trip, Stella had become excited. She wanted to take a trip by herself, explore what a big city had to offer, and try to imagine what her life would look like moving forward.
Now, life had thrown another wrench in her plans.
Jace wasn’t a wrench. Not ever. Stella would go to her grave positive he was the best thing that ever happened to her. Still, life wasn’t easy as a single mom. It felt like she was constantly jumping hurdles no one else even had to think about. And now, the one time she tried to do something for herself, what did life give her? Another hurdle.
Stella couldn’t explain any of this to Sam. He might understand what it felt like to be knocked down again and again—he didn’t have any kids or anyone to look out for, but that didn’t mean he was immune to heartache—but she barely knew him. Dumping her life story on him and crying on his shoulder wouldn’t make her feel any better. It would make her feel pathetic and pitiable. Stella had spent too many years fighting against those things to give into them now.
She lifted her chin and took a steadying breath. “How long do you need to get the part? Is there any way it can be done in a day?”
Sam chewed on his lower lip and bobbed his head back and forth while he considered. “I can try.”
“Good. One day won’t derail my plans too much.” She could still get to Boston by tomorrow night if she was efficient, and then she’d have Sunday through next Saturday to do…whatever it was she was going to do in Boston before she had to get back home and back to work. That left plenty of time for a personal revelation and a vacation Brenda would be proud of. For now, she just needed to figure out where she was going to sleep.
A door banged open in the back of the shop. “Fancy seeing you again, Mrs. Pierce.”
Stella spun around to see Drew Baldwin strutting towards her.
“Glad to see you got my message, Sam. I came by to make sure Mrs. Pierce wasn’t still stranded on that road.”
“It’s Ms. Pierce. And Sam came to my rescue,” Stella said. “As did you, Drew. Thank you.”
He feigned embarrassment and waved away her gratitude. “I also came back to see if you had a place to stay for the night.”
Stella felt her entire body blush with a deep, searing awkwardness. Was he asking her to stay at his house? Surely, he had to know she wouldn’t accept. She wouldn’t even take a ride into town from him, so this was out of the question.
Stella opened her mouth to try and politely explain that she’d rather go back and sleep on the side of the road, but before she could, Sam chuckled behind her. “Drew’s family runs an inn up the road.”
“Oh yeah. Sorry. I should have led with that.” Drew’s face seemed suddenly more flushed, though he hid it well with a big grin. “The Willow Beach Inn is the premier lodging option for the weary traveler in all of Willow Beach. My mom runs the place, and she makes a mean breakfast. You have to try it.”
Stella had always been leery of inns or bed-and-breakfasts. She preferred the standard, repeated experience of chain hotels where she knew exactly what to expect and there was a corporate structure holding the managers and employees accountable. A family business didn’t offer the same system of checks and balances. However, Stella had a feeling the woman responsible for raising a young man as kind and compassionate as Drew Baldwin was sure to be trustworthy.
“Well, if I have to try it…”
“You do.” Drew grinned. “Have I earned your trust enough to give you a ride, or should I call the only ride-share driver in town to come pick you up?”
She smiled shyly. “Trust is a strong word, but I’ll accept a ride.”
4
Sam’s shop was close to the highway, so Stella hadn’t gotten to see much of the town beyond the dated “Welcome to Willow Beach” sign posted in the grass next to the ditch before he pulled into the dirt lot behind his shop. On the way to the Willow Beach Inn, however, Drew drove down Main Street and pointed out places as they passed.
He had the same warm tone in his voice as Sam did while talking about the town, and now that she had seen it, Stella could understand why. It was like a made-for-TV movie set. The storefronts were painted in pastels with wide windows and cute vinyl decals differentiating a furniture store from the coffee shop next door, The Roast. According to Drew, Vivienne Russell ran the coffee shop, and Stella absolutely had to try her brown sugar honey latte before she left.
“My mom makes the fluffiest scrambled eggs and crispiest bacon you’ve ever had, but her coffee is like jet fuel. She likes it strong and won’t be persuaded otherwise.”
“I’ll remember that in the morning.”
“Forget at your own peril.” Drew wagged his dark eyebrows in cheerful warning.
“Thanks for coming back to check on me.”
“I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t,” he said. “If anything, you should be mad at me for waiting so long to make sure Sam got my message. He’s a reliable guy, so I didn’t have big doubts, but still.”
“How long have you worked for him? You must be close if you can check up on your boss.” Stella tried to imagine what Mark would do if she ever made it seem like she was checking up on him, but
