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“I…uh.” The freckle-faced girl glanced at the woman standing next to her. She nodded. “It’s okay.”

“I was wondering if I could take a picture of you.”

“Take a picturewithyou.” The woman patted her arm. “This is my daughter, Ava. She’s a huge fan of yours. We heard youwere back on the island. Ava has been keeping an eye out for you.”

“I would be honored,” Harlow graciously replied.

Ava cautiously stepped close to Harlow’s scooter. “I’m sorry you got hurt,” she whispered.

“Thank you. I’ll be walking again soon.” Harlow placed a light hand around Ava’s shoulders, both smiling, while her mother snapped a picture with her cell phone.

“I’ve been praying for you every night before I go to bed,” Ava said. “Will you be staying on Mackinac Island for very long?”

“I have a new movie to film, so I’ll be leaving soon to work on location,” Harlow said.

“Good luck.”

“Thank you, Ava.” Harlow gave her a small wave goodbye and watched mother and daughter walk away.

She thought about Vic and glanced at her phone, checking to make sure she hadn’t missed his call. While she waited, she drafted a text and then promptly deleted it. Harlow didn’t want to bother him, especially if he was working for someone else.

The hair on the back of her neck prickled. She could sense someone watching her. Slowly lifting her head, Harlow’s eyes scanned the sidewalk, first to the left and then to the right, toward the community hall and fire department.

Sidestepping a couple heading in the opposite direction, a familiar figure, a man, strolled toward her, an unreadable look on his face.

Harlow’s heart skipped a beat. She cast a frantic look toward the post office’s front door. Still no sign of Aunt Birdie. She wasstuck…stuck on the sidewalk, forced to face one of the few people she had hoped to avoid.

Chapter 3

Caleb Jackson…hot, hunky and even more handsome than the day he’d broken her heart, sauntered over. “Hello, Harlow.”

“Hello.” She forced a smile.

“I meant to tell you the last time I ran into you, I’m sorry about your accident. I heard it was a bad one.”

“It was. I rolled my car and am lucky to be alive.”

“Is the mobility scooter a…” Caleb’s voice trailed off.

“Permanent? No. I have a physical therapist helping me get back on my feet.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” He nodded toward the post office. “Is your dad around? I want to remind him about the water department flushing out the fire hydrants in front of his place on Monday.”

“I’m waiting for Aunt Birdie. She’s inside.”

His eyes grew round as saucers. “Your Aunt Birdie is here?”

“Yep.” Harlow chuckled.

“How is your dad taking it? I mean, the last time I heard the two were barely talking.”

“Oh, they’re talking,” Harlow said. “Aunt Birdie bought an RV and is camping out by the bay.”

“So I guess they’ve mended their fences.”

“In a roundabout way. The sparks are still flying.” Harlow explained her aunt was helping with her care.

“I haven’t seen Aunt Birdie in ages. If it’s okay with you, I’ll hang around and say hi.”