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“Don’t they travel during the winter months?”

“Sometimes. Winters are pretty cold on the island. And quiet, as you saw. When the season wraps up, there will be about five hundred of us who remain year-round.” She gave him a pointed look. “You’ve been a godsend to them.”

Oh, if she only knew how much literal grief he’d actually caused them.

“What do you remember of my grandfather’s touring company?” Maybe a change in topic would ease the burning in his chest.

“Oh, quite a bit, actually. Walt and Alice used to dress up in these wonderful Edwardian era costumes and give fascinating historical tours of the island. Your grandfather drove Hank and me around the island on our wedding day. I was new to the island, and the narrated tour helped me to love it even more. A lot of history here, you know.”

Asher dug his putty knife into the container of filler and spread it across the holes. “You wouldn’t happen to have any pictures, would you?”

“Oh, my lands, yes! Of course I do.” She pointed to the closet area. “Grab that faded floral box off the top shelf, would ya?”

Asher did as instructed, then carried it to her.

Hetty removed the lid and lifted out a worn, black photo album with a tied binding and paper pages. “Hank’s parents gave us this album as a wedding present. I keep it in the box to protect it. Sadie and her sister Lauren used to lay on my bed and turn each page so carefully. Sadie said she wanted to wear my wedding dress someday and have a carriage ride like Gramps and mine. I’m sure she’s grown out of her silly ideas by now.”

“I don’t think they’re silly.”

Hetty eyed him. “That’s because you’re a romantic.”

Romantic?

He raised an eyebrow. No one had called him that before.

The word rolled around in his head as he turned the brittle pages aged by time. A young Hetty, who looked so much like Sadie, wore a white lacy dress that showed off her slender neck. Sleeves came to her wrists as a full skirt took up much of the black leather carriage bench. A short veil sat on her dark hair. Next to her, a slimmer Hank than Asher remembered from his childhood visits to the island wore a black suit with a skinnyblack tie. His short hair had been slicked back, and he had nothing but love in his eyes for his new bride.

“You guys looked great.”

Hetty ran her finger over the picture. “Hank was my everything.” She looked at him and blinked rapidly a few times. “Falling in love means giving pieces of your heart away. When those you love leave you, then those pieces of your heart are gone forever. I miss him daily, but I’m glad he didn’t suffer.”

“What happened? How did he die?”

“A heart attack. At work. Went into the bakery at four in the morning like he did six days a week. When I arrived an hour later, he was on the floor next to the mixer, an open bag of flour spilled all around him. I hold on to the peace that he went quickly and didn’t suffer.”

Asher took her wrinkled hand in his and gave it a squeeze. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

“We’ll all leave this world someday. And time on this earth is temporary. I’ll see my Hank again in Heaven where we’ll be together for eternity.” Sniffing, she covered his hand with her other one and gave it a pat. “Do you have pictures of the carriage?”

“It’s not finished yet. I need to replace the top.” Asher pulled his hand away from hers, then fished his phone out of his front pocket. He scrolled through his photos and found the images he’d sent his cousin for her input. He tapped on one and enlarged it, then turned the screen so Hetty could see his work.

She took the phone in both hands and brought it closer to her face. A smile drifted across her lips as she looked at him. “This is beautiful. You’re an excellent craftsman, Asher. Your grandfather would be so proud.”

Her words, spoken with sincerity, wove through him and filled in those empty spaces in his chest. “Thanks, Hetty. That means a lot.”

He’d stripped the old paint, repaired the wood, and reinforced the joints before adding a coat of primer and an oil-based paint to help the carriage endure the weather better.

Hetty returned his phone to him, and he set it on the edge of her bed. She reached for her walker and pulled herself out of her chair. Her face twisted as she got her balance. “I’ll be so glad when I’m done with this old thing.”

“It’s to help you. Remember that.”

“It reminds me just how old I’m getting.”

“But you’re not losing your spunk.”

“You’re right, kiddo. We all need spunk, don’t we?” She flashed him a smile and winked as she shuffled toward the door.

As Hetty moved out of her bedroom, Asher filled in the rest of the holes. He’d hoped to be done already, but taking the time to talk with Hetty seemed like a higher priority. He snapped the lid on the small tub of wood filler, tossed it in his tool bag, then tucked everything inside her closet.