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He lifted his hands and dropped them at his sides. “I promise you, I’m not hiding a wife.”

She twisted her face, giving him a look.

“Too soon?”

She held up her thumb and index finger about an inch apart. “Little bit. Besides, Dani said the same thing already.”

His eyes widened, and he swallowed. Hard. “You talked with Dani? About me?”

Sadie nodded. “But it didn’t do much good. She said your story wasn’t hers to tell. And reminded me again that I needed to talk to you. But I couldn’t do that since…”

“Since I ghosted you.”

“Yeah, something like that.”

“I’m sorry for not responding the past couple of days. Unfortunately, I ended up getting sick the night we were on the beach, and I wasn’t good company.”

“I’m sorry. Something you ate?”

He lifted a shoulder, trying to remain non-committal. “It was no excuse—I should’ve at least responded to your texts. I’m sorry.”

She shook her head. “It’s okay. I’m sorry you weren’t feeling well. I could’ve left some chicken soup for you or something.”

He shook his head. “You are truly remarkable, Sadie. You always think of others. On the way over here, I saw something in the window of Maritime Dreams and bought it for you. I planned to drop it off at the cottage after I was done replacing the window. But since you’re here…”

Asher headed to the front of the shop and reached for the small paper bag he’d set next to his toolbox. He hooked the twisted paper handle over the crook of his index finger and turned.

Sadie had followed him out of the kitchen.

He thrust it at her. “Here, I hope you like it.”

She frowned and took the bag. “Why’d you buy me something?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. Felt like it, I guess.”

She reached into the bag and pulled out an aqua-colored journal with words from Isaiah 43:2 embossed on the cover. She traced the letters as she read, “When you pass through the waters, I’ll be with you.” She looked at Asher, her eyes bright and expression soft. “Thank you, Asher. I love it. You remembered my love of journals.”

Heat warmed his neck. “I don’t forget things that matter. And you matter.” He took a step closer but didn’t reach for her. “You’ve got a gift, Sadie.”

She looked at him with an unreadable expression, a little mix of wonder and…fear? “You think so?”

“I’ve heard you sing.” He tapped his chest. “Your singing is real and powerful. Write your songs and sing without fear.”

Her fingers tightened around the gilded edges of the journal as she pressed it to her chest. “Easier said than done.”

“Open it.”

Doing as directed, Sadie opened the cover. Her fingers flew to her lips as she read the words he’d scrawled. “Courage means doing something even though you’re afraid. Be brave and write songs from your heart. The world needs to hear what you have to say.”

She looked at him with such gentleness in her eyes that his gut turned to mush. Then she pressed a hand to his cheek. “You have no idea what this gift means to me.”

“You’ve got this, Sadie. And you’re not alone. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”

She blinked several times and nodded. “After losing my sister, my desire to write songs died with her. I felt incomplete, you know. It was always our dream—I’d write, and she’d sing.”

“Don’t allow what happened in the past to keep you from moving forward. Honor your sister’s memory by continuing what you both desired.”

Asher longed to take her in his arms again, but the mention of her sister created an invisible boundary between them. Until he could follow through with his own words about being brave and confess who he was and his role in changing her family’s future, then he needed to put some distance between them.