Breanna stood alone beside a tree watching as the funeral services came to a close. She had arrived at the gravesite as Zachary’s coffin was removed from the hearse but chose to stay far enough away to avoid interacting with the Kendalls or the guests.

She could see Nicolas and Annmarie in the front row, sitting beneath the canopy set in place for the family. Phillip was there, his leg in the cast she had seen the day before. He held his head down and she thought she could see his shoulders shaking with sobs. She knew the boys were close – of course, they were, they were twins – but she could never remember ever seeing the man cry.

It was strange to think of how much Zachary had lost and how much he was loved. If it hadn’t been for her leaving, things may have been different for him. Perhaps if she was still in California, he wouldn’t have found it so difficult to move on with his life.

Breanna drew a deep breath and wiped the tears away with the back of her hand. It had been a rough night, as she tossed and turned in the rented bed. After talking with Isaac and her father, learning that her son was put on medication for an ear infection, she took a hot bath and went to bed. She spent the first few hours crying, though she assured herself the tears were for the man she used to know, not the man she married.

Now, with bloodshot eyes and a headache that promised another restless night, Breanna turned and walked away. She didn’t want the mourners to see her, and she was anxious to go home. She had traded her ticket in for an earlier one, then packed her bags and paid for the hotel room.

As promised, the money her husband had left her had been deposited into her account yesterday and became available that morning. As soon as the bank’s manager had learned of the large deposit, she started receiving phone calls from him. She was offered financial advice, investment suggestions, and even offers for real estate opportunities.

Breanna called her father and told him about the money, then suggested they purchase the store next to theirs as they had planned. She was anxious to get on with her life, and the best way she knew how, was to invest in her own future. If the store was successful, she would be providing for Isaac’s future as well and giving him a stable job for when he was older.

She unlocked the car door and sat down, happy that she was far enough away from the rest of the cars that she wouldn’t get blocked in by one of her in-laws. She sat behind the wheel as she watched the guests slowly walk back to their own vehicles.

Annmarie’s chauffeur-driven limousine sat off to the side, waiting for Nicolas and his wife to climb in. Phillip hobbled awkwardly beside his father, his arm around his mother’s shoulders. Jasmin was off to the side away from the Kendalls and Breanna frowned. She thought she was still dating Phillip, but from the looks of it, she was no longer a part of his life.

Starting the car, Breanna glanced at the clock on the dashboard. She had just enough time to make it back to the airport and return the car before having to check-in. She had called Jasmin the night before and told her she was leaving earlier than she expected. She allowed her friend to believe the plane was leaving last night, so she wouldn’t have to concern herself in meeting with her for supper. Jasmin was disappointed and said the Kendalls wanted to see her, but she told her she had a young man waiting for her back home, and she had been away long enough.

Breanna left the funeral before the mourners noticed her presence, then drove straight to the airport. She was looking forward to going home and was anxious to put all of this behind her. She only hoped the flight home would be uneventful and quick.

The days passed by in a flurry of activity. The holidays were quickly approaching, and the weather had changed much quicker than Breanna would have preferred. The warm summer days had given way to the cool of autumn, and everyone was forced to pull out their long-sleeved shirts and sweaters.

With her father’s help, she secured the title of the shop next door to theirs and immediately busted through the wall. The floors had been stripped from the former restaurant’s vinyl, then redone with a soft grey carpet and hardwood to match those of the old store. The outside brick walls had been refinished and the shelves were currently being installed. Breanna purchased an additional seven hundred titles and decided to enlarge the coffeeshop. There were plans for adding ovens for pizza and sandwiches while increasing the seating capacity from twenty to fifty.

With the increased titles and eating areas, there was a need for a larger reading room and children’s area. Along with the shelves, Breanna planned on adding an indoor playroom, so parents could enjoy shopping while children burn off some of their energy.

The electricians were busy rewiring the new section while aggravating Molly on the old side. Every time they had to reset the breakers, it knocked out the power in her cash register, forcing her to reboot it. Breanna was certain, by the time they were finished, she would owe the woman a vacation.

With Jasmin’s help, as well as the report from the private investigator the Kendalls hired, Breanna’s hiding place was no longer safe. She received several texts from Zachary’s parents but chose to ignore them. She wasn’t ready to face all of that again. Fortunately, her father’s house was secure and hidden and she had at least one spot where she could curl up with a good book without being disturbed. Unfortunately, news of her inheritance had begun to spread among the town, thanks to the bank manager, and she had people calling, offering her advice on how to invest her money, or asking for a loan.

Isaac’s birthday was quickly approaching, and Breanna still wasn’t sure what to do for him. She wanted his fourth birthday to be special, but she didn’t want to hire a pony or a clown. That was his second and third parties.

Floyd sat on the sofa watching the news as Breanna held Isaac on her lap. The little boy’s ear infection had returned, and he was once again cranky and unable to sleep. The doctor was discussing placing tubes in his ears if they couldn’t get the infections to stop, but since the weather had changed, so had his illnesses. This time around, her son had developed strep throat to make the ears feel even worse.

“I want to do something special for Isaac’s birthday next month,” Breanna said in a soft voice, so she wouldn’t disturb her son’s restful slumber.

“He’s been through a lot this year, and I want him to remember this birthday above all the others.”

“Ida was telling us that the zoo holds special safaris for kids for their birthdays,” Floyd told her, his tone soft and quiet as he turned the noise of the television down. “I know he loves to visit the elephants and tigers, and I think he would enjoy spending the day trekking the animals.”

“That’s a great idea. We can invite his little friends up the block and from school, and we’ll make a whole day of it. I’ll check into it tomorrow.”

“What are you going to do about his ears?” Floyd asked a few minutes later, once the weather had ended.

“We need to take him back to the doctor Thursday, and we’ll discuss it then. I’m worried more about his throat than his ears. Raquel said her little sister had fifteen bouts of strep throat before the doctors finally took her tonsils out. Since then, she’s been fine.”

“At least the little guy bounces back quickly,” Floyd said, glancing at the dog who yawned and rolled over to his back. “The hard part is keeping him inside once the fever breaks.”

“Maybe we should think about setting up a playroom for him. I’m not much on sewing and the room Mom used is empty. It’s just down the hall from his own bedroom, and it’s large enough to put in the trainset he loves so much. I think it may give you a chance for some quiet time as well. He can go upstairs and read or play, and you can watch your news in silence.”

“It will take a bit of work, but I’m sure we can get rid of the table Susan had me install, but the shelves are secured to the walls and would be perfect for his toys and books.”

“Let’s start work once he’s feeling better. I know he wants to go skiing, but until we can get his ears under control, I’d rather limit his time in the cold air.”

“Maybe we can keep him occupied by letting him help paint the walls,” Floyd suggested.

“I’ll do anything at this point. I’m tired of him getting these fevers every month. He can’t rest and we’re up walking the floors with him every night. It’s worse than when he was a baby and had colic.”

“Speaking of sleep,” Floyd began, switching off the television and standing up. “You need to get to bed. You’ve been up the past two nights.”

“His fever broke a few hours ago, so I think he’ll sleep more comfortably tonight. I’m going to keep him in my room, just in case he wakes up and wants me.”

Breanna stood up off the sofa and walked beside her father up the stairs. She enjoyed the content feeling of evenings in this large house. There was a calm feeling that surrounded her with love and peace. It was a sensation she would never grow tired of.

Floyd opened the door to her bedroom and helped her settle her son into the king-sized bed, then gave his daughter a hug and kiss on the cheek, before leaving her alone. He walked to his own room down the hall and closed the door behind him.

Life had become so much better since she came home. He had his family again, and he had a sense of purpose. Now, all they had to do was get Isaac feeling better, so he could enjoy his birthday.

The sound of the rain beat against the windows as the shop filled with the warm scent of stew. Raquel insisted on having hot soup for the customers, and the fragrance of the vegetables and meat made for a welcoming aroma.

Breanna walked through the new addition with the contractor, taking notes of the work that had been done. Within a few weeks, they’d be ready to place the books on the shelves and open the play area. The inspections had gone much better than she anticipated. The electricians were finished, which pleased Molly to no end, and the shelves had been secured to the walls. The furniture had been purchased and would be delivered the following week, along with the toys for the children’s room.

“I’m impressed,” she told Chase as they walked together up the three steps to the reading room. “I really didn’t think you could get this finished as quickly as you have.”

“There wasn’t much to do, more cosmetic repairs than anything,” he answered. “The bathroom you want to be added is going to take some time, though. We have to dig the sewer line and hook into the water main, but that shouldn’t take more than another week.”

“Can we start using the area before it’s finished, or do we have to wait?”

“Depends on how much noise your customers are willing to put up with,” the man said with a soft chuckle. “Once we’ve finished this side, I’ll show you the plans for the coffeeshop. I haven’t had much time to work on them, but I’ll get them ready for you in a few days.”

“That would be great. I know Raquel is anxious to start adding new menu items.”

Breanna smiled at him, then lowered her eyes when he winked at her. She had known Chase from when she was a child. They had gone to the first three years of elementary together before her mother moved her to California. Since that time, he had taken over his father’s construction company, married and divorced, and was looking at her as if she had a dessert menu around her neck.

“Well, we’ll have to see what happens in the next few weeks,” she told him, ignoring the strange tingle that erupted across her arms and legs.

“Listen,” he began, stopping her from walking away, with a warm hand on her elbow. “The high school is putting on a production of Beauty and The Beast this Friday. My kid sister is in it and I promised to be there. I was wondering if you would like to join me. We can grab a bite to eat after the performance, and I’ll bring you home right afterward.”

“I’m not sure if I can,” she told him honestly. “Isaac has been sick, and I’m not comfortable leaving him with my dad. I know they’ll do fine, but he’s my responsibility, and I need to be with him.”

“Even a workaholic-mother needs a night off for good behavior,” Chase chuckled. “You have my number. Think about it, and if you decide you can go, then give me a call. I’ll pick you up at six o’clock.”

“I’ll think about it, but no promises. Isaac comes first.”

The two walked back into the older section of the store as they continued to discuss the remodeling project. Breanna ignored the looks her crew gave them. Molly had already told her that Chase couldn’t take his eyes off her, and Mark suggested it was time to start dating again.

In a way, she agreed with them, but in her heart, she felt the weight of being a widow. It had only been a month since she traveled across the country to see her husband buried. Combined with the memory of what her first sexual encounter had been like, the last thing she wanted was to become involved with another man. Even one as handsome as the muscular, dark-haired construction worker.

Breanna parted with Chase, promising to call him if Isaac was well enough to be left with her father, then returned to her office where she collected the inventory list. She spent the next hour counting the schoolbags she had on display, along with the pencil boxes and notebooks.

The sound of the bell ringing as the front door opened, echoed through the nearly deserted store, but Breanna ignored it. It wasn’t unusual for a few customers to come in around lunchtime, especially since Raquel had started making real food.

“Hey, did you see the guy that just walked in?” Molly asked, adjusting her sweater across her torso.

“No, I was working, which is something you should probably be doing,” Breanna told her with an amused grin.

“You’re right. I should go see if I can help that gorgeous hunk find anything. Like my telephone number.”

Breanna chuckled as she watched the petite blonde walk away before turning back to her work. She finished counting the display of diaries and journals before going to the table with the discounted items. She was glad to see that the local kids were taking advantage of the lower prices and were eager to get rid of the rest of the backpacks. She had a shipment of Christmas gift bags on order and needed the space for them until the new addition was finished.

Taking her phone from her pocket, Breanna quickly searched the internet for local sales on backpacks and school supplies, then made note of how much she could reduce the prices and still stay comparable. She took the list with her and walked back to the coffee shop, eager to take a break. The aroma of the stew was making her hungry and she was ready to take a late lunch.

“I saw you talking with Chase,” Raquel said, handing a bowl of the fragrant food to her boss. “He’s really cute, and I think he likes you.”

“Well, he did ask me to the high school play this Friday,” Breanna said with a shy grin.

“That’s great. Are you going?”

“I’m not sure. Isaac has been sick, and we have to take him back to the doctor. Depending on what the doctor says, I may just take him up on the offer.”

“He is really cute, and he’s about your age I think.”

“He is my age. We went to grade school together.”

“There you go. Now there’s nothing to stop you from saying yes.”

“Except Isaac,” Breanna told her, then carried her bowl and coffee to the table in front of the window and sat down.

The afternoon was slowly drifting away, and a part of her wanted to leave and go home. The rain had kept the customers away, and there were very few people willing to shop. The only ones she knew were coming in, were the older customers who enjoyed the coffee shop and newspapers.

“Hey, Bree,” Molly said, joining her at the table. “That guy I was telling you about has been asking for you. He said he’s an old friend.”

“Did he give you a name?” she asked, setting her spoon on the saucer beneath the ceramic bowl.

“I think he said it was…” Molly paused and smiled, looking over Breanna’s head.

Without thinking, she turned around and nearly fell out of her seat. Standing a few feet behind her was the face that had haunted her every night for weeks, only it wasn’t really his.

“Phillip,” she said with a soft gasp.

“Hello Breanna,” he said, smiling seductively to her.

“I should probably get back to work,” Molly said with a wide smile to Phillip. “If you need any help, I’ll be at the register.”

“Thank you,” the man said with a soft grin, then looked down to Breanna. “May I join you?”

“Of course,” Breanna said, turning back to her stew, though she no longer felt hungry. “What are you doing here?”

“I was in the area on business and decided to stop by and say hello. It’s been a long time. You look great.”

“How’s the leg?” she asked, clearing her throat.

Any normal day she’d feel flattered that she had two men making eyes at her, but this had suddenly become anything but normal, and she wasn’t sure if she liked the eyes of the man across from her. They reminded her too much of her husband’s.

“It’s fine,” Phillip smiled. “Jasmin told us you were in town for the funeral. Why didn’t you come over? My parents would have loved to see you.”

“I…I wasn’t sure what to say.”

“We heard a rumor that you thought we were angry with you for leaving.”

“Jasmin is a wealth of information,” Breanna grumbled.

“Nobody blames you, Bree. Every time I think about what you must have gone through…I feel sick about it. We all do.”

Breanna didn’t say anything as she wrapped her hand around her coffee cup. She didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t even look at the man. It was like sitting across from Zachary, and she felt like crying. She hadn’t realized how much she missed him, how much she wanted to go back and change the past until he sat down.

“We saw Serena Hansen at the wake,” Phillip continued a moment later. “She told us you wanted to disclaim the will. Why?”

Breanna was silent for several moments as she tried to rein in her emotions. She felt guilty for using the money Zachary left her for the remodel, but her husband left such strange stipulations on how she could use it, that she didn’t have a choice but to accept it.

“I never married Zachary for his money,” she told him at last. “I know your parents thought I did, and there were a lot of our friends who felt I was only with him for what he could provide, but I really loved him.”

Breanna stood up from the table as the tears formed in her eyes. She had to get away from the man’s intent stare and try to focus on something other than those penetrating blue eyes.

Phillip followed her as she paced her way to the children’s area. He watched while she cleaned up the large plastic building blocks from the table and tossed them back into their bucket. She could feel his eyes on her, but with her back to him, she was afforded a few moments to collect herself.

“Bree, I’m sorry for what happened,” Phillip told her, taking the stack of books from her hands as she turned around. “If I could change the past, I would. We all feel the same way. He spent a long time mourning you, praying for a second chance. He loved you and he was lost without you. I don’t know what happened that night, but I’ve never known him to drink that much. He usually just passed out.”

“I guess he was never pushed to those limits before,” she told him, taking the books back and walking to the shelf where they belonged.

“I don’t want to dwell on the past, and that’s not why I came here. I told my folks I was going to see how you were doing. They were worried about you, and so was I. You look amazing, though. The years have been good to you.”

“Thanks. You look a bit thinner than I remember,” she told him, turning back but keeping distance between them.

“I was in the hospital for a couple of weeks, and I’ve had a lot of time to think. Losing those I loved the most, made me open my eyes to how I was living my life. I decided it was time to change before it was too late.”

“Is that why you’re not dating Jasmin anymore?”

“We were never really dating,” Phillip said with a soft frown. “She was…convenient, and I liked hanging out with her, but we were never serious. After the accident, I spent a lot of time thinking about what I wanted out of life. I told her I just wanted to be friends. She went off on a chocolate binge, but after a couple of days she realized we were never meant to be together.”

“So, who is the latest lady in the long line of conveniences?” Breanna asked with a wicked grin.

Phillip chuckled as he lowered his eyes. She knew he was far from being the innocent son, and he enjoyed spending his time with women. It was a subject she and Zachary had discussed more than once.

“The truth is, I’ve left that part of my life behind,” he told her. “I’m going to spend some time concentrating on my career and trying to make amends for my past.”

“I’m sure your parents will be relieved to know you’re not whoring around anymore, but I have to wonder if a leopard can change his spots.”

“Watch me, sweetheart,” he told her, moving so close to her, she could smell the aroma of his expensive aftershave. “I’m about to blow your mind.”

Without warning, he wrapped her in his embrace and lowered his lips to hers. Breanna’s hands went to his chest in the attempt to push him away, but the effort was weak and fleeting. The touch of his mouth against hers was like a breath of fresh air. She drank him in, breathed him in, and allowed him to invade her mouth with his tongue.

It didn’t take long for her to forget he was her late husband’s brother. His kiss seemed so familiar, his embrace warm and inviting, and before she knew it, she had her arms around his neck.

“Excuse me, boss,” Molly said, pulling them out of their momentary trance of euphoria.

Breanna pulled away from the man, her eyes wide with shock. She couldn’t believe she had just allowed him to kiss her, but to do it in the middle of the children’s section, in the middle of her own store, was unthinkable.

“I…I…can’t do this,” she whispered. “I’m sorry.”

Phillip and Molly watched as she pushed away from them and hurried to her office, tears streaming down her cheeks. The young blonde turned to the man and frowned.

“I guess you were closer than just friends,” she said in a concerned tone.

“We were much closer than friends,” he assured her, then smiled and walked back to the store’s entrance.

He nodded to the older man who stepped into the shop, struggling to control the little boy who pulled on his arm. Phillip looked behind him with a curious frown as the boy called out for his mother. It was like looking at a picture of himself or his brother at that age. Then he saw Molly come up and lift the boy, hugging him to her chest. For a moment he had to wonder how far beyond the past Breanna had stepped, but seeing Molly with the child assured him, she hadn’t gone that far.