Page 7 of Meet Me on Blueberry Hill

“I just did.” He strode out of the stable.

She hurried after him. “Whatever. There’s also a tree across Gran’s back patio. It came from this property. You’ll need to get it removed.”

He started for the yard, then faced her. “Are you always this bossy?”

She swallowed the words blistering her tongue. “Would you please get your horse and remove the tree?”

He snapped a salute that would’ve made her father proud. “Ma’am, yes, ma’am.”

Rolling her eyes, she jammed her sunglasses back on her face and headed back to Gran’s.

Jerk.

What did Gran see in him?

Wasn’t Sadie’s problem. She didn’t do mysterious. Since Asher had it practically tattooed on his skin, she planned to stay as far away as possible.

She’d been gullible once, and that was enough for a lifetime.

Trudging into the house, Sadie headed down the hall to her grandma’s room. She heard talking and paused. Something in Gran’s tone kept Sadie from returning to the kitchen and giving her privacy.

“Thank you, Mia. I’ll have to think about it, then let you know what I decide.” Gran let out a sigh.

Sadie knocked on the doorframe and stepped into the room. “Everything okay?”

Chin trembling, Gran fingered the quilt, then looked at Sadie with watery eyes. She waved a hand over the room. “The cottage needs some work if I’m going to stay here. Aging in place, I think your father called it during our phone conversation last week. My only option is to sell the bakery, so I contacted Mia Franklin. She called with the appraisal, but it’s much lower than I expected. Maybe it’s time to sell this place too and move into an apartment complex off island.”

Sadie moved into the room and sat on the edge of the bed. “Gran, no. You love this place. It’s been your home for decades. You can’t leave the island. What would you do without your daily visits with Doris and Annabelle?”

“I don’t want to leave, love.” She waved a hand over her room. “The cottage needs a new roof, new windows…It’s too much for one person, especially on a limited income. And the bakery’s just sitting there. Seb Jonathon offered to buy it after Gramps passed away, but I couldn’t part with it, sentimental fool that I was. With your father stationed in Hawaii, he’s not going to want it.” She shook her head. “I don’t know what to do.”

Sadie leaned forward and gathered her in her arms. “Don’t make a rash decision based on how you’re feeling right now. After Dani and Lily stop by, I’ll call Mia and talk to her about the appraisal. We’ll figure it out.”

“Promise me one thing, love?”

“Anything, Gran.”

“Don’t tell your parents about me needing to sell the bakery. I’ll tell them when I’m ready. Your dad’s already questioning my decision to stay here. I don’t want to give him more ammo to ship me off to a retirement home.”

Sadie hated secrets, especially keeping things from her parents, but she also didn’t want Gran to worry needlessly. “I won’t say anything, Gran, but you know Dad would never do that. He’s just concerned, especially after your recent fall. With them being in Hawaii, it’s challenging for him to be here when you need him. I think that’s what’s bothering him more than anything—they aren’t here for you.”

Having lived around the world as an Air Force brat, Sadie always found security in her grandparents’ home on Jonathon Island, and she’d do whatever she could to keep Gran in the cottage she loved so much. Even if it meant paying for the repairs herself.

But that meant taking on more SEO remote work until she could find a better job.

She’d do it for Gran. She’d been so supportive after Sadie’s life had fallen apart and she’d spent the last six months treading water.

She’d figure it out.

Somehow.

Chapter Two

Sadie wanted to say yes and help her friends. So what was holding her back?

She refilled Dani’s and Lily’s cups and then her own with coffee from the small pot she’d made before her friends arrived. “I’ll be honest, Dani, I didn’t expect this.”

Dani Sullivan, her friend on the island since they were kids, tossed her long blonde ponytail over her shoulder, tapped the screen on her iPad, and handed the tablet to Sadie. “I know it’s a big ask, especially since you just arrived and you’re caring for your grandma. Even though we just celebrated the arts-and-crafts festival over Labor Day weekend, Liam and I came up with the idea of an end-of-summer music festival, and your name popped into my head. Since we started the season late, we’re ending a little later than usual. Problem is, with everything else on my plate, I don’t have a lot of extra time for marketing and advertising.”

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