Outside, Valerie climbed into a taxi she’d reserved—she didn’t want to wear out little Mikey, who was already fast asleep. The cab stopped at a charming house in Peoria, framed by blooming crabapple trees.
— Here’s your stop, the driver said, a young guy with a bright smile. — Easy now, don’t wake the kiddo. I’ll grab your bags.
Valerie nodded, grateful.
— Thank you so much.
He handed her a business card.
— Need a ride? Just call, I’ll zip right over! he said, then drove off.
A gray-haired man, steadying himself with a cane, hurried toward her. This had to be Helen’s friend.
— Valerie, welcome, darlin’! Come inside, you must be beat, he said, his voice full of warmth.
— A bit, yeah, she admitted.
— I’m Paul Harrison. My folks thought ‘Paul Harrison’ was a real knee-slapper, he said with a chuckle, his kindness wrapping her in comfort.
— Rest up tonight. Tomorrow, my sister Margaret’s stopping by. She worked in preschools forever, adores kids. She’ll watch Mikey while we get down to business.
Margaret Harrison was a treasure, just like Helen—soft-hearted but tough as steel. When she laid eyes on three-month-old Mikey, she beamed.
— Oh, what a cutie! We’re gonna be best pals, right?
Mikey gave a toothless grin, and Margaret gushed:
— Valerie, don’t stress. We’ll take walks, have snacks, and sort everything out!
Valerie smiled, overwhelmed by their care. These strangers were showering her with a warmth she hadn’t felt in years. Paul walked her through protecting her inheritance from Ethan, and the pieces started coming together.
Each morning, outside the Peoria house, Andrew, the taxi driver with the warm smile, waited to ferry Valerie to the quilt shop. He’d drop her off, swing by at night, and never asked for a dime. Valerie felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment. Paul, catching her discomfort, gave a sly grin.
— Oh, Valerie, you’ve gone and won Andrew’s heart!
Valerie blushed and brushed it off.
— Paul, don’t start making things up!
— He wasn’t always driving cabs, you know, Paul said. — He was an engineer at a factory till automation shut it down.
Valerie raised an eyebrow.
— How do you know all this?
— Peoria’s small. Word gets around. So, what do you think of him? Good guy, huh?
Valerie frowned, hiding a tiny smile.
— I’m not thinking about that. I’ve got a divorce to deal with and Ethan to face. That’s what matters.
Valerie hadn’t settled into the apartment Helen left her—she was too nervous Ethan might sniff something out. All her focus was on the quilt shop. The place was a whirlwind: the business was just taking off. Some of Helen’s money went to new threads, better sewing machines, and ads on Instagram and Etsy. Orders flooded in, and Peoria locals couldn’t stop talking about it.