Summer Puckin'

<p><strong>A devastating phone call. A chance encounter.</strong></p><p><strong>A summer that changes everything...</strong></p><p></p><p>I planned to spend the summer searching for teaching jobs not becoming a nanny for a hockey-playing farm boy with two grieving little sisters and too much weight on his shoulders. But something about the Hamilton girls-and their brooding big brother-pulls at my heart.</p><p></p><p>Juggling sorrow guardianship and a struggling family farm Ezra barely keeps it together. He doesn't ask for help but I stay anyway almost challenging he let me help him.</p><p></p><p>As the summer days stretch longer laughter returns to the farmhouse. In a moment of shared vulnerability Ezra and I cross an invisible line. We agree it's only one night. Just to get it out of our systems. Pretending it didn't mean anything? That's the biggest lie of all.</p><p></p><p>Healing isn't neat or easy and the one thing I told myself I couldn't want is exactly what I can't walk away from...</p>