He lost hope. She gave him her hand. Nathanial Caswell lives by rules now—no risks, no attachments, no love. After heartbreak left him hollow, he's tucked himself into a life where joy feels like a distant memory. But during his brother's wedding, a woman with bare feet and eyes full of quiet determination offers something he never expected. Not pity. Not romance. Just friendship. Just someone willing to stand beside him until he can stand on his own.

She believes happiness is a choice—and hope is always worth the fight. Charlaine Palmer knows what grief feels like. She simply chose not to live in it. Her heart aches for Nathanial, not because he's broken—but because she sees who he could be if someone reminded him how to smile. And she's not afraid to try. One laugh, one walk through sun-drenched fields, one masquerade at a time.

Friendship was enough—until it grew into something stronger. As the days pass and defenses fall, Charlaine begins to wonder if the bond between them might be deeper than she imagined. But love, real love, asks for risk. For letting go. For the choice to live fully again, even when it hurts.

He's learning to breathe. She's teaching him to trust. And together, they begin again.

🐸 If you've ever needed someone to believe in you when you didn't—and longed for a friendship that could quietly grow into love... this story is yours.