A love that glows bright

Nora is desperate to find a firewood delivery service for her new hearth, when a secret admirer answers the call and lights a spark in her heart

- Marti Attoun

Check the bulletin board, Nora,” Shirley said while setting a steaming cup of coffee in front of me at the Crestwood Café. One of the regulars has firewood for sale.”

I headed to the big bulletin board near the front door. It was akin to a neighborhood newspaper and, other than Shirley herself, had become my best friend since buying my fixer-upper” cottage.

The house had been my first solo decision after my 20-year marriage ended. I'd like to brag that it was a careful, deliberate process, but in truth, I’ve spent more time shopping for shampoo. The second I saw the charming stone fireplace, I was sold. So what if it needed a little updating? So did I.

“When I looked into his merry eyes, my breath caught”

But now, my firewood was dwindling and I'd told Shirley that I was having trouble finding someone who delivered. She’d recommended a reliable plumber and someone to fix my crumbling front stoop. Now, Shirley to the rescue again.

The note said a man named Franklin had seasoned firewood for sale. I grabbed a napkin to jot down the number.