aubrey's world shattered the day she lost her sister, sienna. overwhelmed by grief-a shadow that lingered, haunting her every step. yet from that heartbreak, a tiny spark of home emerged-cal. the baby who enter her life as a reminder of what was lost-and what might still be possible.determined to escape the pain of their past, aubrey and her mother, rosa, leave their small town behind, seeking a fresh start far from memories that threaten to consume them. aubrey pours her heart into caring for cal, builds a thriving podcasting career, and begins to glimpse a light at the end of the tunnel.but everything shifts when an unexpected email threatens to unravel their carefully guarded world. long-buried secrets her mother had kept hidden start to surface, revealing truths that threaten her stability-and her bond with cal. faced with impossible decisions, aubrey searches for answers by seeking out cal's biological father, levi. what begins as a quest for clarity quickly ignites a quiet, undeniable connection between them-two hearts gradually drawn together amid chaos. as their relationship deepens and love takes root, rosa-who insists she has cal's best interests at heart-threatens to tear their fragile new family apart.can they stand united against the secrets and storms threatening to ruin them? or will everything they've fought to protect slip away just as hope begins to blossom?t.j. deal is a pacific northwest-based aspiring author who often daydreams about the incredible places she has traveled to around the world. thanks to her husband's unwavering support and her lifelong obsession with reading, she has decided to follow her passion for writing. her days are mostly spent drinking coffee, surviving the daily grind of motherhood, and capitalizing on any free moment to work on her latest novel.