Sometimes the right person shows up at the worst time.
Falling in love isn’t on Lena Buckley’s to-do list. She’s lost her bakery, her marriage, and—after three years of caregiving—her mom. With grief worsening her anxiety disorder and her family home falling apart around her, all she wants is to start over—somewhere else. Stuck clearing out her parents’ farm for now, she clings to the mantra that helped while caring for her mom: make one thing better. By calming her anxiety and returning to what she loves—baking for others—Lena glimpses a second chance at the life she wants—if she can get it.
Ben Wright knows about second chances. A disabled veteran turned police officer, he’s fought his own battles and carries scars mostly hidden behind his tough-guy demeanor. He’s hard to read and not one for chitchat, but when fate brings them together, they connect over the one thing they share—brokenness. As the 2020 pandemic shuts the world down, love sneaks in through their unique but endearing friendship.
Lena knows falling in love is a bad idea—she’s better off alone. But Ben’s quiet understanding brings her the comfort she’s been missing. When everything unravels again and her anxiety takes hold, Lena faces a familiar struggle: will she trust in the woman she’s become—or let the past keep her from dreaming something better?
Falling in love is only the beginning.
Lena has everything she wants—a thriving business, Saddletree Farm and Bakery Café, a loving family, amazing friends, and her soulmate, Ben, whose unwavering support has made it all possible. But when an accident uncovers a hidden side of Ben, Lena is shocked to discover that she doesn’t know her husband as well as she thinks. How can she feel close to him when he keeps his past a mystery?
Ben adores Lena and everything they’ve built together, but their strong bond has faded behind daily pressures and changes he doesn’t want. His hearing loss is worsening, threatening his career in law enforcement and his battle with PTSD. Ben struggles in silence—that’s what he’s always done. But silence isn’t an asset in a marriage—it’s a curse. His past resurfaces, and his sense of self erodes, pushing him deeper into isolation. He fears the man Lena fell in love with no longer exists.
As Ben retreats deeper into his pain and Lena fights to understand him, they’re faced with a heartbreaking reality: sometimes, letting go is better than holding on.