Farm Cove Bliss

E.D. Hackett Farm Cove Bliss A Small Town Sweet Romance First published by E.D. Hackett 2023 Copyright © 2023 by E.D. Hackett All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission. This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental. Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book and on its cover are trade names, service marks, trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publishers and the book are not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. None of the companies referenced within the book have endorsed the book. First edition Cover art by Cover Design by Jillian Liota, Blue Moon Creative StudioEditing by Granite Editorial This book was professionally typeset on ReedsyFind out more at reedsy.com This story is dedicated to the Sizzle King. Without your imagination, my story wouldn’t be nearly this exciting. Contents AcknowledgementCHAPTER 1: CRYSTALCHAPTER 2: DEREKCHAPTER 3: CRYSTALCHAPTER 4: DEREKCHAPTER 5: CRYSTALCHAPTER 6: DEREKCHAPTER 7: CRYSTALCHAPTER 8: DEREKCHAPTER 9: CRYSTALCHAPTER 10: DEREKCHAPTER 11: CRYSTALCHAPTER 12: DEREKCHAPTER 13: CRYSTALCHAPTER 14: DEREKCHAPTER 15: CRYSTALCHAPTER 16: DEREKCHAPTER 17: CRYSTALCHAPTER 18: DEREKCHAPTER 19: CRYSTALCHAPTER 20: DEREKCHAPTER 21: CRYSTALCHAPTER 22: DEREKCHAPTER 23: CRYSTALCHAPTER 24: DEREKCHAPTER 25: CRYSTALCHAPTER 26: DEREKCHAPTER 27: CRYSTALCHAPTER 28: DEREKCHAPTER 29: CRYSTALCHAPTER 30: DEREKCHAPTER 31: CRYSTALCHAPTER 32: DEREKCHAPTER 33: CRYSTALCHAPTER 34: DEREKCHAPTER 35: CRYSTALCHAPTER 36: DEREKCHAPTER 37: CRYSTALCHAPTER 38: DEREKCHAPTER 39: CRYSTALCHAPTER 40: DEREKCHAPTER 41: CRYSTALCHAPTER 42: DEREKCHAPTER 43: CRYSTALCHAPTER 44: DEREKCHAPTER 45: CRYSTALCHAPTER 46: DEREKCHAPTER 47: CRYSTALCHAPTER 48: DEREKCHAPTER 49: CRYSTALCHAPTER 50: DEREKCHAPTER 51: CRYSTALCHAPTER 52: DEREKCHAPTER 53: CRYSTALAbout the AuthorAlso by E.D. Hackett Acknowledgement This novel would still be brewing in my mind if I hadn’t stumbled across Kindle Vella. With the help of my husband, we created an entertaining plotline that was fun, funny, and probably not nearly as spicy as he wanted. My family continues to be my top four cheerleaders. Without their constant interest, conversation, and support, this novel would sit in a drawer until the end of time. My critique partner, Gail, has become a good friend, and I rely on her for all book-related decisions. She continues to be my sounding board and has helped me fill in the holes and expand upon the drama. With her suggestions, I created two flawed individuals who needed each other’s strengths to fulfill their wants and needs. I know you will love them just as much as I do. Thank you to my editor Nicky, from Granite Editorial, and my cover designer Jillian Liota, from Blue Moon Creative. This novel has turned out better than I could have imagined. It takes a village to write and publish a novel. I am proud of Farm Cove Bliss, my first romance novel, and I hope you enjoy it too. Keep Reading, Edy. CHAPTER 1: CRYSTAL “Ms. Whitman?” an unfamiliar, deep voice said through the phone. “Yes, this is Crystal,” Crystal said, glancing at her watch. “This is Declan O’Halloran from O’Halloran Long-Term Care. I’m sorry to call, but your mother passed last night.” His rough voice grated in her ear—if he were in Crystal’s house she would have offered him a glass of water. “I’m sorry?” she asked, not quite sure she had heard correctly. “Your mother. Evelyn,” he clarified, like Crystal and Evelyn had never met before. “She died in her sleep last night. It was peaceful but unexpected. The nurse went into her room around six this morning to administer medication, but she was already gone. I’m sorry for your loss.” Crystal held the phone tight against her ear, focusing on the cars zipping down the busy street outside her classroom window. She looked at her watch. Just ten minutes remained of her lunch break before her students would filter back into the small, overcrowded classroom. She knew she needed to say something to end this call, but wasn’t sure what. “It’s okay,” she comforted him. “What do you need from me?” She felt crass for being so direct but needed to get herself sorted before 12:07p.m. “You’re her one and only next of kin. We need you to come here and finalize the paperwork. Her body will go to the morgue and you will have to arrange any further plans directly with them. We have her documents in a safe to give to you for your review.” He spoke with authority and ease, as if reciting his speech from memory. Crystal finger combed back her bouncy brown bangs before securing them with a headband and jotted down haircut on a sticky note. She wondered how many times a week he made these phone calls. “It’s a three-hour drive. When do you need me by?” she asked. “As soon as possible,” the man on the other end replied. Crystal couldn’t remember his name. She knew she shouldn’t have picked up her phone since she was working, but the Saratoga number drew her in. The only person she knew who lived in Saratoga was Evelyn. Crystal glanced at the calendar, scanning the end of school year activities and last-minute meetings she needed to attend. There were three more days of school before summer vacation. Can I leave a mob of six-year-olds with a substitute for the last few days of school? She knew she should, but didn’t want to pull Mason from his final days of fifth grade. “I have a son who is finishing up school in three days.” She didn’t share that she had three days left of work. It felt easier to blame the delay on Mason.