" You’ve stayed true to who you are, never letting anyone believe otherwise or leading anyone on. If you’re happy with your path, continue on along it. You know we’ll support you.”
“I’m not leading him on,” Kerry said softly. “Am I, Han? I mean, I’ve been honest with him. But at the same time, I’m here, spending time with him, giving him the chance to change my mind.”
“Can he?”
“I don’t know.”
Hannah lifted her head, waited until Kerry looked up at her. “Do you want him to?”
Kerry didn’t think or analyze; she simply gave her instinctive, gut response. And nodded. “Yes. I think I do.”
Hannah grinned, seeming surprised but happy. Truly happy. “Well, then, good.” She squeezed Kerry’s shoulders. “Good.”
Kerry groaned. “I should never have answered you.”
“Yes, you should have. Maybe it’s the only way you’ll hear it, to hear yourself say it out loud like that. At least now I know you see what we all see.”
“Which is what?” Kerry asked warily, straightening away from her sister and leaning once again on the fence rail.
“That he makes you happy.” She lifted a hand to stall Kerry’s reply. “Maybe not for all eternity, but then, none of us can know that about anyone. What’s important to recognize is that he makes you happy now. So live in that space for a bit. Try it on, wear it around town. Sleep with it at night,” she added with a little twinkle. “Who knows, maybe in a few weeks the idea of heading back out into the world alone won’t look so appealing to you. "

― Donna Kauffman , Starfish Moon (Brides of Blueberry Cove, #3)