Chapter 21

Daniel reflects on how strongly he likes Alexis, balancing nonstop work to raise money for the house with trying to see her. Taking a rare break at Jane’s diner, he calls Alexis and helps her navigate a power outage, guiding her to open the garage and flip the tripped main breaker. The exchange deepens their bond and highlights Daniel’s caretaking nature and Alexis’s reliance on him for practical help.

At the diner, Daniel notices Liz’s finger brace and silently rages at Sheriff Jake’s ongoing abuse and infidelity. With Brian and Doug, he discusses fundraising; sales to Alexis’s friends spark thoughts of expanding his carpentry through a website and shops, though buying the house would trap him in innkeeping long-term. Doug offers a “penguin love stone” metaphor, suggesting Daniel’s authenticity might be enough for Alexis, though Daniel remains doubtful.

Alexis later calls from work to share a moment of beauty: a soprano singing Ave Maria in the ER for a bride with alcohol poisoning. The gesture moves Daniel and intensifies his desire to be part of Alexis’s world, even as he fears he won’t be invited into it.

Daniel’s mood collapses when Amber calls, edgy and likely high, demanding weekly deposits and criticizing his comped guests. He promises money Monday but realizes Amber won’t grant him the months he hoped for. The chapter ends with Daniel facing a shortened, uncertain timeline to save the house and a looming life change.