The Tangled Skein

Clara Bellwether's life is woven from the finest threads. As the owner of The Tangled Skein, a beloved and wonderfully chaotic yarn shop, her world is one of soft merino, vibrant alpaca, and the comforting click of knitting needles. She can mend any dropped stitch and solve any pattern puzzle, but her own heart remains a closely guarded project, set aside after a few messy romantic unravelings. In her cozy, small-town haven, Clara has everything she needs... or so she tells herself.

Her well-ordered world tilts on its axis when Liam Thorne walks in. A new elementary school teacher in town, Liam is tall, quiet, and utterly desperate. Armed with only a picture of an obscure anime character, he's on a mission to crochet a plushie for his niece's birthday and has no idea where to start. Charmed by his earnestness and his obvious love for his niece, Clara reluctantly agrees to teach him, setting aside a quiet corner of her shop for their weekly lessons.

As the lopsided plushie slowly takes shape, so does something else—a tender, unexpected connection. Their lessons become the highlight of their weeks, filled with easy conversation, shared laughter, and the quiet intimacy of creating something together. But as their feelings deepen beyond teacher and student, Clara's old fears begin to surface. She's spent years building a life that's safe and predictable, and Liam represents a vibrant, new color that could clash with her carefully arranged palette.

When a simple project becomes a profound bond, Clara must decide if she's willing to risk dropping a stitch in her perfectly patterned life. Can she learn to trust the thread of fate connecting her to Liam, or will she let fear unravel the most beautiful thing she's ever had a hand in making?