Side by Side 4

Chris Wright thought moving to the country would be simple.

A new house. Fresh air. Chickens in the yard. A quieter life with Mia, Zooey, and Echo, built on their own terms, far from the noise of the city.

Ashbury has other ideas.

The town is cool and watchful, tight-lipped, and clearly unimpressed with the life they’re trying to build. Doors stay closed. Smiles feel forced. And no matter how hard Chris tries to fit in, it’s obvious they’re being quietly shut out.

Then he meets Hazel.

Bright, kind, and endlessly generous, Hazel radiates a warmth that pulls people in without effort. She loves deeply, lives for her family, and carries a quiet grief she never lets dim her smile. As Hazel draws closer, Chris begins to realize she might be more than just a way into the town… she might be the missing piece his growing family didn’t know it needed.