Mia stood taller. “It was one of the items in the attic that seemed to be gathering dust. When Matt and I cleaned out the space, he didn’t know what to do with it, and since I wanted something unique for the baby shower gift, I went hunting and came up with these items. I hope you don’t mind?”
Drew glanced at them and smiled. “Mind? Why the heck would I mind? I’d forgotten about it completely.” He picked up the rattle and shook it, a wistful smile touching his lips. “Sounds kind of familiar but I doubt I would’ve remembered it was mine without you telling me.”
April patted him on the arm. “Poor Drew is suffering baby brain of late.”
Atticus grinned and winked at Mia. “I would’ve thought that was purely a female complaint myself. Don’t ever recall going through it when your mom was pregnant.”
“He’s special, Atticus. Not your average guy.” April pulled other items from the basket and came across an antique-looking picture frame. “You know what he’s like.”
Mia held her hands in front of her, crossing her fingers that April would like it. “I left that empty for baby’s first photo. But it’s up to you to do whatever you like with it of course. I don’t mind so long as you like it.”
April gave her a misty-eyed smile. “I love it, Mia. Where on earth did you find it?”
Matt put his arm around her shoulders as she accepted the praise from his family.
“Actually, I made that myself. I like to tinker with wood too. I don’t do it nearly enough these days so I really enjoyed it.”
Gigi gasped. “No way. Seriously, how did you do that?” She took the frame from April and turned it over in her hands. “You’re so clever, Mia. You must tell me how you got that lovely aged patina. It’s fabulous.”
“It’d be my pleasure and it’s so easy.”
* * *
While the girls listened to Mia describe her process, Matt followed his father out to the front deck and breathed in the sea breeze.
“Get you a beer, son?”
“Please.”
“How is the renovating going? Almost done?” He handed over a bottle to Matt from the cooler sitting in the shade.
“Almost. We finished the painting yesterday. It looks amazing, Dad. Mia wants to put moldings around the windows to give them more character and definition so that’s going on tomorrow. Then we’re going to look at the decorating side of things. Not my forte but listening to her talk, it shouldn’t be that hard. She’s already thrown so many ideas at me, my head’s spinning.”
“She seems to know what she’s doing.”
“She does. Certainly has an eye for what goes with what.”
His father gave a small chuckle. “I can imagine. That basket is perfect. Who would’ve thought of using your old toys to hand down to the next generation.”
“You don’t mind do you, Dad?” There was every possibility that his father would react badly. Their childhood items would bring up memories of their mother, but he hadn’t seemed concerned when Matt had taken the boxes.
“Not at all. You know I didn’t want them. That’s why you got everything when I cleaned up my place. I’m just glad you didn’t throw it all out.” He sipped his beer. “Listen, do you think Mia would be interested in opening a shop on the island?”
Matt sucked in a breath. It was what he was thinking but was too scared to suggest. “What makes you ask that? She has a huge company to run, Dad. I can’t see her settling for a gift shop here as much as the idea has merit as far as I’m concerned.” He looked back into the house to see if she could hear their conversation. She was busy talking to April and Gigi. As he watched, they gathered up the basket and walked up the stairs. April was probably going to show Mia the nursery, so Matt felt he could talk freely with his father.
Atticus took it as a sign to speak his mind now the women had left the room. “I don’t want you to repeat this, but I was speaking to Ryan. The board members discussed the idea of selling off the shops after they were approached by someone interested in investing. Going with a franchise type of deal. Mia doesn’t know yet because it’s only just happened, and but a decision hasn’t been made. He’ll call her as he gets more details and get her opinion on it, since she started the company.” His dad stared him in the eye. “The board doesn’t want to lose Mia, but by the same token, they don’t want her to crash and burn either. If they were to sell out now, it’d sure take a load off of her shoulders.”
It would probably break her heart too, from what he knew of her. Admittedly, Matt hadn’t known her long but it was long enough to know that her business was everything to her. “I don’t think she’d like that.” He sighed. “Why are you telling me, Dad?”
“Probably because you’re my son. I value your opinion.”
“I get that, but since Mia is here staying with me, I feel awkward. I’d rather you don’t say anything to me, to be honest. Especially if it might mean she loses her business.”
His father shook his head. “You don’t understand. She no longer owns the business, Matt. At least not technically. She owns a large block of shares along with other investors, including me, but she no longer has control over it. She knew that when she opted to take the company public. To be totally frank, she’s more like a manager for the business now.” He took a sip of his beer. “We’re only thinking ahead at this stage. Nothing is stagnant in business—you know that. It could be a good deal. For a start, it would make each shop owner responsible for their own inventory instead of Mia doing it. They’d choose what they
