* * *
Matt chose a pound of fresh tomatoes and a bag of mixed salad greens and handed over the cash to the grower. It was a busy morning down at the monthly markets but it always was.
“Matt.”
He turned and watched his vivacious aunt hurry toward him. He held out his arms and wrapped them around her when she was within reach. Gigi was one of his favorite women, and not just because she’d given up her life in the city to come and help her brother raise his brood of kids when their mother died. He adored her. They all did.
“You look mighty handsome this morning.” She kissed his cheek and then looked into his shopping bag. “How is your new guest?”
“Good. Looking much better now that he’s out of hospital. The sea air seems to agree with him.”
Gigi adjusted the bright blue scarf at her throat. “Good. I thought I might pop in and meet him. Atticus does nothing but sing the man’s praises. Might be time for me to say hello. Do you mind?”
“Not at all. How’s David, by the way?” Matt had never met the man, but thought it might be rude not to inquire about the lawyer his aunt had been seeing off and on for the last couple of years, the one she disappeared with for secret weekends away.
She waved a dismissive hand. “Talking about moving to New York of all places.”
A moment of panic hit Matt. Did that mean Gigi would leave too?
She must have read his mind. “I’m not the slightest bit interested in going, just so you know. Atticus says I should if that’s what I want, but to be honest, I don’t see myself living anywhere else. I like my life here.”
“Even if it means you’ll lose your boyfriend?”
“Yes. Especially since I’d hesitate to call him my boyfriend. The relationship was convenient for both of us. Now it isn’t.”
“Okay. So long as you’re good with it. It has nothing to do with me. But I would’ve hated to see you go. We love having you around.” He dropped a kiss on her hair.
She nudged him with her hip. “Back at you, honey. I don’t know what I’d do without my family.” Gigi walked alongside Matt as he continued to shop. He stopped at the seedling stall and brought some spring flowers and salad greens for his vegetable garden.
“So, you and Mia. How’s that going?”
Matt sighed and wished he could be as calm about his relationship as Gigi was about hers. “It’s not. She doesn’t want to walk away from the business after all the work she’s done on it, and I understand that.”
“But?” She paused to pick up a bright colored sunhat, inspecting it before putting it back again.
“But I can’t help thinking I’m not enough. Look at Arlo and Hilary. She managed it. Maybe Mia just doesn’t want to take things to that level and it’s her way of letting me down gently. Or maybe she doesn’t think I’ll wait for her to move to the island.”
Gig tucked her arm through Matt’s. “Or maybe she’s just not ready to settle down. She’s a career girl and a damned good one at that.”
“I think you could be right. Still, is there any reason why she can’t have both? Lots of women have marriage and careers.” He couldn’t get the idea out of his head that he wasn’t what she needed and that hurt because she was exactly who he wanted.
Gigi shrugged. “I sometimes think you have to go with your heart. Your brain can be far too logical and that screws things up.”
“Like you were when you dropped everything to come and live with us, you mean?”
She leaned into him as they walked. “Honey, I didn’t even have to think about it for a moment. I couldn’t get here fast enough and now look at me. I don’t want to leave, even for David.”
“Guess he wasn’t really the one then.”
“No, I don’t think he was. But he’s still a nice guy and we had fun together while it lasted.”
Matt paused and picked up a bag of green apples. “Pie?”
Gigi nodded and he bought them. “You know your problem, Matt? You need to mother everyone you come across. Perhaps you should be approaching Mia with more business in mind instead of trying to tie her down.”
“If you mean her setting up shop here, I don’t think she’s interested. Hilary tried to talk her into starting a business on the island. After the help she gave me on the attic room and Hilary and Arlo on their living room, I agreed she’d do great here.”
“But she doesn’t want to leave Seattle?” Gigi wrapped her arm around his shoulders, sympathy shining in her eyes. The last thing he wanted was for someone to feel sorry for him. There had to be a way forward and damn it, he was going to find it. This wasn’t over, no matter what Mia said.
“That’s it. But hey, don’t let me ruin your day because I’m feeling down about it. Ignore my ramblings because I’m feeling sorry for myself. Why don’t you come up with me now and meet Ryan? No time like the present.”
Gigi slid her arm through his again. “I agree. Lead the way, honey.”
* * *
Mia stood in the kitchen, frustration chewing at her. No matter what she said, Ryan wouldn’t give her a definitive answer on what he saw for his future. She couldn’t bear the thought of him leaving, nor could she imagine taking back the reins of the company full
