“Yeah. The draping is harder,” she admitted, “and I’m not so good at it. Tailored clothing is more the direction I’m going in. I designed the pants my mom’s wearing.”
The buzzer for the oven sounded. Anna stood and made a mock show of modelling Gigi’s creation. She loved these pants. Darts and insets shaped the buttock and waist areas, and embroidery in the same rich wine shade as the knit fabric swirled over the left side of her ass and down her thigh.
She turned off the oven timer and brought the baking dish of apple crumble to the table. “We should let it sit a bit to cool. Tea, anyone?”
“I’d love to make some chai,” Cedar volunteered. She had worked summers at Elaine’s breakfast-themed food truck, and her spicy chai was a perfect finish to the meal.
“You know where everything is. Go right ahead.”
The young women busied themselves grinding spices and slamming doors, pots, and measuring spoons.
Liam leaned in. “That was the best meal I’ve had in a while, especially the appetizer.”
Anna smiled and stroked her fingers down the part of his leg hidden by the table. “I’d love to learn how to make pasta, if you’re up for teaching me.”
“And I’d love to negotiate a trade.” He slid his hand over hers and intertwined their fingers. Anna squeezed in response, happy to simply sit and watch the kitchen dance while lingering in Liam’s presence.
Gigi reached over the counter, interrupting Anna’s bliss with what sounded like an admonishment. “Mom, dessert will cool faster if you dish it out.”
Anna released Liam’s hand and set to scooping out generous portions of the apple dish.
Liam lifted his bowl for a deeper whiff when she handed it to him. “Smells good, doesn’t it?”
She followed his lead, lifted her bowl to her nose, and agreed. “A foodie like you should be right at home with the abundance of this island.”
“I’m hooked already,” he said, holding her gaze and treating her to his sexy smile.
Cedar and Gigi returned to the table, passing around steaming mugs of milky chai. The four tucked in to bowls of apple crumble, metal spoons clinking against the stoneware as quiet murmurs of satisfaction circled the table. When they were done, the two younger women set about cleaning the kitchen, and Liam and Anna took their tea to the couch.
“I really enjoyed talking with Gigi,” he said. “I’m struggling a bit with how to move forward with my own work. Her youthful enthusiasm is contagious.”
Anna smiled at him then turned her gaze to her daughter’s back. Something in Gigi’s attitude shifted during dinner, and she couldn’t put her finger on what about it bothered her. She shrugged to herself and turned her attention to Liam when he nudged her elbow.
“This was an unexpectedly lovely evening. I don’t want it to end.”
“What are you suggesting?” she asked.
“Take a walk with me?”
“Love to. Let me say goodnight to the girls, and I’ll meet you at your house.”
Chapter Ten
“Liam’s nice, Mom.”
“Yes, he is.” Anna’s clipped answer signaled the conversation could stop there.
“He’s into you.” No such luck. Gigi was going to keep digging. “And I think you’re kinda into him.”
“I second that,” Cedar hollered from the bathroom.
“I’m being neighborly,” Anna stated.
“No law says neighbors can’t be into each other.”
“But there is a law about nosy daughters.” Anna tweaked Gigi’s nose and cracked a little when her daughter abruptly turned her head. “Gigi, what’s wrong?”
“Like I said last week, Mom, I’m okay with you dating people. Oh, and I’ll be back for Thanksgiving. Bro said we’re all getting together here. Just family.”
The location was news to Anna, but she was secretly thrilled. “Can you get here Sunday night or early Monday to help me cook?”
“Sure. Let me see what Neena says. If she has no plans, can I invite her to join us?”
“And what about me?” called Cedar, still in the bathroom.
“I think your mom would have something to say about that,” Anna answered before returning to her negotiations with Gigi. “Invite whoever you want. I might bring a friend too.”
Gigi lowered her gaze. “Sorry, Mom. I didn’t mean anything by what I said. I…” She let loose a protracted sigh before she shrugged. “Forget I said anything. I’m just feeling a little cranky.”
Anna slid her arms into her overcoat and dropped the jar of coconut oil into one of the outer pockets. “I’m going for a walk with Liam. Don’t wait up.”
She fired up her flashlight and walked to where her driveway met the road. Liam’s voice coming from the darkened bushes lining the drive startled her when he called her name.
“Sorry if I scared you,” he said. “I forgot to bring a flashlight.” He draped one arm over her shoulders and let her guide them down the rutted road. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Mostly. Care to sit outside for a bit? I’d love to look at the stars.”
“You read my mind. I’ll get us something to sit on.” Anna lowered herself onto the top stair of the MacMasters’ wide deck and leaned back on her elbows. Light coming from inside the house dimmed her view of the stars. Liam dropped two cushions and a quilt next to her and switched off the living room’s sole lamp. Within a few minutes of their eyes adjusting to the depth of the darkness, the night sky blossomed with stars.
“I sometimes forget how beautiful it is here, until someone new comes along and then I get to rediscover what I love about living on this island.”
Liam moved one of the cushions under him and lay face up on the deck. His hand swept over the exterior of her jacket, looking for a way under, past her sweater, to her skin. “Do you ever think about moving or traveling?”
Anna took her time considering his question, relaxing incrementally into the support of Liam’s wandering hand. The silence between them extended.
“My husband’s death was such a shock that any time I thought about making any changes in my life—any—I froze up.”
“What
