“Aw, I was already a little bit in love with you, but your drunken solo rendition of ‘You Make Me Feel Like Dancing,’ followed by ‘Hotel California’—well, you had me from the opening line.”
“What an idiot I was back then.” He rested his elbow on the table and his chin in the palm of his hand, and looked into her eyes, his fingers still laced with hers. “Even with that memory so fresh in your mind, would you like to go to dinner with me tonight?”
“I’d love to.”
“Wow. If I’d known it was going to be that easy, I’d have asked you out long ago.”
“Timing is everything.” She disengaged his fingers from hers. “And speaking of time—tonight?”
“How about seven? There’s a new place in Acushnet I hear is really special.”
“Sounds perfect.” She picked up her bag and stood. “See you then.”
“Ooh, fancy mama.” Natalie whistled when Maggie came into the kitchen. Daisy was still eating, and Grace was still at the bookstore plotting the renovation with Liddy. “You look like a woman who has a hot date.”
“I do.” Maggie turned slowly. “What do you think? Too much? Too . . . anything?”
Natalie looked her over from the top of her head to her shoes. The dress was one Maggie’d bought on sale before she’d left Pennsylvania. Sleeveless, deep red chiffon with a print in subtle shades of gold, it had a low ruffled neckline and tiny fabric-covered buttons down the front. It was light and summery, and the skirt fell just above her knees and had a flirty touch of swing, just enough to give it a little motion. With it she wore round gold earrings set with large citrines in the centers, gold bangles on her left arm, and a large ring of hammered gold on the middle finger of her right hand. She wore strappy gold-leather sandals and had a camel-colored cashmere wrap over her arm.
“Too perfect. You’re gorgeous. Brett will fall in love with you all over again.” Natalie paused. “Assuming, of course, Brett is your date.”
Maggie nodded. “Does it bother you I’m going out with him?”
“Why would it bother me? Because of Dad? Or because of Joe?” Natalie shook her head. “Don’t answer, because it doesn’t matter either way. You deserve to have a good time and be happy. For as long as I can remember, you always made everything about Dad and Grace and me and Daisy. Now it’s your turn. And if you don’t mind me saying so, I think it’s romantic that you and Brett are going on a date.” She paused thoughtfully. “Unless of course it doesn’t work out again. Then maybe not so much.”
Maggie gave her hair one last look, moving a strand here and a strand there. “You know I loved your father, don’t you?”
“Of course I do. You two were great together.” Natalie grabbed a paper towel to sop up the milk Daisy’d spilled on the table. “But I think you loved Brett, too.”
“I did.” Maggie took a deep breath. “Maybe I still do.”
“No time like the present to find out. Mom, life’s too short.”
“Oh, this from my daughter who has yet to turn thirty?”
“I’m closing in on that big three-oh. Nine more weeks and I’ll be over the hill.”
“Here’s a secret, sweetie. Every time you’ve made it up the hill, the hill moves. Thirty this year doesn’t seem so bad. So you start thinking the hill is really forty. Until you hit forty. And suddenly the hill is—”
“Fifty. Yeah, I get it.” Natalie tilted her head in the direction of the front of the house. “I think I heard a car.”
Maggie looked out the window, but it was Grace, not Brett, who pulled into the driveway. Moments later, she came in through the back door, a fat folder under her arm, and took one look at her mother. “Where’s the party?”
“Mom has a date for dinner. With Brett,” Natalie spoke up before Maggie had a chance to open her mouth. “I think it’s pretty cool. And doesn’t she look fab?”
“She does. I mean, Mom, you do. Look fab, that is.” Grace set her folder on the counter.
“That’s all you’re going to say?” Maggie watched her daughter’s face for a sign of disapproval but didn’t find one.
Grace shrugged. “Inevitable.”
“How’d your meeting with the Meehans go?” Natalie asked.
“They loved my ideas, and they’re totally on board. Hired me on the spot.” Grace turned to her mother. “Have you met the Meehans? They own Ground Me and a couple of other shops in town. Dress Me Up. Dazzle Me. You get the Me connection, right? Anyway, they were talking to Liddy, and she was telling them how I was working on a website for the bookshop, and they mentioned they were looking for someone to do something for them. They called. I looked up what they already had. Lackluster, to say the least. They own all the shops on the Stroll, so in addition to working up something for each of the shops, I mentioned they might want to merchandise the Stroll separately. You know, in addition to the individual shops, and link everything together. I drew up some samples and met with them for a ‘brief’ meeting this afternoon. Lasted three and a half hours, but I left with a contract and a check in my hand.”
“Fabulous! Congratulations!” Maggie gave her a hug, and Natalie followed suit.
“Yeah, it’s pretty cool. I’m thinking I might want to do more of
