“But we haven’t been shopping that long,” Gabi protested. “Either of you could still find something even better.”
Emily shook her head. “Sweetie, it’s not just about the wind chime, though it is beautiful. It’s about you wanting to learn to make them. That’s amazing.”
“And crazy?” Gabi asked, hearing just how insane it sounded after years of scaling the corporate ladder.
“Maybe just a little,” Samantha said. “But you deserve to take a chance.”
Though she happily clutched her package, Gabi wasn’t so sure she agreed that now was the best time for her to be taking risks. “I’m going to have a baby,” she reminded them. “I should be setting practical goals, don’t you think?”
“Hey, maybe you’ll turn out to be the best wind chime maker in Sand Castle Bay,” Emily said. “In the world even.”
Gabi gave her sister a fierce hug. “You know what I love most about you?”
“What?” Emily said, looking vaguely startled by the display of affection.
“You dream big, even for me.”
“Well, of course I do. You’re my sister. Sam, too. I want you both to have absolutely everything you want and then some.”
Gabi grinned at them. “Can I have my prize tonight, please? And will the two of you be my guests for dinner? I know the prize was for two. I’ll pay for the extra meal. I think all the soul-searching I’ve done today should be celebrated, to say nothing of dealing with Dad and Amanda without coming unglued.”
“Amen to that,” Emily replied. “And dinner for all of us is on the house.” She gave them a wicked grin. “I’ll make sure Boone gets suitably rewarded later for his generosity.”
11
Wade was about to head out to his workshop for the evening when his cell phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID as he walked.
“Hey, Boone,” he said. “What’s up?”
“You busy?”
“I’m not doing anything pressing. Why?”
“I just had a call from Emily. She, Gabi and Samantha are on their way over to the restaurant for some kind of celebration. She suggested you might want to join us.”
“Emily suggested it?” he said, red flags flying. “Does Gabi know?”
Boone chuckled. “Hey, I’m only relaying the invitation. The behind-the-scenes machinations are way beyond me. You can’t seriously want to miss this chance, though, can you?”
Of course he didn’t want to miss it. “How soon?”
“They’re on their way now,” Boone said. “I gather they’ve finished a shopping spree and are coming straight here. I have no idea how the celebration thing fits in, unless they found an amazing bargain on shoes or something. That would be enough to make Emily’s pulse race.”
“I’ll be there in twenty minutes,” Wade promised. “I have to find my protective armor in case Gabi’s not thrilled about my presence.”
“You two aren’t fighting, are you?” Boone asked worriedly. “Please tell me Emily’s not trying to pull off some kind of public reconciliation that’s bound to backfire.”
“My guess is she’s just meddling. I think the restaurant’s china and glassware are safe enough.”
“But you said...that bit about protective armor...”
“It was a joke, Boone,” he explained patiently. “Gabi and I will behave in a thoroughly civilized manner. I can almost guarantee it.”
“It’s the almost that troubles me,” Boone replied, then added in the resigned tone of a man growing used to being caught up in the Castle shenanigans, “See you shortly.”
“Hey, Boone,” Wade said, catching him before he’d had a chance to hang up. “You really don’t have any idea what they’re celebrating?”
“Not a clue. I just know I’m buying dinner.”
Wade laughed. “And now I’m celebrating.”
It promised to be an interesting evening, but then he hadn’t spent a dull moment around Gabriella since they’d met.
* * *
When Wade arrived at Boone’s Harbor, he found Boone and the three women at a round table by a window with an incredible view of the setting sun over the water. He knew perfectly well it wasn’t coincidence that the only available chair at the table was next to Gabi.
Gabi’s eyes lit with surprise when he pulled the chair out, but at least she didn’t seem annoyed to see him.
“Where’d you come from?” she asked. “I thought Castle’s was your hangout of choice.”
“Definitely, but Boone called and alerted me that there was a celebration on tonight’s menu here. He seemed to think I shouldn’t miss it.”
Rather than glancing at her soon-to-be brother-in-law for answers, she turned immediately to her younger sister as she said, “Is that so?”
Emily merely shrugged, feigning innocence and doing it badly. “I thought he might be interested in your news.”
Wade studied Gabi’s face. Her eyes did seem bright with excitement and her cheeks were tinted pink. “News?” he said, his curiosity stirred.
“I turned down the job at my old company,” she reported. “Just the way we discussed yesterday.” She gave Emily a defiant look. “See? No news there.”
Wade pursued it, anyway. “And you’re happy with that decision?”
“Very happy,” she said. “Better yet, my father seemed to take it surprisingly well.” She made a face. “At least after the initial shock of me rejecting his well-meant help wore off.”
“Good for you.”
“There’s more,” Emily prodded, clearly not satisfied with Gabi’s piecemeal revelation. “Tell him the rest. Boone’s dying to hear, too. I didn’t fill him in when I called.”
Wade watched as Gabi squirmed uncomfortably. “Is it something you’re not ready to talk about?” he asked, wondering if they needed to let her off the hook.
“Sort of,” she said, frowning at Emily. “It’s one thing for Emily and Samantha to know, but you guys are bound to think I’ve gone off my rocker.”
“I could never think that,” Wade protested. “Your entire approach to life has been mature and methodical. I can’t see that changing now.”
“Well, I can, because I’m not sweet on you,” Boone teased, then added, “but I’d never say it aloud.”
“I do so appreciate that,” Gabi replied, her tone tart.
Boone’s expression sobered. “If you don’t want to talk about it, Gabi, it’s okay. Don’t let Emily pressure you.”
“Hey, it is not okay,” Emily argued, poking Boone with her elbow. “Wade
