Page 36 of Meet Me on Lilac Lane

She walked toward a pile of supplies and the mob shifted with her. “The Department of Public Works has supplied us with trash bags.” She nodded at the stacks of black and green plastic bags. “You all know how to keep garbage separate from compostable materials. We’ve received special dispensation to use the ATV and trailer for garbage cleanup. Once you’ve filled a bag, the DPW team will come and pick it up.”

She continued down the line pointing out the flowers that had been donated for the boxes lining Main Street, and the paint for sprucing up as many places as possible. “If any of these tasks are especially interesting to you, let me know, and I will put you on that team. Otherwise, the assignments are random.”

The next several minutes was a blur of getting everyone onto teams and giving them supplies and running interference. When the others had dispersed, she took Finn and Maggie and a black garbage bag, and the three of them joined one of the groups cleaning the sidewalks.

After picking up trash for an hour, she sat down on a bench and let the kids go help Nora near the old Great Lakes Memorabilia shop. Her phone buzzed. A missed call notice came up, and she popped in her earbuds to listen to the voicemail.

“Mia, hi,” a man’s voice said, somewhat familiar. “This is Matt Goldfinch. From Kendall College? Anyway, I saw your video and the opportunity there on Jonathon Island and thought I’d get in touch. Give me a call back when you get this.” He left his phone number and the voicemail ended.

Matt Goldfinch? Of course she remembered him. Good thing she’d tucked her phone into her pocket, or she would have dropped it hearing this blast from the past.

She dialed Matt’s number.

“Hello,” a deep voice said. “Matt Goldfinch here.”

“Matt? This is Mia Franklin, Mia Jonathon.” She paused. “I got your voicemail.”

“Mia! Good to hear from you! Thanks for calling me back.”

“I couldn’t believe it when I heard your voice.” Mia shook her head even though she knew Matt couldn’t see her.

“I couldn’t believe it when I saw your video. Mia Jonathon, back on Jonathon Island.” Matt cleared his throat. “You looked good.”

Mia swallowed hard. “Thanks.” She shook her head. “You wanted to talk about the revitalization initiative?” She glanced down Main Street. The cobblestone street and sidewalk had been cleared of all garbage and leaves and other litter. The whole town looked better already.

“This opportunity comes at an amazing time, actually. I’ve been looking for a more permanent place for my gallery, so I thought, ‘Why not Jonathon Island?’”

Her heart leapt. An art studio being established on Jonathon Island would be…amazing. She tamped down the excitement flickering in her belly. Any gallery would have her participation in getting approved, but not her art.

“I can’t believe it’s you.” Her brain still sputtered on the coincidence. Mia and Matt had almost become an item during her freshman—and only—year of college, while she and Troy were on a break. Matt was attractive, dynamic, and super creative. She’d enjoyed sharing classes with him, and they’d both challenged each other to make better art. There was a definite mutual attraction there.

Except, she’d loved Troy. Had never been able to forget about the fisherman she’d left behind.

Matt laughed. “It’s me. What’s it been now, five years?”

“That sounds about right.” She leaned against a nearby wall, its peeling shaker siding warm from the sun.

“How’s the fisherman husband? And kid?”

She blinked away the sudden prickle in her eyes. “I lost Troy two years ago in a boating accident.”

The silence on the phone lasted a beat. “I’m sorry to hear that. Troy seemed like a great guy.”

“My kids keep me going.”

“Kids, plural?”

“Yep, Troy and I have a little girl too. Finn is four, almost five now, and Maggie is two.” She searched for them in the crowd before seeing the purple bobble on Maggie’s ever-present hat bent over a window box full of newly planted flowers.

“Hmm. I bet she looks just like her mother.” Matt paused. He cleared his throat. “Listen, Mia, I’m not going to beat around the bush here. I really want to do business on Jonathon Island. I’ve already booked a trip out there to check things out. Even if I don’t get into the program, I’m considering going the traditional route to establish myself there.”

Something like interest fluttered in her chest. She pushed away the question of whether Matt was as good looking as he used to be. He certainly was as focused on what he wanted as always. “Oh. Okay. I can show you around. You just need to fill out the application paperwork. And then there will be a video interview.”

“Why do video if you can be in person?” Matt chuckled. “I’ll be there next week. I can talk to the committee, get a feel for the island. Maybe even reconnect with you.”

“Shoot me the dates and times you have available, and I’ll let Dani know to schedule a meeting.”

“That would be great.”

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