Page 39 of Meet Me on Lilac Lane

Chapter Seven

Mornings had a way of coming earlier lately. Mia stifled a yawn as she waited on the dock of the ferry port. She’d spent the better part of the night before tossing and turning in her bed. Pretty much the past few nights, actually. After the town cleanup day, she’d made a bunch more calls to prospective business owners. Most of them had been positive and excited about the video chats. A few had pulled out of the project altogether.

Would she have enough to meet her quota? She pushed the doubt away. She couldn’t dwell on that right now.

Any minute now the ferry would dock. Matt had texted when they left the mainland about twenty minutes before. Mia’s mind flitted back to the conversation with her mom from earlier that day.

“So, you’re meeting up with Matt?” Mia’s mom had raised an eyebrow when Mia had dropped the kids off this morning. “I remember you talking about him. The cute, talented one, right? He took you out for pasta?”

She’d briefly thought he might be the one, but then she’d come home one weekend, and Troy had been there to remind her how much she loved him. The passion of that one weekend had resulted in Finn. She’d finished up her year of college and then come home that summer for good.

“Mom.” Mia cut her eyes to where Finn stood next to them on her mother’s porch. “Maybe this is a conversation for later?” She couldn’t stop the warmth spreading across her face.

“It’s okay to think that way again, Mia.” Her mom opened the door. “Finn, take Maggie inside. I’ll be right in.” After the kids had gone, she turned back to Mia. “I get that maybe you’re not ready for it yet, and that’s okay too. But you’re not betraying Troy by thinking about someone new. He would want you to be happy.”

Mia had backed down the porch stairs. “I guess. But right now, I have more important things to worry about.”

“Something to think about anyway.” Mom brushed a hair off her face.

Her mom was right though. Troy would want that for her. She would have wanted it for him, were their situations reversed.

Now, on the dock, a breeze washed over her. She shivered. Not wearing a jacket had seemed like a good idea before leaving the house. Clouds gathered and threatened to block out the sun. She glanced up at them. Light gray and billowing, they could bring a rainstorm or completely blow over. It was too soon to tell.

The ferry pulled into its spot with little fanfare. Soon, the crew had the aluminum gangplank lowered, and a few people straggled off.

Matt walked down the gangplank. Square jaw, blue eyes, tousled hair and all. In his gray sports coat and dark slacks, he looked more confident and put together than Mia remembered. Of course, back at Kendall College they had both been covered in paint and clay most of the time. The only time she’d seen him dressed up was on their one and only date.

Until today.

She waited for him to approach before stretching out a hand in greeting. His palm was warm and dry as he shook her hand.

“You look great,” he said, a crooked smile on his face.

She ran a hand down her arm. “I look like a single mother of two kids.” Sure, she’d taken extra care with her hair this morning, taming her dark hair into smooth curls, swiping on a bit of makeup, and rejecting three outfits before settling on the dark jeans, bright blue slouchy sweater, and black boots she now wore. But she still felt out of place in her body. She knew she looked different than the last time Matt had seen her. Back then she’d been more youthful, more free. Less bags under her eyes. Less baggage altogether.

“I’d say motherhood suits you.”

She’d forgotten Matt’s smooth compliments. The way they rang almost true. Like you could almost believe what he was saying. She’d also forgotten the intense way he had of looking directly into her eyes and making her feel like she was the only one in the room. Like he was doing now, with her hand still in his.

She pulled away. Tucked an errant hair behind her ear. “Is that all of your luggage?” She pointed to the small rolling bag resting next to Matt’s left knee.

He nodded. “I’m ready to get started on the tour.”

Mia led the way to the two bicycles she’d left nearby. “You can put your bag in the kiddie trailer on my bike.” She opened the flap for him then secured it again when his luggage was stowed. “Would you like the grand tour first, or would you prefer to freshen up at the Inn?” She knew Matt had booked a few nights at Island House Inn, virtually the only place on island for visitors to stay.

“I’d love to see your town. I’ve seen pictures, of course, and visited virtually by browsing YouTube videos, but there’s nothing like getting the feel of the place when you’re in person. Bikes, eh?” He ran a hand along the blue Schwinn she’d borrowed for him.

“No cars or motor vehicles on the island, I’m afraid,” she said, swinging a leg over her bike. “They used to have horses and carriages, but most of them are gone now. Word is they’ll be back next year, so long as the revitalization efforts go as expected.”

“Quaint.” They settled into a rhythm biking next to each other. “It’s beautiful here.”

She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, but he was looking out over the harbor. “Jonathon Island and Lake Huron can be quite lovely when they want to be.” When storms weren’t tossing those waves onto shore in a maelstrom of fury, that is.

“I’ve been looking for a new place to be inspired. This could be it.” Matt grunted as he ran over a pothole.

They reached the intersection of Marina Way and Main Street. Mia took a left and headed into town. “Many of the buildings here are old.” Playing the part of tour guide made her see things through fresh eyes. These eclectic buildings could really be something if they had the right owner and a little TLC. “We’re hoping to fill each of these storefronts with the new revitalization initiative. There are fourteen we’re especially interested in filling before the middle of July.” Which was just five weeks away now. Her chest tightened, and she breathed deeply to release it. Everything was following her plan. She just had to keep working the plan and everything would be all right. “The place I envision for your studio is on the other end of town.”

“Will you be giving everyone a personalized tour?” Matt’s crooked grin made another appearance.

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