Page 63 of Meet Me on Lilac Lane

Mia winced. Hopefully his stormy look wasn’t contagious.

After a few more benign questions, the Q&A ended on a more positive note. Mia found herself by the drinks table. A few empty water bottles rested there, and the cans of pop had been decimated. She straightened a few up and tossed out the empty bottles.

“What a meeting that was,” Mr. Miller said. The antiques dealers were the only ones who hadn’t spoken up in the meeting. Instead, they had spent the whole of it alternating between jotting down notes and smiling encouragingly at each speaker.

Hopefully her wry smile came off as genuine and not sarcastic. “It certainly could have gone better.”

“Don’t let that man get to you.” Mrs. Miller put her hand on Mia’s arm. The warmth comforted a few of her jumpy nerves. “I think this plan is lovely. And it’s helping us to fulfill our dreams.”

Mr. And Mrs. Miller shared a long look. “We came to the Grand Hotel on our honeymoon thirty years ago,” Mr. Miller said. “We fell in love with the island and promised each other we’d move here someday.”

“Our life took a lot of twists and turns,” Mrs. Miller said. “But now the last of our five children is away at college, and we wanted to explore moving our empty nest to the place we’d always dreamed about living.”

Mia felt an unexpected pricking at the backs of her eyes. “What a beautiful way to live your life.”

“Is there such a thing as a holy coincidence?” Mr. Miller asked. “Because coming across your plea for new residents felt like the nudge we’d needed all these years. Thank you for helping us realize our dreams.”

They both beamed at her expectantly. Mia’s throat tightened, and she coughed in an attempt to clear it. “Uh, you’re welcome,” she said. “I’m glad you’re so enthusiastic. It’s going to take a boatload of that to pull this whole thing off.”

“I’m sure everything will get figured out,” Mr. Miller said. “All it takes is a shared goal where everyone pulls their weight. At least, that’s how it’s worked for us.”

“That’s right. Trust, mutual respect, and helping each other.” Mrs. Miller looped her arm through her husband’s. “That was our family motto. And when things got hard, we just held on to each other harder.”

The image of a couple clinging to each other through a storm whispered a promise to Mia’s heart. If they could make it, maybe she could take a chance too. Could she be courageous enough to pursue a relationship with Cody? Maybe try for a fairy-tale ending.

Near the door, Matt stood with the other artist who had arrived on the ferry. The two appeared to be in an intense conversation, the other man’s face red and blotchy. Matt had his hands near his hips, clenching and unclenching them in a gesture Mia recognized from college. He was trying to keep himself from saying something rude.

Suddenly the other artist raised a hand and shook his finger in Matt’s face. “Fine, then.” His roar echoed through the hall. “If you’re not going to bow out, then I will. There is not room on this island for both of us!” The man stormed out the door, slamming it behind him. Was that guy for real?

Matt gave a helpless shrug to the roomful of people who stared at him. “Guess he can’t handle competition.” He raised his eyebrows in a “can you believe it?” expression. A few people chuckled before returning to their conversations.

Mia made her way over to where Dani stood. Her cousin held a clipboard and was jotting notes down.

“How many?” She leaned over Dani’s shoulder and looked at the list.

“If these numbers are right, we’re two short.” Dani tapped the ones she’d crossed out.

Mia’s whole body suddenly weighed a hundred pounds heavier. “Oh no. If I can’t fill those last two spots in two weeks…”

Dani looked at her, eyes wide. “Can you call some of the people who were near the top of the list? There have to be more people interested.”

She thought back over the stacks of applications, most of which were eliminated for one reason or another. “I hope so. Maybe I can even issue another call for applications. I’ll figure it out.”

She had to.

Cody stood next to his dock, hand on his hips. He wouldn’t let fear beat him. He shoved all thoughts of Mia and the kiss, and the brilliant way she’d handled herself at the meeting yesterday, into the far corner of his mind. Going back out on the water would take his full concentration.

“Ahoy there, Captain.” Pastor Arnie walked up next to him on the shore. Cody recognized his polo shirt and boat shoes as his casual uniform. He put his hand on Cody’s shoulder. “Are we ready to do this thing?”

No.

“Yes.” Cody’s stomach folded in on itself. “We can only go out for a short time; I promised Mia I would help her move something.”

“I think that’s probably a good idea anyway, just until you get a feel for things.”

Cody had spent an hour in Pastor Arnie’s study a few days ago talking over what had happened on the water last time with Liam. Arnie had agreed to go out in Cody’s speedboat with him as soon as he was ready. The day after his kiss with Mia, he called and said he was ready.

Ready for a lot of things, actually. If Mia needed time, he’d give it to her. But eventually, they would be discussing that kiss.

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