Page 75 of Meet Me on Lilac Lane

“I promise to be quiet.” Evie held up her hand Scout’s honor-style. “But you need to tell me all the deets. Right. Now.”

Mia told her about the kiss and the date. “I’m finally ready to let him in, but recently he totally flaked on me.”

A crease appeared between Evie’s eyes. “That doesn’t sound like Cody.”

Okay, she had to admit that was stretching things a bit. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. He had a good reason. He’d taken the boat?—”

“He went out on a boat!” Evie clapped her hand over her mouth at Mia’s pointed stare. Then, quieter, “Sorry, I just know what a big step that would be for him. For you too, while we’re at it.”

Mia’s stomach roiled at the thought. She put her hand on it. “Anyway, his motor died, and I had to do it all on my own. Well, not totally alone. Matt showed up and helped me.”

“I see that look in your eye. Is this going to be some rom-com love triangle?”

“Stop. It’s not like that.”

“Good, because wasn’t he the guy in college that called you a fishwife when he heard you were marrying Troy?” Evie’s eyes flashed. “And said something about settling for mediocrity?”

“Yeah. But that was because he didn’t want my talent to wither away.” Looked like he was right.

“Still, doesn’t sound like the kind of thing you’d want a potential boyfriend saying.”

“You don’t have to worry about it. In fact, Matt kind of made me feel uncomfortable. He was pushier than I remember him being in college.” She waved away Evie’s look of concern. “He’s harmless. Just more invested in pursuing a romantic relationship than I am. Cody walked in while he was hugging me.” And, yeah, her life did sound a little like a soap opera all of a sudden.

“I’m sure you can clear all of that up with a simple conversation.”

Mia rolled her shoulders. Over by the reading throne, the kids were starting to stand for a round of “Shake My Sillies Out,” their traditional closing song.

“The thing is, we did clear that up with a simple conversation. But…I don’t know. I’m afraid to rely on him too completely. And afraid that I will lose him too.”

“Give it time. You can trust Cody. Allow him to show you that. And am I beating a dead horse if I remind you that you can pray about this too?”

She gave her sister a smile. “You’re right. As always.”

The kids interrupted any further conversation, but Mia was still thinking about Evie’s words when she arrived home after the library and dropping some paperwork off at Dani’s office.

Lunchtime led to quiet time, and then Mia found herself all alone. She sat in her chair across from Troy’s empty one. Speaking of moving on…Maybe Constance would like to have that. She’d mentioned needing a better place for Grandma Harmon to sit, and Mia needed to start letting go of more of Troy’s things. She’d never liked the chair, as it didn’t fit with her other furniture, but he’d insisted on keeping it. She sent her mother-in-law a quick text, offering to bring it over.

That task completed, thoughts of eviction and Cody warred for top spot in her mind.

Fine, Evie, you’re right. I should talk to God about all of this.“Lord, you know my needs. Help me figure out how to stay on the island.” Her parents’ faces swam into her mind, but she pushed them away. “And give me wisdom with Cody too.” A short prayer, but long overdue. Her heart calmed as she sat in silence a moment more. Her phone pinged.

Constance

Sure, we’d love to have the chair.

Mia

I’ll carry it over after the kids get up from their quiet time.

Before making promises, she should have tried to move the thing. Mia stood and crossed the room. Putting a hand on each armrest, she shifted the chair a foot. Okay. This would be doable. Something rustled near the wall.

What the?

She shifted the chair out another foot.

Peering around the back of the chair, she spotted several pieces of paper. She tugged them free.

Plum-colored crayon covered the front and back of an application she had printed weeks ago. Maggie. The little girl must have hidden one of the papers back here so she wouldn’t get into more trouble.

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