Page 96 of Meet Me on Lilac Lane

Guess they’d find out in a minute.

He pulled the wagon to a stop at the old Sampson gallery. The sun seemed prepared to help him out, perfectly lighting the scene. Even from outside the doors, he could see that the warm, yellow paint inside the gallery was making the interior glow. He unlocked the door and ushered them all in, leaving the wagon on the sidewalk.

“I still can’t believe how wonderful this place looks,” Mia said. The kids made a beeline for the hidden door.

“Don’t worry. I made sure the door won’t lock us in again. And I latched the hidden door open, so it won’t close on the kids.”

“Thanks.” Mia sighed and turned in a slow circle. “It’s too bad Matt doesn’t want this place. It would have been fun to have an art gallery in town again.”

“What is that?” She pointed at an item he’d covered with a light tarp.

He uncovered it with a flourish. “This is the first piece for the Mia Franklin Art Gallery. Or whatever you want to call your business.”

Her hand flew to cover her mouth and her eyes widened. “Where did you get that?”

On the wall, Cody had hung one of the paintings Mia had brought home from college. An oil painting depicting two people walking hand in hand in the rain under a bright red umbrella. “Your mom had it in storage. She said you told her to throw it away, but she knew you’d want it again someday. She also said she had a bunch more just waiting for you.”

“What do you mean ‘first piece’?” Mia had dropped her hand and walked closer to him.

“You are now standing in your very own art studio slash realtor business.” He opened his arms wide. “You can pick up the rest of your art and start selling it until you get some realty clients.”

A line grew between her eyebrows. “I’m confused. What are you talking about?”

“I sold Troy’s boat to Patrick Kelley. He wanted it for his daughter, Olive. Then I used a little of that money to put the down payment on this place. The rest can be used to supplement the rent and everything else for the next twelve months. That way you can focus on building a business and finding more time to paint. And another way to help pay the rent is to split it with another company.”

Her brow wrinkled. “Do you think we can find someone?”

“You’re looking at someone.” He thumbed his chest.

“What?”

“My dad agreed to sell me the fishing business and his license. I figure I’ll need somewhere to meet with clients once in a while and somewhere to do some bookkeeping and whatnot. I don’t want to live in my shed all the time, so why not split the rent? If you’ll have me, that is.”

“Cody, this is amazing.” She reached up and put her hand on his chest. He covered it with one of his own. “Of course I’d love to.”

He slipped an arm around her shoulder and drew her closer. “I have even better news. Dani and I convinced your dad to call an emergency meeting of the town council. They agreed that having three new businesses in town definitely qualified as meeting your quota. You will not have to move out of your house.”

Her mouth fell open, and he had to resist the urge to kiss it back into place. She clapped her hands and danced in place. “I can’t believe you did all of this for me. Especially since you didn’t know I’d changed my mind about you.”

“Did I overstep?”

“Maybe a little. But I love that you did. I needed the reminder that I need other people. You make me a better person, Code.” She reached up and pulled his head down for a kiss.

“Mom, come look!” Finn interrupted them before Cody totally lost his head and forgot that they were in a public place.

They walked to the back of the store. Finn pointed with both of his hands at the hidden door, now bolted open. He watched Mia as she took it all in. Inside the little room, he’d added a narrow bookshelf, a toy cupboard, two bean bag chairs, and some old Christmas lights from his mom.

Mia looked up at him, eyes wide.

He smiled down at her. “I figured the kids would be spending a lot of time here. They should have a space to call their own. I hope you like it.”

“Like it?” Mia threaded her fingers through his. “I love it. Looks like the kids do too.”

They stood hand in hand and watched as Finn and Maggie pulled books off the shelves and settled into a bean bag chair.

How had he ever thought God didn’t want good things for his life? God had proven Himself faithful over and over.

Cody glanced down at Mia, then over at the kids again.

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