Page 10 of The Me I Left Behind

Lia nodded. “Yes, of course. But Ginger had to get back to her other children for Christmas. Belle’s fine about it. Grant knows his way here now.”

“Oh, Lia…” Julia made a face and glanced at Zach. “Is that going to be difficult for you and Zach?”

“Not at all,” Zach said, answering the question for Lia. “Actually, Grant and I got along quite well, and we plan to keep it that way. We’re all adults here.”

Maggie felt those words cut into her soul. She knew Zach meant nothing by it. He barely knew Max and wasn’t sure what Lia had shared with him about this new turn of events in the Oliver world.

“I’m glad,” she said softly. “Being adult can make a world of difference.”

Lia caught her eye, questioning, and Maggie waved her off.

“Oh, look who’s here!” Zach stood and headed for the door. Everyone’s attention shot that way.

Belle approached the table with a baby carrier. “Hey everyone. Thought I’d come by for a few minutes.”

“Oh!” Chloe jumped up.

Maggie snagged her arm. “Let her find a seat, sweetie.”

But Belle could barely get seated before everyone crowded around her.

“Let’s not all get too close, remember,” Lia said, protectively. “Germs.”

“Oh, Mom. It’s fine.” Belle tossed her mother a quick grin.

The restaurant door slapped shut again and everyone turned toward the sound.

Carol gasped.

“Well, well. If it’s not Josh Sullivan,” Zach said. “Fish stop biting?”

Belle slowly looked up.

Josh stepped across the room. Maggie recognized him. He was one of the anglers stranded at the hotel during the storm. An E.M.T., he had also helped deliver baby Grace during the power outage. They’d left Christmas day looking for another fishing charter, and Maggie had assumed they’d headed back to New Hampshire by now.

“I heard there was a newborn baby here. How’s she doing?” Josh locked his gaze on Belle.

Belle’s face brightened, smiling at him. “Hey. What are you doing here?”

Maggie caught Lia’s eye momentarily. Lia blinked rapidly, then tossed a questioning glance back to Maggie.

“Thought I’d check in on my patient before heading back home to New Hampshire.”

Zach snickered. “Grace or Belle?”

Lia elbowed him.

“Why, little Grace, of course. Goodness, she’s grown!”

“It’s only been a week, Josh,” Belle said.

“Still, she’s plumping up.”

“Oh, she likes her milk.” Belle shifted the baby in her arms. “Do you want to hold her?”

Josh grinned. “I do.”

The server approached the table then, asking for their orders. Everyone scurried back to their seats, except for Josh and Belle and baby Grace, who sauntered off to a private booth to chat.

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