Page 89 of Falling for You Again

I gape at him. “Seriously? You dump the shop on me, ghost the family, then have the nerve to show upafterwe’ve finished cleaning? And you want to know how it’s going?For real?”

He swipes his hand in the air and scoffs. “Yeah, I know. But after what Dean did, then you go off and get married and screw up my deal, I figured you all deserved it.”

My mouth falls open.

“But you’re right. It was a shit move. I should have been here for you.”

I sputter, my argument wilting on my tongue with his apology.

“Where have you been?” I ask.

Uncle Bear’s cheeks brighten to a ruddy red. He clears his throat and drags a hand over his jaw. “I was at the Cape.”

“Alone?”

“Not exactly,” he hedges. I wait. He sighs, annoyed. “Remember that delivery to the Cape your dad and I did a month back? It was for a woman, a retired banker. Lovely lady who lost her husband a few years back.” He stalls.

“And?”

He shrugs. “And we hit it off.”

Uncle Bear has a girlfriend? I could tease him but I won’t. This is a big step for him, to take a risk with his emotions.

“I’m happy for you.”

“You’d like her, Meli.”

“I look forward to meeting her.”

A fleeting smile appears on his face that I now notice is quite tan. He’s been spending time in the sun with his lady friend.

Uncle Bear is quiet and contemplative when he takes his last lap around the shop. He stops, touches a wall. Then he abruptly turns and walks my way. “Ready?”

“Are you?”

“Yep. Been ready for a long time.”

I study him, wondering if he feels the same as me. Like the weight of the past has finally lifted, leaving room for a fresh start and new beginnings.

“Want to get the lights?” I ask, my hand on the door.

“Nah. You do the honors.”

“All right.” I hold my hand over the switch. “Three, two, one.” I flick off the lights, and Artisant Designs goes dark. We leave the building.

“Nice shirt.” Uncle Bear nods over at me as we walk toward the T station.

I look down at myself. “Thanks. Found it in my uncle’s closet.”

Uncle Bear grumbles his displeasure under his breath. “I always wondered where it went.”

I grin.

“Want to grab chowder and beers?”

I hook my arm with his. “I’d love to.”

“Always leave a lasting finish,” he muses.

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