Chapter 19
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Michelle stepped out of Fresh Pick Grocery and sniffed the wind eagerly. She could smell the homey aroma of baking bread on the breeze, along with the wild scent of the ocean and the sweet smell of a nearby flowering cherry tree.
What a beautiful day, she thought, rolling her cart toward her car. I never had fun going grocery shopping like this in the city. I always felt rushed. Today I just feel relaxed and excited about cooking all the recipes I bought ingredients for.
She hummed quietly to herself as she strolled toward her car.
The cart made a rattling sound which seemed like a drumbeat accompaniment to the other sounds around her—people laughing and talking, the sound of the surf splashing against the nearby shore, and in the distance, church bells chiming the hour.
She reached her car and lifted the first grocery bag out of the cart. It was stuffed with fresh fruits and vegetables, and although it was heavy, she enjoyed hoisting it up into her arms. It gave her a whiff of apples and strawberries, and she smiled.
I never stopped to think about apples having a smell before, she thought. Of course apple juice and apple cider smells a certain way, but I’ve never slowed down enough to notice that even apples that still have the skin on them smell so fresh and sweet.
She had just finished loading the last bag into the trunk of her car when she heard someone calling her name. Her first thought was that it was probably Theo, and her most practiced pretend scowl sprang onto her face, ready for action.
It wasn’t Theo, however, and a second later her scowl melted into smile. Evan McBride was hurrying toward her, looking eager.
This man is much nicer than I originally gave him credit for, she thought, waving at him. Look at how big his smile is. He’s so excited about something—I wonder what it is?
“Hi, Michelle,” Evan said as he reached her side. He sounded slightly out of breath. “How are you?”
“I’m good, thanks. How are you?”
“Good, good. I wanted to let you know that I just received the final documents confirming that Elaine’s home is now legally able to be opened as a historical exhibit.”
“Really?” Michelle brightened, thrilled by the news. “That’s fantastic.”
Evan nodded, smiling. “It really is.”
“Thanks so much for telling me,” she said, and then all at once she became curious.
Why was Evan so excited about the mansion being allowed to become a historical site?
He had been somewhat against the idea before, according to her mother.
What had caused his change of heart? And why was he so excited that he’d felt the need to flag her down instead of simply calling her mother or even sending an email?
This man is famous for being grumpy and aloof, she thought. Why on earth is he so excited about the mansion becoming a historical site? I wonder…
She thought about what her grandmother had said about Evan being interested in her mother romantically. She felt a buzz of interest as she wondered if Evan’s affection for her mother was what was causing his unusual enthusiasm for the mansion being turned into a historical site.
“That’s amazing news,” she continued. “And so much faster than we’d expected.
Was my mother pestering you about these permits at every turn?
She was, I bet. I imagine it’ll be a relief for you now that this is all wrapped up.
” Michelle chose her words carefully, hoping to bait Evan into a confession of romantic interest.
Evan shook his head. “No, not at all. It wasn’t any trouble, really. It’s my job, after all.”
“True.” Michelle smiled. “But I’m sure my mother made her voice heard more than once. She can be a very persistent woman when she sets her mind to something.” She chuckled.
A small smile crept over Evan’s face. “Yes, she can be,” he said, agreeing quietly.
Michelle felt a flutter of excitement as she noticed the smitten gleam in Evan’s eyes when he talked about Audrey.
Grandma was right, she thought, suppressing a grin. He seems to have a growing interest in Coral Sands’ newly arrived divorcée.
Out loud she said, “Well, I appreciate you letting me know, and I’ll pass along the good news to my mom and grandma. We’ll have to make something special for dinner tonight to celebrate the good news.”
She considered asking him if he wanted to come over for dinner, but then she decided that wasn’t her place. She wasn’t positive how her mother felt about him, after all. If Audrey wasn’t ready to take that kind of step with Evan, she didn’t want to force her into it.
Evan nodded at her. “Have a great evening,” he said, and she found herself wondering how this could possibly be the same man who’d been so grumpy about the coffee spilled on his documents.
“You too,” she said, smiling at him as she shut the trunk of her car.
She watched Evan as he walked away, noticing that he moved with the same kind of intent and purpose as her mother.
Huh, she thought. Maybe they would be a good match.
She inhaled slowly, trying to process her emotions.
At first, the idea of her mother possibly falling in love with a new man was a bit odd to her.
She wanted her mother to find romance and happiness again, but it had still been a strange thought.
Now that she’d had more time to get used to the idea, however, she thought it was a lovely concept.
A new chance at love could be just what Audrey needed for her heart to heal from the pain of betrayal.
This seems like a good place to fall in love, she thought as she drove along Coral Sands’ cozy streets. It’s quaint, and picturesque, and people are so genuine here. I wouldn’t worry as much about whether or not a guy was sincere if I tried dating someone here.
The idea of herself falling in love startled her, and she quickly shook her head, reminding herself that she’d been thinking about love for her mother, not any kind of sappy Hallmark happily-ever-after for herself.
She reached the mansion and went inside through the back door.
Elaine was out at her book club meeting and Audrey was at the library working on marketing plans for the mansion, so Michelle had the place to herself for a while.
She hummed happily as she put away the groceries, deciding that she would make a chicken pot pie for dinner to celebrate the good news that the permits had been approved.
She couldn’t wait to tell her mother and grandmother the announcement, and she danced a little as she bustled about the kitchen.
Outside, on the branch of a flowering crabapple tree, a robin landed and began to sing his heart out, clearly full of joy and hope for the future.
“Me too, little robin,” Michelle said with a smile as she plopped the bag of flour down onto the kitchen counter. “Me too.”