If I Didn't Know Better (The Callaways #9)(17)

"Isn't that for quilting?"

"Oh, we do tons of other stuff up there, too. This will be so much fun."

"I would love to meet some of my aunt's friends, but do you think they'll want to color?"

"I'd say yes, especially if it's in Carly's honor. I'll get my friend Charlotte to help. She's always up for a party. We can make copies of the sketches and preserve the originals."

"I could take care of that," she offered.

"Great. Let's exchange numbers and we'll set a date, probably the sooner the better. How long will you be in town?"

"I don't have a set plan, but I'm thinking at this point at least a few weeks."

"Perfect." Kara gave her another smile. "I do have to warn you that if you stay in Angel's Bay too long, you might never leave. This town has a way of spinning a web around you."

"My aunt told me that once. She said she came here for a summer vacation and never left. Although she traveled a lot, Angel's Bay was home base. Were you born here, Kara?"

"I was, and my family, the Murrays, was one of the founding families of the town. I have ancestors dating back to the original shipwreck."

"Aunt Carly told me the story once, but I don't really remember it."

"The short version is that people were fleeing San Francisco after the Gold Rush ended. One of the ships got caught in a big storm off the coast and split apart. The survivors started the town and called it Angel's Bay in memory of their lost loved ones. Legend has it that angels still watch over the town and miracles can happen."

"Have you seen any of those miracles?"

Kara's face sobered. "Actually, I have."

"Really?" she asked with surprise.

"My husband Colin is a police officer. He was shot a few years ago. I was pregnant at the time. He was in a coma for months. I wasn't sure if he would ever wake up and see our daughter, but he did. And he's perfect now. We added another child last year, so life is pretty crazy and more than a little wonderful."

"I'm sure the last thing you need to add to your list is a coloring book party."

"Well, as I said, I like to take on projects even if I don't have time for them, and this sounds fun and easy enough to throw together. Shall we go for it?"

"Yes," she said. "But tell me what I can do to help. I don't want you to have to work too hard."

"If you can make copies of the sketches, that would be great. We have plenty of markers and colored pencils in the craft part of the quilt store. I was actually thinking that we should stock coloring books after talking to my friend. This will be a good test of how much interest there might be in town for this kind of creative project." She glanced at her watch. "I better run, but let me get your number."

After they exchanged phone numbers, Kara said, "So is that cute little girl spying on us from the cottage your daughter?"

Mia glanced toward the studio and saw a quick movement in the shadows of the doorway. "No, that's Ashlyn. She lives next door. She's rather shy."

"I wish one of my daughters was shy, but they both seem to have their father's outgoing personality."

"And yours," Mia said with a laugh, sensing that Kara rarely met anyone who stayed a stranger for long.

"I suppose that's true. So you don't have a daughter; what about a husband?"

"I don't have one of those, either."

"Interesting. We have some good-looking single men in town."

She laughed at that pointed suggestion. "Thanks, but I'm off men for the moment."

"Bad breakup?"

"You could say that. Anyway, thanks for the dessert and for being so welcoming. I'm really touched by your generosity."

"You're more than welcome. Carly was a really wonderful person—warm, kind, generous, and free-spirited. We all miss her. And we're all really happy to meet you, because she talked about you quite a bit. She said she had a bunch of nieces and nephews but only one who shared her love of art, and that was you."

"Yes, that would be me."

"I'll be in touch. Enjoy the lemon bars; they're my favorite."

"I'm sure I will."

As Kara left, Mia took the lid off the container, her stomach rumbling at the sight of the lemon bars sprinkled with powdered sugar. "It's time for a snack, Ashlyn," she said, thinking she'd go to the cottage and bribe the girl out with a lemon bar. It turned out that she didn't have to bribe her at all.

Ashlyn was practically behind her when she turned around.

She put a hand to her heart. "You are the quietest little girl. Are you hungry?"

Ashlyn nodded.

"Lemon bar or raspberry cookie?"

Ashlyn pointed to the lemon bar.

"That’s my favorite, too." She hesitated. "You're not allergic to lemon or anything, are you?"

Ashlyn shook her head.

"Would your dad care if you had this before a healthy lunch?"

Ashlyn repeated the negative shake of her head.

Mia laughed. "Ask a silly question, right?" She handed the bar to Ashlyn, and they both sat down at the table.

"That woman who came by was named Kara," Mia said conversationally. "She was really friendly. She wants to have a party to introduce me to some of my aunt's friends. I think it's a good idea. And she thinks we should color at the party." She reached across the table and picked up one of the patterns. "This does look fun to color. What do you think?"