If I Didn't Know Better (The Callaways #9)(3)

"Yes, but Angel's Bay is only an hour or so from Santa Barbara, so I'll be able to make the wedding."

"Good. I'm counting on you being there."

As Maddie left to say hello to someone else, Mia walked into the living room.

Her Aunt Lynda waved her toward the couch. "Come sit next to me, Mia."

Lynda Callaway, a blue-eyed blonde in her late fifties, was married to Mia's Uncle Jack and was both mother and stepmother to eight of her cousins. She was also one of the nicest people Mia had ever known.

"I'm sorry about your mother's fall," Lynda said, as Mia sat down next to her. "And I'm also sorry about your Aunt Carly. She was such a lovely, energetic woman. I got a postcard from her on my birthday a few months ago. I couldn't believe she remembered. The postcard was from Paris. She told me she'd rented a loft for a month and was spending her days painting by the Seine, drinking wine at dusk and talking to handsome men in the moonlight." Lynda laughed. "What a life."

"I'll say." The restlessness she'd been feeling for weeks grew stronger as she thought about her aunt's words. Maybe her aunt had died too young, but she'd certainly lived well.

"Your mom said you're going down to Angel's Bay to clear out Carly's house," Lynda continued.

She nodded. "Yes, it might take a few weeks. Aunt Carly had a lot of stuff."

"Well, there are worse things than spending August at the beach."

"I know. It's a tough job, but someone has to do it," she said lightly.

"Can I give you one little piece of advice, Mia, if you don't mind?"

"Of course not," she said, tensing at the question. She didn’t know how much the rest of the family knew about her problems, but she was hoping very little.

"Don't be in a rush to throw things away. Sometimes what people leave behind is more important than you think. And there's a healing to touching and holding items that meant something to the person you loved."

Lynda's words brought unexpected moisture to her eyes. "I agree."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry." Lynda gave her an apologetic smile.

"I'm fine. I'm just a little emotional."

"As you should be. Loss is always difficult. But you're the perfect person for the job, because you love history and art. I think you're going to find both in your Aunt Carly's house."

"I am curious to see what's there. The last few years she rented out the cottage at the back of her house to artists passing through town or local painters needing a place to create their art. Aunt Carly never asked for rent money, but she did request that each artist leave behind one piece of original art when they moved on. I can't help thinking I might make a real discovery in that cottage."

"That does sound like a possibility."

"It looks like the party is starting," Mia said, as Emma took center stage.

"Just a few games. I promise they'll be fun," Emma said with a laugh, as her news was received with groans of displeasure.

Emma's determined gaze told the group that they were going to play whether they wanted to or not. "We're going to mix it up between baby and bridal, so our two favorite girls, Nicole and Maddie, will each feel special," she added. "Let's start with you, Nicole. You have to guess what's in the diaper bag that Ria is holding." She motioned toward the dark blonde holding an overstuffed tote bag in her hands.

Nicole shook her head. "I can't."

"Come on, you have to play," Emma said with a frown. "I know you think games are silly, but they're fun, too."

"I can't." Nicole stood up, a pained expression on her face as she held her stomach with both hands. "My water just broke. I'm in labor. Oh, my God, I'm in labor. It's too early. It's too soon."

"You'll be okay, Nicole," Lynda said, jumping to her feet as she rushed toward her daughter. "We're going to get you to the hospital."

"I'm going with you," Emma said.

"I'll call Ryan," Sara put in.

"I'm sorry, Maddie," Nicole said. "I'm wrecking your party."

Maddie waved a hand in the air. "Don't be silly. We'll celebrate after you deliver your beautiful daughter."

"It's too early. I wish Shayla were here," Nicole added, referring to her younger sister, who was also a doctor.

"She'll be at the hospital," Emma reassured Nicole as they left the living room.

"Never a dull moment at a Callaway party," Annie said, coming over to her.

"You can say that again. I hope everything goes well."

"It will," Annie said confidently.

"Okay, the party will now go on," Sara declared, taking charge. "We'll just focus on Maddie and celebrate Nicole's baby when she brings her home."

As Sara started the next game, Mia thought about how many of her cousins were making big moves in their lives with babies and weddings. She'd been stuck in a rut, but she was going to get out of it, starting tomorrow with a very long drive down the coast.





Two

As Jeremy Holt drove through the streets of Angel's Bay on Monday afternoon, he wondered why he'd ever made the decision to come home. On the other hand, had he really had a choice?