Christmas at the Restaurant (The Nantucket Restaurant #2)(30)

They had a good day of shopping, and Mandy was able to get through most of the kids’ wish lists. They had lunch at Not Your Average Joe’s, one of the few restaurants at the mall, and after they ate they walked over to Barnes and Noble for coffee and book browsing.

“Have you thought about what to get Matt?” Jill asked as they sat in the cafe area and sipped their coffees.

“Lots of thoughts, but no idea what to get him. It’s hard when he doesn’t need a thing and we’ve only been dating for a few months.”

“Yes, but you are pretty serious.”

“Which makes it even more difficult. Any suggestions?”

Jill thought for a moment. “Does he have any interesting hobbies?”

“He loves fishing. But I’m sure he has everything he needs, and I wouldn’t know what to look for anyway.”

“Hm. What about a coffee table book on fishing? Lots of big fish pictures? He might like that?”

“Maybe.” Mandy wasn’t convinced. A book didn’t seem like enough.

“Well, you could get him something else too. Get him something you’d like to see him in. That’s what I always do with Billy.”

Mandy laughed. “That’s not a bad idea. I did see a sweater in Nantucket Threads the other day that I thought would look great on him. It’s a deep, teal cashmere.”

“There you go! Get that and the book and you’re done.” Jill hesitated and said, “Unless you think he’s going really BIG. Like an engagement ring?”

“We’ve only been dating a few months!” Mandy was shocked at the suggestion. Cory moved fast, but she didn’t and she was pretty sure that Matt didn’t either. She couldn’t imagine that a ring was even on his mind.

“Well, it hasn’t been long for Cory either. Though she is pregnant.”

“Right. Cory’s situation is different. I think Matt and I are very much on the same page. I like the idea of a sweater. Do you want to help me find a book?”

“Sure, let’s go.”





Chapter 15





Gina was starting to panic a little by lunchtime on Friday. Alex’s company Christmas party was that night, at the Whitley Hotel, and she still hadn’t found a dress yet. She’d spent the morning going from shop to shop all over downtown Nantucket and just didn’t love anything that she’d seen. There were some dresses that would have looked lovely but their price tags were way out of her budget. That was one of the downsides of Nantucket—prices were higher than the norm because so many people that visited the inland could easily afford it. She remembered when she first moved to Nantucket, she’d been out window shopping one day and stumbled into a shop that focused on cashmere sweaters and the prices were sky-high, way out of her budget.

Straight ahead was The Corner Table where she loved to go sometimes for lunch or coffee. The food was delicious and it was casual and cozy. Her stomach rumbled and she was tempted to stop in and take a break, but then she saw something in the window at Nantucket Threads that made her decide to hold on lunch and pop into Izzy’s shop instead.

Izzy and her sister, Mia, sometimes came into the bar at Mimi’s Place and she’d gotten to know them a bit. She’d been into Izzy’s store a bunch of times, and loved it. Nantucket Threads was an eclectic mix of clothing, from touristy sweatshirts with Nantucket stamped across the front, to cute shorts and sweaters and other casual clothes. She didn’t think she’d find dressier clothes, but she knew Izzy was always trying out new styles to see what might sell.

When she got closer to the shop, she paused outside to take a closer look at the window display and felt a happy thrill. There were two festive dresses and they were both gorgeous. One was sleeveless black silk that was cocktail length and the other was a rich red jersey fabric with a boat neck and three-quarter length sleeves. She loved both of them.

She stepped inside and a moment later, Izzy came over to help.

“Gina, nice to see you! Are you looking for anything in particular?”

“I need a dress for a Christmas party tonight, actually. At the Whitley Hotel, so fancier than I would normally wear. I’d like to try both of the ones in your window, if possible.”

“I just put those up today. It’s a new designer. Come on back to the dressing room.”

Gina followed Izzy to the back of the store.

“I’ll be right back.”

A moment later, she returned with two dresses and hung them up in the room for Gina.

“Let me know on the sizing. I’m usually pretty good at guessing by looking at someone, but see what you think?”

Gina tried the black dress on first. It fit well and was flattering on. It was a basic black dress that she would definitely be able to wear again. She was relieved to finally find something that would work. And a glance at the price tag made her even happier. It was in the budget she’d hoped she’d find, which was below what she thought she’d have to pay on Nantucket. She appreciated that Izzy kept her prices reasonable, so that year-round people could afford her clothes as well as the tourists.

“Let me see when you try each one on,” Izzy called out.

Gina had been about to peel off the black dress and try on the red one, but instead she stepped out of the dressing room and twirled around so Izzy could see how the dress fit.