Page 28 of Christmas On Anchor Island

“Are you going to eat that cake?” Conner said, climbing onto the chair beside his aunt.

“Haven’t you had a piece already?” she said, certain Cal didn’t want him having any more sugar.

He held two fingers close together. “Just that much.”

Henri pulled the boy onto her lap. “How about we share then?”

Conner picked up the fork. “I go first.”

With her nephew on her lap, Henri couldn’t turn to keep an eye on Mia, but she could still hear Jeremy prattling away about who knew what. Once dessert was over, she’d slide in between them. Until then, she’d try to keep Conner from sending himself into a sugar coma.

* * *

When Jeremy workedhis way into the seat beside Mia, Grandma hadn’t so much as smiled in his direction. It hadn’t taken Mia long to figure out why. Announcing her intention to leave the island had led to the choice of a new man.

Which was how Mia ended up showing Knox the mural she’d painted in the restaurant shortly before it had opened earlier in the year. What Grandma didn’t know was that Knox was well aware of Mia’s leanings, but he played along and was a good sport about the obvious matchmaking.

“When do you have to go back?” she asked, checking on Henri for the fourth time since they’d moved to the far side of the restaurant.

“My leave goes through the twenty-seventh,” Knox replied. “Why don’t you go talk to her?”

“What?” Mia said, straightening. “Go talk to who?”

He gestured toward Henri with a lift of his chin. “You know who. Mingling is allowed at stuff like this, right? So go mingle.”

She wanted to do more than mingle with Henri Bloom, but this was not the place nor the time for that.

“I don’t want to leave you on your own.”

He shook his head. “I can take care of myself. Go on over.”

Offering a grateful smile, she said, “I think I will.”

Unfortunately, Mia didn’t move fast enough as Patty Dempsey cut her off along the way. Joe and Lucas’s mom had been one of Mia’s first customers on the island. She’d also talked her up enough to keep her busy for several months after.

“You look especially pretty today,” Patty said with a smile. “I’ve been meaning to tell you that backdrop you painted for the Santa pictures was beautiful. You capture the spirit of this island in every piece you do.”

Mia had interpreted Anchor Island as a winter wonderland for the Santa pictures backdrop, an idea she’d been playing with for a couple of years.

“Thank you. I had fun doing that one.”

“I sent a picture of it to a friend of mine in Raleigh and she asked if you ever travel for commissions. She’s been looking for someone to create a one-of-a-kind wall for her first grandchild’s nursery. I told her I’d ask, but that I didn’t know of you ever leaving the island for something like that.”

Days ago, she’d never have considered doing such a thing, but today the idea made Mia itch to pack a bag. “I’d love to talk to her about it. Will you give her my email and let her know I’m interested?”

“I can certainly do that,” Patty replied. “She’s going to be so excited.”

“I’m excited, too.”

With a gentle touch on her arm, Patty said, “Merry Christmas, Mia.”

“Merry Christmas to you, too.”

The older woman headed back to her family and Mia looked around for Henri, who was no longer at her table. She found her playing hide and seek with Conner around the hostess stand. Though they’d never talked about kids, Henri was so good with the toddler. Patient and always willing to play whatever game the little boy came up with.

She’d probably argue the thought, but Henri would make a great mom.

Mia took two steps in their direction when Jeremy stepped in front of her. “Can we talk for a minute?” he asked.

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