Page 92 of Merry Little Midlife Matchmaker

A little while later,the four of us decided to head over to my parents’ place to catch the tail end of the celebrations. It seemed right to me to start mending those relationships right away. The ground was steady beneath my feet, and besides, I wanted to see everyone. I wanted to blow a kazoo and have a glass of champagne with my mom. I didn’t need to be stubborn or standoffish. My new beginning might as well start with the New Year.

The kids bounded down the pathway toward Sean’s truck, chattering excitedly. They were wearing their pajamas, winter boots, and jackets, and didn’t seem bothered about missing the countdown—although the novelty and naughtiness of being out and about way past their bedtimes probably buttered them up a bit.

I locked the front door and smiled at Sean. “Ready?”

He nodded but didn’t move. Then he reached into his jacket’s breast pocket and pulled out an envelope. “I never gave you this.”

My brows furrowed as I watched him extend the envelope toward me. “What is it?”

“Your Christmas present.”

I froze. “Oh. No, it’s okay?—”

“Take it, Lizzie. I got it for you before I messed everything up.”

Biting my lower lip, I took the envelope and opened it. Inside was a thick, luxurious-feeling business card with the words Art’s Cove embossed in gold lettering. On the back of the card, someone had scratched out a phone number.

Another peek inside the envelope told me that was it. I lifted the card. “What is this?”

“You know Georgia Neves who owns the art gallery on Cove Boulevard?”

I glanced down at the gold lettering. “I know of her.”

“I talked to her. Showed her some of your photos.”

My gaze snapped up to his. “What?”

A hint of guilt entered his expression. “Just the ones you sent me.”

“You said those were for your phone background!”

His hands flew up, palms out in a placating gesture. “You’regood, Lizzie. And Georgia agrees. She said she’d be happy to cover the costs of printing and framing if you wanted to show a few pieces in the gallery.”

I turned into a fish for a few moments, my mouth opening and closing while nothing came out. Then I glanced at the card again. “What?”

Sean’s low laugh wrapped around me like a warm hug. “I wanted to get one of them printed and framed to give to you with her card, but…”

“Things kind of fell apart.”

He hummed. “Will you call her?”

I ran my finger along the thick edge of the card as the world went unsteady beneath me again. “I…”

“Say yes,” he whispered.

The old me would never do it. It was scary and unfamiliar. It was out of my comfort zone. But I glanced up at his truck, where the kids were clipping themselves into the back seat, then up at Sean’s expectant face.

We were minutes into the New Year, and I felt the significance of the moment in every nerve in my body. It was a new beginning with Sean, with my family, with myself. A doorway leading into the unknown.

Didn’t I owe it to myself to take a step through it?

“I’ll call her,” I promised.

Sean’s smile warmed me down to my toes. He threaded his fingers through mine and tugged me to his truck. We drove tomy parents’ house and stepped through the door into a house full of light, laughter, cheers, and the usual, familiar chaos.

My mother was the first to spot us. She let out a cry, then hugged me so tightly my spine cracked. Pulling away with tears in her eyes, all she said was, “You’re here.”

“I’m here.”

---