Page 107 of The Cottage on Blueberry Bay

Meredith could feel herself blush as Remy gave Meredith a little jab in the rib and said, “You two look really good together.”

Shefeltlike they were good together. Did she officially have someone special? Like a boyfriend?

People mingled around the barn, drinking champagne and having hors d’oeuvres. A string quartet played softly in the background. The whole time, she noticed Quinn stealing glances at her.

Was she supposed to ask Quinn to go steady? At fifty? What did people do when they were falling in love for the second time?

She shook her spinning thoughts away and took his hand into hers. That’s what felt right. Quinn holding her hand.

“Want to take the kids to the festival tonight?” she asked him. “After the blueberry picking, of course.”

The side of Quinn’s mouth perked up. “That sounds great.”

It didn’t take long for Ryan and Kyle to start talking about fishing. Ryan’s face lit up as Kyle told him about Jacob’s boat. He didn’t even pay attention to his mother holding another man’s hand. “And you catch lobsters with it?”

She turned to Quinn and said quietly, “I want to give Kyle the boat.”

Quinn shook his head. “I can’t have you just give it to him.”

“I want to do that for him,” she said, looking at her son and Kyle talking. “Besides, that way he can use his money for college.”

Quinn stared at her. “Are you sure?”

She nodded. “Nothing would make me happier than to give Kyle his boat.”

“I think Jacob would’ve been very happy to know what you’ve done with everything,” Quinn said.

He squeezed Meredith’s hand before letting her go to greet Gordon.

“You must be Meredith’s dad,” he said, shaking Gordon’s hand with both of his.

“You must be Quinn.” Gordon gave a little wink at Meredith.

She looked right at Remy, who smiled back at her. She had spilled the beans about Quinn.

When they all walked out of the barn, Quinn took Meredith’s hand again.

“What if the money from that painting that the governor just bought could be Kyle’s college tuition?” she said. “I know that’s what Jacob would’ve wanted for him.”

Quinn shook his head. “I can’t take your money.”

Then she stopped, holding him back as the crowd went ahead. “This is what Jacob would’ve wanted for Kyle and for you and for me.”

“I don’t know, Meredith, it’s too generous,” said Quinn.

“Think of it like a scholarship. Kyle could be the first Jacob O’Neill scholarship recipient?” she said, begging silently for him to stay in Blueberry Bay with her.

Quinn looked into her eyes, holding her hands with his. “I can’t thank you enough, Meredith. Ever since you came into my life…it’s been better. You make me happy. And it’s been a long time since I’ve been happy like this.”

Meredith laughed, placing her hands on his face, pulling him closer to her. “You make me happy.”

“I want you to be part of my life, Meredith.” He stood inches away from her. His breath warming her lips. “I want to be all in.”

She kissed him right then. “I want to be all in, too.”

And Meredith had never been happier.

CHAPTER38

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