He noticed the small sedan parked next to his truck in the lot as he approached, and his pulse gave a now expected leap as Angi climbed out.

His reaction to her might be familiar, but his inability to control it remained a source of frustration. Another distraction and an unwanted pull on his heart.

“I’m sorry,” she said as she came toward him. “I got here as soon as I could. I figured you’d want a few minutes with her.”

“With her body,” he muttered, shame making his gut clench painfully. “She died with no family at her side. She died alone.”

Angi enveloped him in a soft hug. He didn’t deserve anyone’s comfort at this moment, but he greedily took it anyway. Another mark against him.

“She knew you came,” Angi said against his jacket. “Her spirit was still there.”

“I don’t need you to placate me.” He should have pulled away but couldn’t bring himself to release her.

“Can I at least offer support?”

“It won’t help,” he told her, determined to wear his theoretical hair shirt for as long as possible. Other than his own guilt, what could he offer his grandmother as retribution for not being with her?

She leaned back enough to look up at him. “I’m going to give it to you anyway. I can be stubborn like that.”

“She shouldn’t have died alone,” he whispered, and squeezed his eyes shut when a flood of tears pricked the back of them. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d cried.

“Gabe, your grandmother knew how much you loved her. Think about her face that night in the shop. She was surrounded by people who cared about her, and the business she’d dedicated her life to was flourishing again. You did that. You put your life on hold to dedicate yourself to making her happy and taking care of her. She knew she was loved.”

“I don’t want to feel better,” he said, another round of guilt plaguing him. “I need to be sad right now, Ang.”

“Grieving is normal,” she told him. “But you don’t have to do it alone.”

Wasn’t that just the kicker? Here she was offering him comfort and he couldn’t even allow himself to take it.

“I should go,” he said, and forced himself to step away from her. “I need to start with funeral arrangements and call my mom.”

“Will she come to Magnolia for the service?” Angi’s face looked pained as she asked the question.

Gabe could imagine the same emotion reflected in his eyes.

“I don’t know.” He gave a humorless laugh. “Although I’m sure she’ll be here to take over the shop and house once the estate is settled.”

“What will you do?”

“Move on, I guess.” He shrugged. “This was always temporary.”

He refused to acknowledge the disappointment in her chocolate-colored eyes. He refused to consider that he didn’t have to walk away. There was no possibility Gabe could live in the same town as his mother, or watch as she sold the shop and house he loved.