He knew so much about her, and maybe that was part of the problem. What man in his right mind would sign up for the mess she’d revealed to him from the start? A part of her—the girl who’d played make-believe with her dolls as a kid, where Barbie had always ended up married to her perfect Ken—wanted a do-over. She’d shave her legs and curl her hair and spritz a subtle scent on her throat and wrists. He’d take her out to dinner at some fancy restaurant, and she’d smile and flirt and find excuses to touch his arm.

Any excuse to touch him.

But the part of her—the biggest part—who lived in reality knew that even a do-over wouldn’t make it better. And she didn’t really want that kind of better anyway. If she wanted to live the life she craved and step fully into herself, there was no point in playing pretend. Her reality was complicated and messy. No amount of expensive perfume would change that.

Just like no amount of wishing or hoping would change the fact that Gabe would leave Magnolia in the new year.

Taking her heart with him.

“It meant a lot to Andrew to have you come with us today,” she said, giving at least a slice of the truth. “Thank you.”

He studied her for a long moment, as if trying to decipher some hidden meaning in those words. Then he nodded. “I’m glad to be here.”

“Mom. Gabe.” Andrew’s voice called from the barn. “Come on. I’ve already taught her to sit. You have to see. She’s the smartest dog ever.”

Angi let the happiness in her son’s voice soothe the ache in her heart. “We’re coming,” she answered, and led Gabe toward the open barn doors.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

GABE LOCKED THE door to the florist shop the following evening and turned to survey Main Street. He’d stayed last to catch up on orders and update inventory. It was nearly nine so the storefronts around him were darkened, although the sidewalks still glowed with the twinkle lights that had been strewn across windows and wrapped around light posts for several blocks.

At first, he hadn’t appreciated the effort business owners and community leaders put into making the town a coastal holiday paradise. Not that he considered himself a grinch. He just didn’t see the point in going all out for only a few weeks of the year.

A lot had changed. The lights had become a sort of beacon, representing the hope and magic he hadn’t even realized he craved in his life. On nights when he couldn’t sleep, he’d drive around and look at the lights that people had forgotten to turn off for the night, imagining happy stories for the families behind the bright facades.

Angi had helped him see how important that magic was. As much as he missed his grandmother, he’d be eternally grateful that he’d had this precious time with her and that she’d seen her shop filled with people once again before she passed away.