“I don’t want to talk about Gabe right now. This is a new year. A new start for me.” She couldn’t keep talking about Gabe; otherwise, she was liable to embarrass herself and burst into tears. She had cried way too much in the past two weeks, even though so many other parts of her life were going well now.

Despite the fact that Angi had walked away from their partnership, Emma and Mariella been thrilled by her return. She’d transitioned from the restaurant to the inn with a glad heart, knowing she had her mother’s blessing.

It made her wish she’d told her mom how she truly felt months ago. Which made her wonder what would have happened if she’d told Gabe about her feelings before his mother had come to town and infected him with her emotional poison. Maybe Mariella had been right, but Angi didn’t know what to do about it now. Gabe was gone. She’d learned from his grandmother’s attorney that he wasn’t taking calls or returning messages.

He’d truly left her and Magnolia behind.

Her attention shifted as the front door opened and Andrew walked into the room. The look on the boy’s face as he took in all of the bright pink decorations that filled the space would have been comical in another circumstance. Angi’s choice for a color scheme might not have included exclusively shades of pink, but that’s what the mom-to-be wanted so they’d made her happy.

She took a step toward her son. There was no humor to be found in the situation until she knew what he was doing here when her mom was supposed to be watching him.

Then Gabe entered the room behind Andrew, and her heart skipped a beat.

“This should be good,” she heard Mariella say from behind her.

Angi was surprised she could hear anything over the pounding in her head. As if there was a tangible shift in the energy of the room, conversation stopped as all eyes moved to Gabe.

Emma stepped forward before Angi could. “Hey, Drew,” she said. “We have extra cupcakes in the kitchen if you want to grab one.” She switched her gaze to Gabe. “This isn’t the time or place.”

“I know,” he said solemnly, but didn’t move.

Andrew came toward Angi with a wide smile. “Hey, Mom. Gabe came back. Nonna yelled at him real good. I’m gonna get a cupcake.”

She felt her mouth drop open as her son walked past her and the swinging door to the kitchen whooshed behind him.

Gabe had talked to her mother.

“I deserved everything she said to me.” He shrugged. “Even if I couldn’t understand most of it.”

“Gabe.” Emma’s voice held a note of warning. All of the women were staring at him.

“I know,” he repeated. “My timing is awful, but it has to be now.”

His gaze switched to Angi, and the emotion she saw there made her breath catch in her throat. “I’ve wasted too much time already.”