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Harper shoved his shoulder. “You’re so stupid.”
“Thank you.” He diverted his attention away from her and onto Olivia. “Where’s Shane this morning?” Shane, Olivia’s boyfriend, had come to Morgan’s Bay only a few weeks ago after discovering he had family in the small town.
“Breakfast with Mimi. He’s been trying to go over at least once a week.” Ever since Shane arrived, he’d been playing catch up on the last twenty-six years, trying to fill in the gaps.
“I’ll stop by the bar for lunch and grab a burger,” Milo said. Shane was the bartender at McConnell’s Pub while Olivia was a waitress until she figured out what she would do next.
“Isla, how’s your grandma doing? I haven’t had time to stop by and check in on her,” Milo said.
Isla smiled. “She has her good days and bad days.” Isla’s grandma was on short time thanks to a cancer diagnosis. Isla did her best to keep her grandma smiling by visiting as often as she could and bringing her flowers from the family’s florist shop.
“If she’s having a good day on Memorial Day then bring her to the party. I’d love to have her there. I’ll make sure she’s comfortable.”
“She’d love that. I’ll see if she’s up for it.”
Annabelle came over with his coffee, and he thanked her before standing up. “I know it’s going to break your hearts, but I need to get going.”
“If Harper doesn’t give you flyers, let me know. I’ll make them.”
“I’m sitting right here,” Harper said.
“I know,” Olivia stated matter-of-factly.
“Goodbye, Milo.” Harper waved, and Milo took a bow before heading out with coffee in hand.
“You’re crazy if you don’t take Milo up on that offer.” Olivia would never let this go.
“Liv is right,” Isla said. “It’s an opportunity, and even if nothing comes of it, at least you tried. What harm can it do?”
“Plus, the more business you get, the more money you make and the closer to your ultimate dream you’ll be.” The thought was nice, but Harper would need to book a shit-ton of private paint night events to raise the capital needed to open a brick and mortar location. It was a nice thought, but stepping back and thinking of the grand picture, it seemed impossible.
“Even if it worked out, do you know how many parties I’d have to book to get even close to opening my own place?”
“You’d still be closer than you are now,” Olivia said. “Everyone has to start somewhere.”
“I’ll think about it,” she said.
“Think about that and the other thing,” Isla said. “Both will do wonders for you.”
Chapter 4
Milo made his rounds for the day, taking Ms. Wheeler to her eye doctor appointment, stopping at his parents to see Mom and assure her he was alive, helping his parents’ neighbor Mr. Harrison trim his hedges then to McConnell’s to grab a burger for lunch.
He took his usual seat at the bar and waited for Shane to finish with the book club ladies. The women spotted Milo, and all waved in unison. Being the people pleaser he was, he got up to properly greet each one.
“What are we reading today, ladies?”
Karen Smith held up her copy, and Milo squinted to see the words. “What’s it about?” he asked, then laughed when all the women turned their blank stares to Jean Kelly, owner of The Book Nook. She sighed loudly. “Do you ladies ever read the book?”
“Sometimes,” Karen Smith, pie maker extraordinaire and owner of Pie in the Sky said while Maria and Lillian took sips from their margaritas.
Jean Kelly shook her head, then took Milo’s hand and smiled warmly. “Thank you for helping me carry those books the other day.”
He had been walking by when he happened to peer into the store and see her struggling with a stack of books. Only a jerk would have walked by without going in to offer assistance. “It was my pleasure, Mrs. Kelly. And like I said, anytime you need help with something like that just give me a call.”
“You’ve always been such a respectful young man, hasn’t he?” She turned to the other women at the table who agreed.
“Shane keeping your margaritas topped off?” Milo gave a glance to his friend, who returned with a few more napkins for the table.
