to say more.
“I’m staying in Magnolia,” she told them, the four simple words a sliver of sound in the quiet. But they felt monumental as she spoke them.
Avery and Meredith let out cheers and squeals of delight, startling Carrie and making her heart thrum in her chest. Or maybe that was the relief from the sense of claiming her life. Truly claiming what she wanted. Most of it anyway.
As they continued to talk, Avery and Meredith avoided the topic of Dylan and his plans to develop the properties he owned in town. Carrie didn’t bring up the subject, either. The trip had given her a different perspective on her hometown. A small dot on the map along the coast of North Carolina didn’t have much in common with a big city, but the diversity of people and neighborhoods she’d seen on her trip had impressed her and given her hope for Magnolia. An influx of luxury properties and upscale businesses wouldn’t wipe out the quiet charm she loved.
Dylan could do whatever he felt like he needed to for his cousin’s legacy or for Sam or whatever he wanted to call it. She wouldn’t let that stop her from making it her home, as well.
As if he knew she’d been thinking about him, a text from him came through at that moment.
“Everything okay?” Avery asked as she pulled off the highway and onto the two-lane road toward Carrie’s house.
“Can you drop me off at the gallery?” Carrie typed in a quick response and hit Send before she lost her nerve.
“You bet,” Avery answered. “What’s going on at the gallery?”
“I’m not sure.” Carrie bit down on her lower lip then said, “Dylan asked me to meet him there.” She waited for the protests from both her sisters, but neither of them said a word.
She turned in her seat to eye Meredith, who was suddenly busy staring out the window at the houses she’d probably passed hundreds of times over the years like they were the eighth wonder of the world.
“You have nothing to say to that?”
Meredith shrugged. “What do you think he wants?”
“Did you talk to him while you were in New York?” Avery asked, flicking a curious glance toward Carrie.
“I don’t know what he wants,” she said to Meredith then studied Avery. “I haven’t spoken to Dylan since Christmas Eve dinner.”
Avery lifted a brow. “But you’re willing to meet him now?”
“I’m staying in Magnolia and unless something changes, so is he. I’m not exactly the gunslinger ‘this town ain’t big enough for the two of us’ type,” she admitted. “I tried that when he first returned, and it got me nothing but a ticket to a broken heart.”
“You don’t sound angry anymore,” Meredith said. “Have you forgiven him?”
“No,” Carrie answered then shook her head. “Maybe. I don’t even know if he needs my forgiveness. He didn’t do what I wanted...” She darted a glance between the two of them. “What all of us wanted. But I’m not sure it was fair of me to expect him to. He gets to do whatever he wants with the real estate he owns. I still think we can turn Magnolia around and into a town that attracts younger residents and visitors from all over.”
“We’re already talking about a Valentine’s Day campaign,” Avery told her. “Plans haven’t gone too far without you and your amazing ability to organize everything but—”
“You should go forward without me,” Carrie told her sister on a rush of breath. “I want to focus on the gallery and my art. Being in New York inspired me, and not just to paint more. I want to bring other artists from around the state and show their work at The Reed Gallery. We could host an art co-op in the space and make it a hub for artists in the region.”
“Okay,” Avery said slowly. “What about the paint-and-sip parties?”
Carrie shook her head even as nerves made her flush with heat. “I’ll finish the bookings, but that’s it. I know we need immediate money to pay off Niall’s debts, but I don’t want to teach those classes. When the estate gets through probate, I’d like to buy the gallery.”
“It’s already yours,” Avery told her.
“That place has always belonged to you,” Meredith added, leaning forward to pat Carrie’s shoulder.
“I appreciate that, but it’s not true yet. I need to make it true. And we need to put Dad’s house on the market as soon as we can. It’s our best chance to get the money