was talking about the college kids she’d mentioned and not the sign she was making for Quinn.
“Yeah, okay,” Carly said absently, wondering why her dreams with Zev had seemed realistic when they were together. We can make this work, Carly. We just have to be creative. Everything had always seemed possible when they were together. They’d taken advantage of every second they’d had while Zev was in town, living every moment to the fullest, and when they were younger, everything had not only seemed possible, but the dreams that were within reach had come to fruition. Had it been easier then? No. It couldn’t have been. They’d had the demands of school, homework, and their parents’ rules to follow.
Was she just overthinking? Putting limits on their limitless adventures?
“And if we hired more people, you might be able to get time off to see that man of yours. Or maybe you could hook up with those college guys.”
“Uh-huh,” Carly said absently.
“Carly!” Birdie clapped her hands, startling her. “You aren’t even listening to me.”
“What?” Shoot. What was she talking about? “Yes I was.”
“Bullhockey, and what’s that look on your face?”
“There’s no look on my face.” There was definitely a look; she could feel it. But she didn’t want to talk about it.
“You look like you’re trying to solve world peace again.”
Again? She didn’t have the patience for an inquisition. “Maybe I am,” she snapped, and stormed off toward the kitchen. Hating herself for being short with Birdie, she turned around and said, “Sorry, Bird. Long day. I’m going to get more brownies.”
She had to pull herself together. Zev had been gone only four days, and she was acting like he’d been gone a year with no hope in sight of her ever seeing him again. So what if they didn’t see each other for a few more weeks? A person couldn’t die from missing someone—even if it felt like she might.
She ducked into her office, calmed by the sight of the pictures of her and Zev. She wondered how the interview had gone. Zev had said he would have Randi send the link as soon as they had it, since he’d most likely be in the water. She touched the postcard he’d mailed to her from Silver Island, reliving the thrill that she’d felt when she’d seen it in the mailbox yesterday. It was hanging on the corkboard behind her desk, the picture of the Silver Island monument smiling back at her. She’d read the note on the back so many times, she knew it by heart.
Remember the time when we were miles apart and our love got stronger? Yours then, yours now, yours forever, Zev
How was he getting through this without losing his mind? She knew how much he missed her. He’d told her dozens of times, but was he as tortured as she was? She hoped not, because this anguish was horrible.
She glanced at the calendar on her desk. The highlighted events that had once proven how far she’d come now felt like weights dragging her down, and she hated that feeling.
Her phone vibrated, and she pulled it from her back pocket and saw a message from Birdie. You have a visitor.
For a split second, Carly hoped it was Zev. But he was pulling the cannon out of the sea today. She drew in a few rejuvenating breaths and headed into the shop.
Birdie was straightening a display near the entrance to the kitchen. She looked at Carly funny and said, “Brownies?”
“Shoot. I forgot.” Carly took a quick glance around the shop and said, “I thought someone was here to see me.”
Birdie pointed behind a display near the far corner of the store, where someone was bent over looking at gift baskets. “I’ll get the brownies.”
Carly approached the customer and said, “Hi, I’m Carly Dy—” The woman turned around, and Carly’s heart leapt at the warm brown eyes looking back at her from behind mahogany cat-eye frames. “Aunt Marie!” She practically launched herself into her loving arms. Marie held her tight against her tall, thin frame. She smelled like hope and healing and all the good things she’d brought into Carly’s life.
“What are you doing here?” Carly asked, stepping back, unable to stop grinning as she took stock of how happy her aunt looked. Her eyes had a shimmer to them, and her auburn hair had grown out from the pixie cut she’d worn for as long as Carly could remember. It had a Meg Ryan look to it, shaggy and