Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 89183 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89183 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Josie was so thrilled to have met Mari. And to be part of a team with her.
“We have to open a bottle of bubbly!” Mari announced.
Owen was already headed up the stairs. “That’s exactly what I’m going to get now.”
He was back shortly with four glasses and a bottle of champagne.
“My agent sent me the champagne as a gift after Mars at the Beach was published,” Mari said, “and this feels like the right time to drink it.”
Mari popped the cork and then filled four flutes, handing them out. “To our amazing new adventure together,” she said. “And to Josie moving to England.”
They clinked glasses and drank.
Then Malcolm held up his glass again. “There’s something else we have to celebrate,” he said. He looked at Josie as if to get her permission, and she nodded. “We wanted to let you know that Josie and I are together.”
She knew he’d specifically asked Alice not to tell Mari and Owen, as he and Josie wanted to tell them.
Mari’s eyes got big. “Like together together?”
Owen didn’t say anything, simply looked between the two of them as if waiting for confirmation.
“Yes,” Josie said with a smile. “Together. A proper couple,” she said, echoing the way Malcolm had put it just a short while ago.
They all clinked again and drank.
“Your head must be spinning,” Owen noted.
She couldn’t help but wonder at Owen’s slight reticence. Why he didn’t seem completely overjoyed by the news that she was dating Malcolm. Was he worried that something would happen between them that would interfere with her business relationship with Mari? That was a valid concern, actually. Still, she was intent on pushing those worries away. She’d made her decision to risk, well, everything. And now that she’d decided, she was going to stand by it. No matter what.
* * *
While Josie and Mari remained in the bookshop to have a meeting about the upcoming retreat, Malcolm and Owen went upstairs to the flat above the shop and sat in the comfortable armchairs by the window.
“A proper relationship, is it?” Owen said. “I’m as pleased as can be, but you’re hard on women.”
Malcolm nodded, trying not to be defensive. Of course he understood why his brother would have doubts when Malcolm had been anything but a relationship man before now. “She’s different. She’s special.”
Owen nodded. “I agree with both of those things. The question is—is that enough for you?”
Malcolm’s jaw tightened. “Of course.”
Owen said nothing for a few long moments. “I hope so. I think she’s good for you. Really good. We all think that, as you know. I would just hate to see things turn sour.”
“I’m not going to let our relationship affect her working relationship with Mari, if that’s what you’re concerned about,” Malcolm stated.
Owen shook his head. “No, you take business a lot more seriously than that. I’m sure you’ll go out of your way to make sure that nothing you do, or don’t do, negatively affects either Josie or Mari. And I can’t tell you how much Mari appreciates the help that you’ve given on the cottages. You’ve been a lifesaver for her. Both of you have.” He paused again, for just a moment. “This has happened pretty fast, that’s all. I want to make sure you’ve thought it through.”
Malcolm worked to keep his expression and body at ease. “Things were fast with you and Mari too. And it’s not like you didn’t have any issues or damage going in.”
“You’re right, it was quick. But I knew it was right, from the start.”
“Then you get it,” Malcolm said. “It’s how I feel as well.”
“Good,” his brother said, looking relieved. “If you need anything, want to talk anything through, anytime, I’m always here.”
“Thanks,” Malcolm said, a little gruffly as he was hit with a swell of emotion. He knew his brother wasn’t just looking out for what might happen to Josie if he ended up changing his mind about having a “proper relationship.” Owen was also concerned about him. They were all close, he and Owen especially, as they were the oldest and so close in age. They’d banded together so many times over the years. And yet, he’d never spoken to his brother, or any of his family, not even his mother, about finding his father in the black pit of emotional despair all those years ago.
A part of him considered bringing it up now. But that was water under the bridge. Long-past history. And he was completely over it. Getting together with Josie was just more proof that he’d healed from the trauma of finding his father, the man who’d always seemed like a rock, shaking and crying, drinking whiskey straight from the bottle. That had shattered something in the teenage Malcolm, some sense that he could trust another human being fully.
The two women came back, and Owen poured them all refills. The celebrations continued with takeout Chinese. It was another hour before Josie and Malcolm headed back to the houseboat. He wanted to prove to her, prove to Owen, prove to all of them, that he was making the right decision. And that he wasn’t going to let anyone down. Yet again, he found he didn’t have the words.