Fifteen minutes later, they had put away their life jackets, paddles, and boards and headed across the street to his grandmother’s cottage.
Once they were on the pavement, Mari put her hand over his. “Good luck with your talk tonight. But given how much you and your grandmother clearly adore each other, I very much doubt you’re going to need it.”
He threaded his fingers through hers, then lifted her hand to his lips. “Thank you.”
He was surprised when she tugged him closer and kissed him. As soon as their mouths met, her body melted into his. It wasn’t until a passing car honked that he remembered where they were—standing in Elderflower Lane, kissing in broad daylight. Still, it wasn’t easy to let her go. Not when all he wanted was to pull her closer.
“I should get back to the store,” she said in a voice that didn’t seem quite steady. “If you need anything…you know where I am.”
Hell yes, he already needed more of her kisses. But she was right that he should talk with his grandmother immediately. A year was more than long enough to have kept the truth from her.
Mathilda was waiting with a freshly brewed pot of tea when he walked in. “How was the river?”
“Like glass.”
“And how was Mari?”
“Lovely as ever.”
She put out a plate of biscuits, then two cups and saucers. “I was hoping you would invite her in.”
“She’d very much like to meet you. But tonight, I’d appreciate the chance to speak with you privately.”
One brow rose as she poured the tea. “From your tone, this doesn’t sound like it’s going to be about business. Is it?”
“No.” He ran a hand over his face. “Well, not entirely.”
She sat, then gestured for him to continue.
“Over the past few years, several companies have tried to recruit me.”
“As well they should. You’re the best of the best.” It twisted his gut tighter to see the loving pride on her face.
“Thank you for saying that, Gran. Although you might reconsider by the time I’ve told you the whole truth.”
“Whatever it is you have to say, you’ll always be the grandson I love and the colleague I respect.” She took a sip of her tea. “Now, out with it.”
“Before I say anything more, I want you to know that I never truly planned to leave you, Gran. However…” He blew out a harsh breath. “I wasn’t immune to flattery.”
“No one is, darling.”
“The day you had your stroke, I told you I’d gone to Notting Hill to meet with a book binder to discuss special hardcover editions. I did meet with him, Gran, but afterward, I was wined and dined by a major streaming service that wanted to bring me on board to head up their TV licensing division.” They’d ordered oysters that day for lunch. He hadn’t been able to eat one since. “While you were lying on the floor, desperate for help, I was getting drunk on champagne and pretty words about how great they thought I was.” Champagne was at the very bottom of his drinks list now too. “I can’t tell you how much I wish I could do that day over again.”
“Have you finished beating yourself up?”
“Honestly? I don’t know that I ever will. How can I stop blaming myself for not being here for you when you needed me most?”
“You just do.” She made it sound so easy, so final. “First, by knowing that I don’t blame you for anything.”
“Why wouldn’t you, when I went behind your back at the worst possible time?”
“Of course I wish you had been honest with me, Owen, but I understand why you weren’t. We both know that family working together isn’t without complications. Sometimes we don’t see eye to eye. Sometimes you want to stretch your wings in one direction, while I want to fly in another. But throughout the ups and the downs of our entwined careers, we always love each other. And though we may spend plenty of hours together looking at book sales figures, or copyeditors’ changes, or a whole host of other business concerns, our love for one another is, at both the beginning and the end of each day, the only thing that truly matters.”
“Always, Gran. You know I’d do anything for you.”
“And you have.” She reached for his hand. “I know how many job offers you’ve turned down to stay with me—offers you would be crazy not to listen to. Offers I suspect you’re even crazier to have rejected. Besides, I’m just as driven by ego as anyone.” Before he could protest that she didn’t have an egotistical bone in her body, she said, “Every day that you’re still here with me, working your magic on my behalf, when a dozen bigger and brighter worlds could be your oyster, I’m selfishly pleased. So you see, you’re not the only one who owes an apology. I owe you one for holding on too tightly.”
“Never too tightly, Gran.”
She squeezed his hand again, then let go to pick up her teacup. “Now that we’ve had this much-needed heart-to-heart, and you understand that you have absolutely nothing to feel guilty for, I hope that you will no longer feel the need to spend every spare moment at my side, or be in your office around the clock.”
“I promise to work on the guilt,” he said, “but I don’t think I’ll ever be able to stop worrying about leaving you alone too long.”
“I hired you to run my business, Owen, not to make sure I live forever.” His grandmother had always been blunt, but never more so than tonight. “I dearly hope I don’t have another stroke. But if I do?” She held his gaze. “Whatever happens to me won’t be your fault, wherever you are, near or far.”
Though he knew it would take a while for her words to sink in—and that a part of him would always be compelled to watch over her—he nodded. “Got it, Gran.”
“Now,” she said as she picked up a biscuit and crunched into it, “I’m planning to visit Mari tomorrow to say hello.”
“The two of you are going to hit it off,” he said. Then he had to add, “Do you know why Charlie never spoke of her to anyone?”
“Yes, I do. I tried to talk him out of it many times over the years, but it was no use. As I said earlier, blame never helps anyone, regardless of whether it’s aimed out or in. If Charlie could have forgiven himself, he could have had the chance at a relationship with his daughter.” She gave her head a shake, as though to dislodge the dark mood. “Now, I don’t want to keep you from dropping by the bookshop again tonight if Mari is expecting you.”
It was hugely tempting to go to Mari and continue their kiss where they’d left off. But he wanted to make sure his relationship with his grandmother was completely solid. “Actually, Gran, though I know you and I could probably both use some time apart after the past year, if it’s all right with you, tonight I’d quite like to spend some time thrashing you at Happy Families.”
Mathilda laughed at his sneaky tie-in to her earlier statement about family coming first. “Sometimes you really are too clever for your own good.”
He winked at her, and as he went into the living room to fetch the game, he sent a quick text to Mari, thanking her for pushing him to finally do the right thing by talking openly with Mathilda and letting her know that it had gone well.
When she sent him back a smiley face and then mentioned that jet leg had returned with a vengeance, he wished her a good night’s sleep. And realized, as he tucked his phone into his pocket, that already he couldn’t imagine his life without her in it.