Mari was looking forward to meeting Owen’s family today. She had taken special care with her hair, makeup, and outfit. While she’d lived in jeans, T-shirts, and tennis shoes since arriving, she had brought a few nice things with her. It was nice to put on a dress, ballet flats, some mascara, and a little lipstick. Of course, taking off so many hours today meant she was going to need to work doubly hard in the store this evening.
The buzzer for Mari’s flat rang, and after taking one last look at her reflection in the kitchen window, happy that she wasn’t covered head to toe in dust for once, she headed downstairs.
She was halfway down when she realized Owen wasn’t the only one standing outside. Through the front windows, she could see at least a dozen people. She first recognized Alice, and then realized the man and woman standing beside Owen’s sister had to be his parents.
Mari unlocked the door. “Hello, everyone,” she said in a cheerful voice that she hoped didn’t betray her nerves.
“Owen thought it would be a good idea to surprise you with lunch here, instead of at Mum and Dad’s house,” Alice announced before anyone else could get a word in. She was holding a big tray of plants and also had a canvas bag slung over her shoulder with a hand shovel peeking out the side. “He thought you could make use of a big work crew for the day. I’m planning to finish turning the garden patio into a thing of beauty.”
“I certainly can use a big work crew,” Mari agreed. “Please, come inside.”
Alice blew her an air kiss as she passed into the store. Owen, who was holding two insulated grocery bags that Mari assumed must contain lunch, moved close enough so that only she could hear him say, “You look beautiful. And I hope this is all right. Everyone wanted to pitch in, but I don’t mean to overwhelm you.”
“Thank you,” she said first, and then, “It is a really nice surprise. I never dreamed so many people would want to help.”
“Or that they would all be members of my family,” he joked.
Though she recognized Jacob and Bernard from the café, Alfie from the pub, and Sue from the Chinese takeaway, she was amazed that the rest of them must be Sullivans.
“Mum, Dad, this is Mari. Mari, these are my parents, Penny and Simon.”
“It’s absolutely lovely to meet you,” Owen’s mother said, giving Mari a kiss on each cheek. “You so remind me of your father. I’m terribly sorry about his passing.”
“Thank you.” Mari was immediately warmed by Penny. She could see her resemblance to her mother, Mathilda, and yet they were clearly very different personalities. While Owen’s grandmother had a bit of an edge to her—one that Mari longed to emulate, as she was certain it was at least partly responsible for Mathilda’s considerable success—Penny seemed wholly calm and steady. Yet another set of traits Mari would love to possess herself.
“Welcome to Elderflower Island,” Simon Sullivan said a moment later. Mari guessed he was in his mid-sixties. Still a strikingly good-looking man, she could see where Owen got his strong chin and piercing blue eyes. Like Owen, he was also carrying two bags stuffed to the gills with food. “I hope it’s all right that we’ve brought a motley crew?”
“It’s a wonderful surprise,” Mari told him. “Although you don’t have to work if you don’t want to.”
“Of course we want to work. That’s what Charlie would have wanted too.”
“Mari,” Owen interrupted, “this is my brother Malcolm, and you already know Gran.”
“Hello, darling.” Mathilda gave Mari a kiss on each cheek. “I’ll make myself useful bossing everyone around.”
Wow, Mari thought as she turned back to Malcolm. Good genes ran in this family in a serious way. While Owen was the only one who made her heart go pitter-patter, she couldn’t deny how attractive his brother was. “Hello. It’s nice to meet you.”
Before she could decide if she should do the double-cheek kiss with Malcom, or shake hands, he held out his hand.
“It’s good to meet you too.”
Though Alice had said her brother did something fancy in the city, looking at Malcolm in his jeans and sweatshirt, she wouldn’t have known as he looked more like a professional athlete than a billionaire. Mari appreciated that he didn’t broadcast his success with a fancy watch or a convertible out front.
A few seconds later, another man with features similar to Owen’s and Malcolm’s came over to say hello. He had a very cute little girl with him. Which meant he had to be Tom.
“Hi, I’m Mari,” she said to both of them. And then, focusing solely on the little girl, she said, “I’m so glad you’re here today. You’re Aria, aren’t you?” When she nodded, Mari said, “Do you have a favorite author?”
Aria smiled. “Roald Dahl. My dad has read all his books over and over to me, practically a million times!”
“Me too,” Mari said with a smile. “One time, when I was reading Matilda, I got to the scene where Matilda puts dye in her father’s hair tonic, and I laughed so hard that I accidentally snorted milk out my nose.”
“Daddy? Did you hear that? Owen’s girlfriend snorted milk out her nose!”
Mari hadn’t been expecting to hear the words Owen’s girlfriend today, at least not in reference to herself. She hoped the blush suddenly splashed across her face went unnoticed, though she very much doubted it would, given her pale complexion.
“I snorted ice cream out my nose once,” Tom told his daughter.
“I want to snort ice cream out my nose too!” Aria declared. “Promise to make me laugh really, really hard the next time we’re having ice cream, okay, Daddy?”
“I promise,” he said, then turned his smile to Mari. “I’m Tom, and I really appreciate your taking over Elderflower Island Books. It would have been a massive loss not only for the island, but for this city, to see it close permanently.”
“I hear you’re considering taking on the island’s concert hall?”
He half smiled, half grimaced. “My accountant says it’s a terrible idea. I know he’s probably right, but I can’t seem to give up the dream.”
“I know exactly how you feel. I actually am an accountant, and I would likely give a client the same advice about this bookstore. Yet, here I am.”
“How about if I help you prove your inner accountant wrong today,” Tom suggested, “and then if I end up taking the plunge myself, you’ll help prove my accountant wrong too?”
“Sounds like a perfect plan,” she said.
“Daddy, I want to show you the Lego bookland Charlie and I built last time I was here!”
Mari breathed a sigh of relief that she’d kept the Lego brick structure exactly as she’d found it. That was when she realized Owen was scowling after his brother’s retreating back. “What’s wrong?”
“He’s already half in love with you.”
She laughed at the ridiculous thought. “No, he isn’t. He was just being polite and making conversation.”
“Tom doesn’t do polite. That was straight-up flirting. And the fact that Aria likes you too is a clincher.”
“Your brother seems really nice. And Aria is adorable. But—” She smiled into his eyes. “He isn’t you.”
For a moment, she thought he might break their rule about no kissing for the time being—in front of his entire family. Suddenly, however, a beautiful woman burst into the store.
“I’m so sorry I’m late! Traffic was a nightmare.” She offered her hand to Mari. “Hello, I’m Fiona, Owen’s sister. You must be Charlie’s daughter.”
Mari was struck by the way every inch of Fiona seemed to be polished, from head to toe. Though she’d claimed to have rushed here, not a hair was out of place, her makeup was perfect, and her clothes, shoes, and bag clearly cost a fortune.
“Yes, I’m Mari. It’s so nice to meet you.”
“My husband was hoping to make it today, but he had a last-minute meeting to attend.”
Owen was frowning again, but this time there was obvious concern behind it. “I’m glad you at least were able to make it, Fi. It’s been too long since we’ve all seen you.”
“You know how busy this time of year is for Lewis,” she said. “It seems there’s always another business event to attend. Last weekend, we were at a house party with a Scottish duke.” Before her statement could come across as snobbish, she added, “I’m still coughing up hairballs from the wild animals roaming freely through the vast, freezing halls. I couldn’t be happier to spend today in a cozy bookshop.”
Alice had said she was concerned about her sister’s happiness. Owen clearly seemed to be, as well. But while there was an air of fragility about Fiona, she also seemed extremely nice. Only Malcolm seemed to be holding back a bit, as though he wasn’t quite ready to trust Mari yet.
“I’ll see if Mum needs help setting out lunch,” Fiona said, then disappeared into the store.
“I can’t believe your whole family came to help today,” Mari said to Owen. “Thank you for asking them. I should probably change out of this dress now that we’re having a workday.”
“If you need help with buttons or zippers,” he offered in a low voice, “you know where to find me.” Shivers of desire raced up her spine as he took her hand in his. “But seriously, be sure to let me know if the gang gets to be too much. I’ll boot them out.”
“On the contrary, I’m not sure I’m ever going to let them leave, especially if they’re the kind of workers you and Alice have already proven to be.” Her stomach let out a huge growl. “Clearly, I’m also really excited about lunch.”
But instead of heading to where the food was being set up on the garden patio, he stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. “You really are breathtakingly beautiful.” With obvious reluctance, he drew his hand away.
After going upstairs to change into jeans and a T-shirt, she came back down to find that Owen’s family had worked a miracle on the back patio, turning it into the perfect al fresco dining room. Two long folding tables had been unearthed and laid with linens, cutlery, and glassware. Not only that, but the most delicious food was spread across the tables. Roast beef, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, and gravy. Yum. Mari’s stomach grumbled again in eager anticipation.
Before long, everyone was seated and passing platters of food, while topping up glasses and chatting and laughing. Mari loved being a part of the group, even if she spent more time sitting back to take it all in than chiming in herself. In her fantasies of what life on Elderflower Island might be like, she had never guessed there would be such a tight-knit sense of community. Or that they would all embrace her the way they had.
It was wonderful.
Conversation was light and easy. Whenever Charlie was brought up, it wasn’t with sadness, but to share funny stories about how he’d liked to spontaneously read aloud from random books, or how he was a great mimic and could imitate voices perfectly. Mari was happy to share how much she loved England so far and how magical her experiences at the London Library, the Charles Dickens Museum, and the Sherlock Holmes Museum had been yesterday. When asked about the best places to visit in Southern California, she shared her favorite destinations. Malcolm even warmed up to her a little as he talked about how much he’d loved his time living in the US.
It wasn’t until lunch was over and everyone had helped clear up that Mari directed each person to where she thought they might be the most helpful. Fashion, Art, and Architecture for Fiona. Business for Malcolm. Music and Biographies for Tom. Alice planned to completely redo the plants in the garden, but realized she needed to pick up a few things at the nearby plant nursery first. And Mathilda would be overseeing the lot of them.
Once everyone else had headed back inside, Owen’s parents asked to have a private word with Mari.
“Charlie was a good friend,” Simon said. “I hope this isn’t too intrusive of me, but ever since we learned about you, I’ve been racking my brain to try to think of any clues we might have missed. Anytime he might have been about to share a secret, but we didn’t give him the chance, perhaps?”
To lay his concerns to rest, Mari said, “Please, don’t worry about being intrusive. I’m here in large part because I want to know more about my father. I don’t know how much Owen, Mathilda, and Alice have told you about what happened, but the short version is that something really bad nearly happened when I was three and he was supposed to be watching me, and my mother subsequently kicked him out of our lives. Evidently, though, he’d already been planning to leave, because he thought it was for the best. I’m sure you won’t be surprised to hear that I don’t agree with either of the decisions they made. But since I was too young to let them know what I wanted, and I can’t go back and change the past, I want to focus on learning about his life, celebrating who he was. From everything I’ve heard so far, Charlie was happiest here on Elderflower Island. And I like thinking of him being happy.”
“As I’m sure you’ve been told many times already,” Simon said, “Charlie was a very nice man. And I’d like to believe he truly was happy here, but the truth is that there was always something sad lingering beneath his smile. It wasn’t hard to guess that it might have to do with the fact that he wouldn’t have so much as a drop of alcohol, even in a dessert. And I suppose, looking back, there was always a wistfulness about him as he watched our kids grow up, probably because he saw you in Alice or Fiona. I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been to lose you.”
“Anything you ever want to know,” Penny put in, “we’d be more than happy to answer for you. In fact, I brought some photos of Charlie if you’d like to see them.”
“I would.” Mari’s throat was thick with emotion. “Very much.”
Penny took an envelope from her purse. She handed it to Mari. “If you’d rather look at them alone…”
“Actually, I would appreciate it if you could tell me about the pictures.”
Penny pulled one out, smiling as she said, “This was taken the day your father opened Elderflower Island Books.”
From the clothes and hairstyles, it was clearly the early nineties. Charlie was standing beside the till, the same one still there today, and he looked proud of his new venture. And yet, just as Owen’s father had said, there was also a sense of sorrow about him. Of loss that could never be recovered. No matter how much he succeeded in his career, it seemed grief would never be far behind.
At last, this was Mari’s chance to ask about something she’d long wanted to know. “Did he have any serious relationships? Or was he alone the whole time that you knew him?”
“He was never truly alone in the sense that he always had friends, and people who cared about him,” Penny replied. “But as far as we know, he never dated. We tried to set him up with another friend once, but he was adamant that he wouldn’t meet her. It didn’t make sense at the time, but now I can guess that he might not have believed he deserved to be happy once he’d walked away from you.”
Mari had always been fairly reserved. It took a while for people to earn her trust, and her brother was really the only one to whom she’d ever poured out her heart until coming to Elderflower Island. But with Owen and his family, it felt perfectly natural to bare her heart. And to admit, “I don’t think I ever felt I deserved to be truly happy either. That maybe his leaving was my fault. That if I hadn’t ended up in a dangerous position, then maybe Charlie could have gotten help for his addiction, stayed with us, and remained in my life.”
“Oh, Mari.” Owen’s mother held open her arms. “I hope you don’t think this is too forward, but I would very much like to give you a hug.”
Mari answered not with words but by walking into her arms.
“You were a little girl. Innocent,” Penny said. “You weren’t responsible for Charlie’s choices, so you can let all those worries, all those false beliefs go.”
It felt so nice to be held. To be comforted. To feel safe and secure, even while she was on the precipice of the biggest changes in her life. Now, she was even more inspired to do great things on Elderflower Island, just as Charlie had done.
When she stepped out of Penny’s arms, Mari said, “If you wouldn’t mind leaving the pictures with me, I’d like to look through the rest of them later. Right now, I’m feeling extra energized to get to work.”
Owen’s father grinned. “I’m great with a hammer, if you’ve got anything that needs fixing.”
“As a matter of fact, I have plenty that needs fixing.” Mari rattled off a list that started with the sash window on the left side of the store, to a light fixture in the children’s area, to a floorboard that popped up whenever she walked over it. She broke off with a laugh. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to go overboard.”
“The more work you’ve got for me, the better. I don’t get to put my hammer and screwdrivers to use nearly often enough.”
As Simon walked off to get his tool belt, Penny said, “Owen mentioned that you’re interested in putting on events here. Could I be of any help?”
“I was hoping you’d ask,” Mari replied with a smile. “I understand that you put on the exhibitions at the V&A, which sounds like a truly incredible job. I haven’t had a chance to visit the museum yet, but I’m really looking forward to it.”
“Let’s schedule a private tour,” Penny said with a smile. “I did help your father with a handful of events over the years, but he was always a little overwhelmed by big groups of people, so putting on special evenings wasn’t a focus for him. If you’re looking to pack the place, however, I do have a few ideas that I’d like to run past you.”
“Packing the place is exactly what I’m after,” Mari said. “If it will enable me to run the store profitably, I’ll do pretty much anything. Plus, I’ve found that I quite like having big groups of people around me.”
She smiled as she looked through the windows into the bookstore, where everyone was working hard on her behalf. On Charlie’s too. Because they all loved him. Regardless of his past or his quirks he had been accepted and supported as an integral part of the Elderflower Island community.
Exactly the way they were all accepting and supporting her.