Owen was one hundred percent certain that Mari was going to make a success of the bookshop. Though the only contact she’d had with her mother was a text confirming Donna and Gary’s flight details, he felt wholly confident that Mari would be able to work things out with her family, as well. Anyone who loved her would support her dreams. He refused to consider any other outcome. Her parents would be arriving at Heathrow at noon and heading straight to Elderflower Island, at which point Mari would be able to talk everything over with them and have her lingering worries put to rest.
Just as he had all week, he’d slept over at her flat. When he woke at six thirty, Mari was already out of bed. She wasn’t in the bath or the kitchen. Which meant she must already be downstairs.
From his perspective, everything was done and ready for the reopening. She clearly didn’t feel the same way, though. Every time she gave the space another once-over, she found something new to tweak.
Pulling on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, he headed downstairs. Halfway to the shop floor, he realized Mari was talking with someone.
“What do you think, Mars?” She stroked the cat, who was sitting on her lap for what Owen was pretty sure was the first time. Almost as though Mars knew she needed extra support today. “Do you think we’re ready for customers?”
The cat purred. Loud and long. Then rolled to his back so that Mari could rub his belly.
Mari laughed. “I agree. We’re ready.”
“You are.”
Mari looked up and smiled when she spotted him on the stairs. “How long have you been listening?”
“Long enough to put in my vote of agreement.”
Eyeing Owen, the cat gave a twitch of his tail, then hopped off her lap and headed for the door. Mari let him out, then turned back into Owen’s arms.
“How are you feeling?”
She took a breath, blew it out. “Nervous. But good.” She threaded her fingers through his. “Whatever happens today, I know I’ve done my best. And I’m happy with it.”
“You should be happy. People who used to come to the shop are going to love the way you’ve preserved the essence of what Charlie created here while incorporating your unique changes. And people who are coming in for the first time are not only going to want to buy more books than they can carry home, they’ll also want to come back again and again.”
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re brilliant at giving pep talks?”
“What about pep kisses?” He was lowering his mouth to hers when the door opened.
“Good morning, lovebirds!” Alice grinned as she handed over a bag. “I’ve got freshly baked apple cinnamon muffins. I was hoping to get a chance to give the patio garden a quick shine before everyone arrives. A little sprinkle of water and some dead-heading, if necessary.”
“Go for it,” Mari said.
The words were barely out of her mouth when Jacob and Bernard arrived with trays of one-bite breakfast quiches. Sue from the Chinese takeaway was going to bring egg rolls at noon. By the time Owen had jumped in and out of the shower, then changed into clean clothes, Jill and Oliver from the boathouse had brought two huge sets of colorful helium balloons, one to tie outside the shop, the other to put inside. And Alfie from the pub had come across with coffee.
The rest of Owen’s family rolled in next. Tom had organized a harpist for the morning hours and an acoustic guitarist to play in the afternoon. Malcolm volunteered to run the register while Mari chatted with customers—he’d found the instruction manual online and knew the device inside out. Fiona had brought a half-dozen artful flower arrangements. Owen’s mother and father carried in a large cake container. And Mathilda, of course, was queen of her own personal Bookshop on the River corner of the shop.
Owen had checked one of her fan message boards last night and found dozens of messages from Mathilda’s local readers who had learned of the bookshop’s reopening—and their favorite author’s role in making it happen—saying that they were planning to come and buy new copies of her books for his grandmother to sign for them. As soon as the first pictures hit the Internet, word would spread like lightning to her fans around the world. They would want to make a special trip to Elderflower Island just to take pictures in the Bookshop on the River set Mari had created.
He’d alerted Mari that there might be a swarm of Mathilda Westcott fans descending today and that his family was on high alert to help out in case of potential crowd-control issues.
Already, the shop was a hive of activity and chatter. Mari beamed as each person gave her a hug. She was so grateful for everyone’s help—he must have heard her say thank you fifty times already. They were all just as grateful for her.
Especially Owen.
* * *
Elderflower Island Books officially reopened for business at ten a.m. By three that afternoon, Malcolm had rung up enough sales to run out of bags. Part of it was down to the incredible support the island locals were giving Mari and the shop, as each person who came in made sure to buy something before leaving. But it was also due to Mathilda’s fans coming out in droves to meet their literary hero for the first time in a year.
Mari was thankful she had ordered a dozen extra boxes of Mathilda’s books. Granted, she’d thought the copies would last a few months—not that they’d be flying out the door at record speed on her first day. At present, Fiona was restocking the shelves for the fifth time, while Tom and Aria helped keep Mathilda’s fans in a happy and orderly line.
It couldn’t be going better. The only problem was that Mari’s parents hadn’t yet arrived. She’d checked their flight details online and knew the plane had arrived on time. She’d sent several texts, but hadn’t heard back.
Where were they?
“Mari!”
At the sound of her brother’s voice, she turned and practically ran into his arms, she was so happy to see him. At least, she would have run if she could have made her way through the swarms of customers.
“Carson, I’m so glad you’re here.”
After giving her a bear hug, he said, “Your store looks incredible! It’s night and day from what you showed me when you first arrived.” He grinned at her. “I knew you could do it.”
“It feels amazing. I’ve never known it was possible to feel so satisfied…or so tired,” she added with a crooked smile. “It was worth every ounce of blood, sweat, and tears, though.”
“No kidding. You should be ecstatic.” He looked around the store. “Mom and Dad should have gotten here a couple of hours ago, right? How did she react when she saw all this?”
“Actually, they haven’t come yet. And neither one is responding to my texts or calls. Their plane landed on time, so it’s not that.”
“That doesn’t sound like them. There must be a reasonable explanation.” Obviously sensing her unspoken worries that she had been trying so hard to push away, he added, “We both know Mom has some seriously deep-seated issues with your birth father—but there’s no way she’d let that stop her. Not after you specifically called to ask her to come.”
“That’s exactly what Owen’s been saying,” Mari said.
“Owen?” Carson raised an eyebrow. “Is he the man you told me about? The one who’s—”
“In love with your sister.” Owen moved to Mari’s side and held out his hand. “Owen Sullivan. It’s great to meet you.”
Mari watched Carson size up Owen for a few tense seconds before finally shaking his hand. “It’s good to meet you too. Mari mentioned you in an email, but beyond that, I’m afraid I don’t know much about you.”
“Whatever you want to know, I’m happy to share,” Owen said.
Mari instinctively reached for his hand, suddenly nervous that her brother might not like the one person she wanted him to approve of most. Though she couldn’t imagine what Carson might disapprove of, in her experience, big brothers tended to be overprotective at the most awkward times.
“What was your relationship with Mari’s birth father?” Carson asked. “What do you do for a living? And how the hell did you manage to gain my sister’s trust—and her heart—so quickly?”
Mari reeled from her brother’s pointed questions. But Owen didn’t look the least bit put out.
“Charlie was my friend,” Owen said first. “He was a friend to most of us in here. Especially my family.” He gestured to the packed bookshop. “There are a good dozen Sullivans in the shop right now, and I’m sure you’ll meet all of them over the next couple of hours.” With that said, he continued on to Carson’s second question. “I manage my grandmother’s literary career.” He pointed to where Mathilda was holding court with her throngs of fans. “And I honestly have no idea how I managed to convince your sister to trust and love me…just that I’ll never stop being thankful that she does.”
“You’re kind, helpful, encouraging, and honest, for starters,” Mari said to Owen. “And it doesn’t hurt that I adore your family too.” She turned back to her brother. “Seriously, the Sullivans are amazing. You wouldn’t believe how much they’ve done to help me.” Alice was within reach, so Mari pulled her over. “Alice, this is my brother, Carson. Carson, this is the brilliant and amazing Alice Sullivan, who is responsible for the gorgeous patio garden you’ll soon see in the back.”
As Alice’s and Carson’s eyes met, Mari could have sworn she saw a bright spark of electricity arc between them.
“Hello.” For the first time, Alice almost looked shy.
“Hi.” Carson couldn’t stop staring. To the point where Owen was now adopting the overprotective big-brother stance on his sister’s behalf.
Fortunately, just then Owen’s grandmother called him over. Alice was still standing beside Mari, blushing furiously, when suddenly, Mari felt a change in the air. One that had nothing to do with the obvious attraction between her brother and Owen’s sister.