Page 19 of Suited for Love

She smiles. "He's a pain, like all siblings should be. Do you have any?"

"Nope. Just me."

"Think you'll ever want kids?"

A picture of Tuck holding a baby pops into my mind. Just the thought makes my ovaries quiver. "I always thought I'd be a mother. But I'll be forty next year, so I think that door may be closed."

Carlinya waves a hand in the air. "When one door closes, another opens."

I gasp, a wave of emotion threatening to knock me over. "My father told me that once."

"Smart man." She scratches her chin. "Hildy never had kids."

"Oh." I never knew my great-aunt, so I sometimes forget that everyone else in town did. "I guess I figured as much since I'm her closest heir. Did you know her well?"

Carlinya shrugs. "She kept to herself mostly, especially in the later years. She had a fella for a while, the original owner of The Bait Bucket. She was a bit more social then. After he passed, we stopped seeing much of her. She didn't even open her store most days."

"Depression?" I ask.

Carlinya shakes her head. "Nah. She just wasn't much of a people person. The only person she ever seemed to like was Tuck."

That gets my attention. "Tuck?"

Carlinya nods. "He's a good neighbor, that boy."

I think of my collection of his sweatshirts. I have three now. I'll return them…eventually. The one he gave me the first night on the roof is my favorite. It's old and faded with "Friendly High School Dolphins" screen-printed on the back. It must be over twenty years old.

Carlinya stands. "Well, I guess I ought to be going before Coop starts to worry. Thank you for the water."

"Not yet," I beg. "I have something for you. A small gift to thank you for your kindness that first day." I run to grab the gift bag from underneath the counter.

She looks at it with surprise. "My name is on the tag."

"Of course, it is. I told you it's a gift for you."

"But how did you know I'd come by today?"

"I didn't," I admit, "but I had a feeling you'd visit eventually."

Her hands tremble slightly as she opens the bag. She pulls out the delicate silk scarf. It's a gorgeous swirl of pinks and blues.

"It's part of my sunset collection," I say, gesturing to one of the mannequins with the scarf wrapped around its head.

To my horror, tears well in her eyes.

"Oh, no. Carlinya, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to…" I shake my head helplessly, unsure what I've done wrong. Perhaps it's an unwelcome reminder of her illness?

She sniffles. "You're a good girl."

"Why are you crying?"

She smiles but shakes her head. "I like you. I wish folks would give you a chance."

"Actually, I have an idea about that. I could use your help if you're up for it." Carlinya is trustworthy. I'm not sure how I know, but I do.

Hildy may have been my long-lost relative, but I feel like I've gained a surrogate aunt in Carlinya.

She listens to my plan and her eyes sparkle with mischief. "I'm in."