Page 49 of The Me I Left Behind (Tuckaway Bay #4)

Twenty-Six

September

Maggie checked the watercolor class supply list one more time, made her final selections, then paid for her purchases.

As she headed to the back of the store where the classes were held, her tummy did a little dance of anticipation.

To say she’d been looking forward to this day, this class, would be an understatement.

Andy Ryan was nowhere to be seen. Yet. Of course, he would be there, eventually.

He was the instructor. She tried not to even think about him.

Her reason for being there was to refresh her watercolor techniques—hone those skills again.

Maybe even make some friends. She’d been working with acrylics all summer, and now she was ready to move on.

She smiled at that thought. She was, indeed, ready to move on.

In more ways than one.

Four women sat around a large table, arranging their table-top easels, prepping brushes and paints and cups of water— more or less placing things to their liking, she assumed. She spotted an empty chair at the end and made her way to it.

The women chatted, welcoming her.

“I’m Maggie,” she told them.

“First time here, Maggie?” the woman to her left said. “I’m Kathy.”

“Yes, it is.” Maggie grinned. “Nice to meet you all.”

“I’m Jan.” The young woman waved from the end.

“Sally over here.”

“Mavis.” The woman to her right held out her hand. Maggie shook it. “We’ve all been coming for a while.”

“Oh, then I have some catching up to do.”

Mavis waved her off. “Naw. We’re all learning. It’s great to see a new face.”

“I’ll second that.” The male voice came from behind her. Andy?

She turned. “Oh. Hello there.”

Andy grinned that wide, happy smile of his. She’d occasionally thought of that smile over the summer. It was kind and warm and…welcoming. “Glad you could make it, Maggie.”

“I’m glad you could fit me into this class.”

Mavis giggled. Maggie wasn’t quite sure why.

“Not a problem,” he said. “Right, ladies? Always room for one more.”

“Yes, of course.” Jan gave Maggie a smile.

Kathy agreed. “Sure thing.”

“We love getting to know new people,” Sally added.

“Great.” Maggie glanced around the group, suddenly feeling a little self-conscious. Andy still stood to her right, sort of semi-behind her. She reached for her bag and began lifting out brushes, water cup, paints….

Andy pulled up a chair and sat beside her, his voice a little softer. “How was your summer at the beach?”

How was my summer? Oh, the usual—death, scandal, possible murder… You wouldn’t believe it if I told you. She met his gaze. “It was…eventful.”

“Sounds like you have stories to tell.”

“Perhaps.” She grinned back, suddenly feeling a little shy. Are we flirting? “Honestly? I’m glad summer is over. I’m looking forward to a fresh start this fall.”

He grinned again. “Fresh starts are never overrated.”

“Unlike love at first sight, or so I’ve heard.”

Tilting his head, Andy seemed to give that a thought, then chuckled. “Coffee later? After class?”

“That depends.”

“On?”

“You feel up to listening to a story or two?”

His eyes widened, and he held her gaze. “I’m intrigued.”

That’s a good thing. Right? Okay, Maggie, go out on the limb. “You know of a hole-in-the-wall place with super-strong java? Because, that would be like, my kind of place.”

He narrowed his gaze. “You mean the kind of place where third grade parents hang out to get to know each other?”

“Yeah.” She grinned. “That kind of place.”

“Fresh coffee, fresh start?”

She nodded. “I’m in.”