“Yes,” Linda agreed. “Living in a small town is both a blessing and a curse. Everyone knows you, and you feel you hardly have any privacy. But living in a big city isolates you, and there is only your close circle of friends and family.” She glanced around. “Here it’s a community that becomes like family.”
“That’s so true,” Isabel agreed.
“Isabel, if you like, I can fetch you and Emma to come with us to the fair opening tomorrow,” Linda offered on impulse. “I park in the shopping mall parking garage as we have a reserved parking space there. The first day of the festival is usually manic, and there is no parking.”
“Oh, Linda.” Isabel’s eyes warmed. “That is so kind.”
“Darius, you’re welcome too.” Linda glanced at him.
Linda heard her own voice say it and immediately wondered what she was doing. She had asked because it was the polite thing to do. She had asked because Isabel had clearly hesitated, and the hesitation had been about Darius as they were here on vacation together.
“That is generous of you,” Darius said quietly and looked at his sister. “I think that would be a great idea. And I won’t feel guilty about the few work things I have to do in the morning. Isabel, you and Emma should take Linda up on her offer.”
“Are you sure?” Isabel asked, her eyes narrowing with a flash of anger, and for a moment Linda thought she’d stepped across the line. “This is supposed to be your vacation too, and not aworkingone.”
Ah,Linda thought, understanding the problem.This was about her brother working on their vacation.She knew how that felt with both her ex-husband and son. Although, her son was a surgeon so he had an excuse. Her ex-husband was probably just pretending to work while gambling away their money and cheating on her.”
Bitterness and anger shot through her. She swallowed it down and kept her smile firmly in place.
“I’m sure.” Darius nodded and smiled encouragingly at her. “And I think it’s about time you went out and had some fun with female friends.”
Isabel looked at her brother for a few seconds before turning back to Linda.
“Then yes,” Isabel said to Linda, with a big smile. “Emma and I would love to take you up on your offer.”
Just then, Linda overheard Sophia and Emma quietly exchanging numbers.
“You can message me anytime,” Sophia told Emma.
“Same here,” Emma told Sophia.
Linda smiled. Her heart warmed at how quickly the two girls warmed to each other. Sophia didn’t make friends easily, so she must’ve picked up something special about Emma.
Linda glanced at her wrist watch, and her brows lifted.
“Goodness, is that the time?” She looked from Isabel to Darius. “Sorry, but I have to get back.” She looked at her grandkids and Toby. “We need to go.”
They said their goodbyes, and Linda promised to message Isabel about the festival, and they could make plans.
“Until tomorrow, then,” Linda said as she gathered the children and Buddy.
“Until tomorrow.” Darius, Isabel, and Emma called.
The two parties parted. Buddy whined a small protesting whine that Emma was leaving and trotted reluctantly after Linda when she called him. Sophia walked beside Linda with a small bright bounce in her step.
“Gran,” Sophia said quietly when they had got a little distance up the beach. “I think I made a new friend. Which is great as now I don’t have to hang out with those two.” She looked pointedly at her brother and Toby.
“Yes, sweetheart.” Linda nodded. “But you still have to keep an eye on them.”
“Really?” Sophia rolled her eyes. “I look after him all the time at home. This is my vacation.”
Linda smiled and reached down and squeezed her granddaughter’s shoulder.
“Oh, honey, that’s the price we pay for having siblings,” Linda told her. “My brother used to say the same thing when we were your age.”
“I can’t see Uncle Michael saying something like that.” Sophia looked at Linda, unconvinced. “He is very protective.”
“Not when he was your age,” Linda told her. “He just wanted to play with his friends and not have his younger sister following them around.”
