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Eloise shrugged even though her aunt had her back to her. “I met him earlier.”
“And decided to draw him?”
“Couldn't get him out of my mind.” Margaux turned, and Eloise shrugged again. “He's just a tourist. I'm sure I won't see him again.”
Margaux studied the drawing a bit longer before putting it down.
“And yet, he's in your painting.”
“He was easy to capture.”
Margaux cracked a smile and walked over to her niece. “You don't have to make excuses, Eloise.”
“I know. I just don't want you to think I'm not in the right headspace.”
“It's the summer,” Margaux pointed out. “You're supposed to enjoy it. Live a little.”
“Easy for you to say. You're not trying to impress this gallery owner.”
Margaux laughed again. “Good night, Eloise. I'm really glad you're here for the summer.”
“Me, too.”
Leaning in, Margaux whispered, “If you dream about him, paint him.” She kissed her niece on her cheek and then made her way to her house. Eloise didn't move until she heard her aunt's door close. She half expected her to appear on her terrace, but when all the house lights turned off, she suspected her aunt had gone to bed.
* * *
The next morning, Eloise entered the gallery with a bag of grilled blueberry muffins from Carter's diner. As tempted as she was to eat one on her way to the gallery, she waited. She had missed this odd little creation and often asked about them in the places she and her mother frequented in London, only to receive strange stares. Now that she was back in Seaport, Eloise planned to have one every morning.
“I brought breakfast,” she yelled as she entered the gallery. She quickly closed her mouth when she saw her aunt had a customer. “Crap,” she muttered under her breath. The last thing she wanted to do was embarrass her aunt.
Eloise took their muffins into the backroom and moved some painting supplies off the round paint splotched table. She took her muffin out of the bag and bit into one half, closing her eyes as the buttery grilled pastry hit her taste buds.
She was about to take a second bite when the phone on the wall rang. Knowing her aunt had a customer, the least she could do was answer it. She stood, reached for the cradle and a notepad at the same time.
“Margaux's.”
“Is this Eloise?”
“It is. How can I help you?” She really wanted to ask who was on the other end but stayed professional.
“Damn, I heard you were back in town but figured you'd call or at least stop by.”
Eloise pulled the phone away from her and looked at the handle as if it had the answers. The phone was from the stone age.
“Who is this?” she asked.
“You wound me, Eloise.”
“Tidal Carter?” It sounded like him, but she couldn't be sure. She had grown up surrounded by the Carter brothers. Every girl she knew had a crush on Dune, the oldest of the four. Then there was Tidal, who looked identical to Dune. Sail favored their mother, Pearl. And the baby of the family was Crew.
Eloise’s parents had been close to Tidal’s parents, which meant she spent a lot of time with the Carter boys. While closer in age to Sail, Eloise always gravitated toward Tidal.
They hadn't spoken since right before she left. It was her decision to stop contact with everyone. As far as she was concerned, she was going to become the next great artist. Instead, she longed for Seaport and counted the days to when she could return.
“Of course! I ran into Fraser last night and he said you were back. I didn't believe him because there's no way Eloise Harris would return to Seaport and not call me.”
She wanted to laugh but held back. “I haven’t even been here a full day yet. I’m sure we would’ve run into each other eventually.”
