“Uh...” Brian stammered, clearing his throat. “I’ll get you some menus.” His eyes didn’t leave Lila. “Would you like something to drink?”
“Just some apple juice, please,” Lila told him.
“Sure,” Brian said. “I’ll be right back with some menus.” He repeated himself, then disappeared toward the side table.
Eve hid her smile behind her coffee cup.
“Such a nice young man,” Eve said.
“Who?” Lila asked, looking a little confused.
“Brian,” Eve said. “The young server who was just here. I would’ve thought you’d have noticed him. He’s very handsome, tall, and so polite.”
“Oh.” Lila turned and looked to where he was pouring apple juice at the long table. “I suppose he is.” She looked back at Eve with narrowed eyes. “Are you trying to set me up?”
“What?” Eve looked at her, genuinely startled. “No, sweetheart, not like that anyway. I just thought it would be nice for you to have someone your own age here to chat to.”
“Oh,” Lila nodded, her expression relaxing. “Sorry. I just thought that since you and Mom have already met potential holiday romances, you were trying to set me up, too.”
“What do you mean?” Eve’s brow furrowed.
“You met that man, David, yesterday, and Mom has this photographer, Nolan,” Lila reminded her.
“Oh, sweetheart, David was a chance run-in,” Eve pointed out, though she had to admit her mind had wandered to him a few times since yesterday. His card was still in her purse, tucked into the side pocket where she wouldn’t forget it. She changed the subject quickly. “What do you want to do today?”
Lila’s face brightened. “I’d like to go look at the fair we passed in St. Augustine yesterday. It looked fun.”
“That’s a great idea,” Eve agreed.
Brian came back as they were talking, setting menus in front of them. “If you’re going to the fair, you should also check out the beachfront here on Anastasia Island. There’s an ice rink and a fake-snow arena. There’s not a lot of festivities going on since Christmas has passed, but there are still a few things for the lead up to New Year.”
“Thank you, Brian,” Eve said. “That sounds wonderful.”
They placed their breakfast orders, and Brian disappeared back toward the kitchen.
Lila leaned forward, her eyes dancing with mischief. “Should we go to the boardwalk and take a covert look at this Nolan guy?”
Eve laughed. “I have a better idea.”
She called Brian back over.
“Do you know anything about the photographer staying here? Nolan, I think his name is?”
Brian’s face lit up. “Oh yeah, Nolan’s a great guy. He arrived yesterday, about an hour before you did. I’ve served him a few times since then, and he seems really nice. He’s doing a photography shoot on St. Augustine and Anastasia Island’s New Year celebrations.”
“Thank you, Brian,” Eve said, feeling slightly better but not entirely convinced.
After breakfast, unable to help themselves, Eve and Lila bundled up and headed for the boardwalk.
The morning was cool and bright, the ocean stretching endlessly under a cloudless sky. They spotted Mia and Nolan almost immediately, standing near the railing with a camera between them.
Mia’s face was lit with genuine joy, her laughter carried on the breeze as Nolan showed her something on the camera screen.
Eve’s chest tightened with relief.
They approached casually, and Mia looked up with a smile that made her look ten years younger.
“Hello, Eve, Lila, sweetheart,” she said, surprised but pleased. “Nolan, this is my daughter Lila, and my Aunt Eve.”
