Cadence’s expression eased. “Yeah, all good,” she said. “Just gearing up for the summer showcase, but even that’s moving at a good pace.”
Cadence ran a charming local art gallery that showcased the works of regional artists. Although most of the people they featured were avid hobbyists, as opposed to full-time commercial artists, summer tourism led to a lot of sales, which gave the artists, some of whom were retirees, a nice bump to their wallets. As the days warmed up, they got closer and closer to the influx of visitors that every New England seaside town saw once people started dreaming of beach vacations to celebrate summer.
“Awesome,” Diana said, keeping one eye on Izzy as she moved around to the back of the display. The six-year-old was responsible, but she was still only six years old. Fortunately,Isabelle hadn’t touched a thing, as far as Diana’s discerning eye could tell.
“So,” Cadence prompted. “Ready for dinner?”
“Oh,” Diana said, surprised. They’d planned to go back to Diana’s for dinner that evening. They’d been eating together more frequently since Cadence and Tyler’s separation.
“Isn’t it early?” Then she glanced at her watch. “Whoops! No, it isn’t early at all. Sorry, I got caught up in this new display.”
Cadence pressed her lips together like she was trying not to laugh. “You? Caught up in work?Never.” Her eyes sparkled, then she put her hands on her hips. “Okay. New display. Let’s do the thing.”
“The thing” was a running joke between them. Cadence would look at new items in the store and rank them as something she would or would not wear. As the friends, despite how much they loved one another, hadverydifferent senses of style, this always led to some comedy.
“Ooh, me too!” Izzy said, rushing over to stand next to her mom. When she put her hands on her hips, she was every inch Cadence’s little mini-me. Although Izzy had possessed her father’s sandy blond hair when she was younger, as she grew out of the baby phase and more into the kid phase, it was coming in closer to her mom’s strawberry hue. With their matching light blue eyes, there was no question that these two were mother and daughter… and that was evenbeforethey struck the matching poses.
“Okay,” Cadence said, tapping her lips thoughtfully. “The shirt. I’d wear it.”
“Me too,” Isabelle said seriously.
“I’d pair it with, like, a long, tiered, flowing skirt and some sandals,” Cadence continued.
“Oh, boy,” Diana said. Cadence, true to her profession as an artist, tended toward an eclectic boho style. It was not, to say the least, the kind of style of most of the items in Diana’s shop.
“Scarf,” Cadence went on, pointing. “I’d wear it. End of my braid, maybe? Woven into the braid?”
“Then you wouldn’t be able to see the pattern!” Diana protested.
“I’d wear it, too,” Izzy proclaimed.
“Necklace,” Cadence said, “is not for me.”
“I like it,” Izzy said, nodding.
“Bracelets also not for me,” Cadence continued, “but not because they’re not cute. They just don’t hit the practicality metric for my mom-slash-business lady lifestyle.”
Izzy shrugged. “I like ’em. I’d wear ’em.”
Both adult women looked down at the little girl. “You said you liked all of it,” her mother said laughingly.
Isabelle merely shrugged again. “I like everything in Aunt Diana’s store. She has cool stuff.”
Diana reached over and ruffled the little girl’s hair, which caused Izzy to give her a pretend annoyed face. “That’s why you’re my favorite,” she told the little girl she’d adopted in her heart as her niece, for all that they weren’t truly related.
Izzy, well accustomed to Diana’s love, beamed up at her. “I know. I’m the best. Plus, when I grow up, I can work at your store, and we can sell the coolest stuff ever!” She punctuated this comment with a little jump and fist pump combo.
Cadence pulled a face. “You don’t want to run the art gallery?” she joked.
“Sorry, Mom,” Isabelle said seriously.
Just then, the little girl’s stomach grumbled.
“Oh dear,” Diana said. “Let’s get you fed, shall we? I made that rosemary chicken casserole you like.”
Isabelle lit up. “With the crunchy stuff on top?”
“Extra crunchy stuff, just for you,” Diana confirmed.
