“Your mom really did that?”
“She did and thirty-nine years ago, it was a much bigger deal than it is now. She knew she wanted children but didn’t think she was the ‘fall in love’ type. She went the turkey baster route and nine months later, I was born.”
“That was here?” he asked.
“No, Manhattan. Mom’s a high-powered literary agent. My earliest memories are of high-rises and busy streets.”
“Port Palmas must have been a shock.”
“It was, but a nice one. When I was four, Mom asked what I thought about her getting pregnant again. I liked the idea of a sister, although she explained she couldn’t control which she was going to have.”
She smiled at the memory.
“Did she use the same sperm?” he asked, only to make a face. “There’s a sentence I never thought I’d speak.”
She patted his arm. “You’re doing great with this and yes. Ryleigh and I are full sisters. We were still in New York then.
“The summer I turned ten and Ryleigh turned six we came out here on vacation. Mom had grown up in the area. She and Taft had dated in high school and had broken up when she’d left for college. Somehow they connected and that was it. They fell back in love and we moved here permanently.”
“Taft’s family owned the store before you?”
“Uh-huh. His parents converted it to the store you see now. The house had always been called the Painted Lady, so they took the name for the store.” She smiled at the memories. “I’d always been a book person, so when I walked inside, it was love at first sight. Taft had never had kids, so Ryleigh and I were the grandchildren his folks always wanted. They were thrilled I was interested in continuing the legacy.”
“They’re also the ones who took in Ramon.”
“They were. The initial idea was to foster him until they could find him his forever home, but when that didn’t happen and he and I clicked, they were kind of stuck with him.”
“No, they knew you’d want him for your own.”
“He’s my guy. I’m glad he’s not mad at me anymore.”
“As long as you’ve learned your cat lesson.”
She winced. “I have. He’s officially responsible for his own pet happiness.” She looked at the big, bright kitchen. “You could get a cat or even a dog. You have plenty of room.”
“Not going to happen.”
“You’re not a pet person?”
“I am a pet person, but I’m not home enough to have a cat. It would be lonely and bored.”
“You could take a dog with you to work. That would be fun. He could ride in your truck with his head sticking out of the window. Or you could get something small you could carry around. Maybe in one of those slings you wear across your chest.Like a Chihuahua. That would be so cute. You could get a company sweatshirt for her.”
“Why are you torturing me?”
“You could call her Bella or Mandi with ani.”
“Not Pookie?”
She laughed and reached for a slice of red pepper. “Pookie would absolutely get a thumbs-up.” She finished chewing then asked, “You and your ex didn’t have any pets?”
“She wasn’t a fan.”
“And you married her?” She covered her mouth with her hand. “Sorry. That was supposed to be an internal thought.”
“It was a sign,” he admitted. “I should have paid attention.”
“You told me that she wanted more than you two had here in town, which is on her. Did you have any fault in the breakup?”
