Bodies and Sole by Hilary MacLeod

looking for in an unexpected place. She’d gone back to Big Bay to “stage” the wedding – figure out where the flowers would go, where the pair would take their vows, where guests could watch from.
    She found another boutique open in one of Ben and Annabelle Mack’s shacks. Their son Nathan’s girlfriend Lili had opened an outlet for her fresh flowers.
    Hy placed an order with her immediately for Moira’s wedding. Moira might be miffed that she hadn’t been consulted, but when Hy told her she’d picked up the bill, she knew Moira would be happy with whatever she’d chosen. For one thing, it wouldn’t be mean and small.
    That business done, Hy noticed a display case of jewellery.
    â€œThis stuff is gorgeous,” she said. Lili opened the case and let her have a better look.
    â€œJust beautiful.”
    â€œI’m making it myself. A modern take on traditional North American jewellery. Not just Mik’maq, which I am, in part, but Inuit, and Navaho as well.” Hy picked up an elaborate bead-embroidered cobalt necklace and earrings, the beads matching beautifully in colour and roped in a chain of ascending sizes. When she saw it, she knew it.
    â€œSome people have actually commissioned pieces.”
    â€œIs this for anybody?” Hy fingered the tightly knit beads.
    â€œNo.”
    â€œCan I buy it for Moira?”
    â€œMoira?”
    â€œFor her wedding.”
    Lili frowned. “No, you can’t.”
    Hy frowned, disappointed.
    Lili smiled, picked it up and gave it to Hy.
    â€œIt’s a gift.”
    â€œYou’ll never make a living that way.”
    Lili smiled, even deeper.
    â€œI know.”

Chapter Sixteen
    â€œShe’s comin’.”
    The words were out of Gus’s mouth before Hy was even through the
    door.
    â€œWho?”
    â€œWho else would it be?”
    â€œUh…” Hy stood still at the doorway, as if that would give her the answer. “You got me.”
    Gus held up the tiny garment she was knitting.
    Hy beamed.
    â€œNot…”
    â€œThe same.” A look of smug satisfaction crossed Gus’s face.
    â€œDot?”
    A nod.
    â€œDot one and Dot two?”
    Gus looked puzzled. Hy had forgotten the child’s name. “Little Dot.” That’s what Gus always called her.
    Hy came into the room and slumped in a chair.
    â€œA homecoming. A heritage homecoming. A real cause for celebration.” She tried to keep her eyes averted from the fat, messy pile of papers and photographs on the dresser beside the chair. The book was not likely to happen now with Dot and the baby coming.
    As if she had read Hy’s thoughts, Gus nodded at the file folder.
    â€œMebbe Dot will help me with that.”
    â€œI thought Dot’s thing was science, not English.”
    â€œShe’s very organized,” said Gus. “She could make sense of a crazy quilt.”
    Hy left, anxious to finally meet the marvel that was Gus’s long-awaited and only daughter, and hopeful that Dot might bring the bicentennial book back on track. Would she be able to exorcise the ghost of Gus’s mother?
    He’s coming.
    Dot’s homecoming was swept right out of Hy’s mind when she reached her own home and fired up the computer.
    When she read the message on the screen, she did sit down.
    Finn’s coming.
    If this was online dating, it was getting serious.
    Hy’s face was warm, flushed. Her eyes turned toward Shipwreck Hill. The lights had just come on at Ian’s house.
    What will Ian think? Tell him now? Wait?
    Tell Finn not to come?
    She began to write.
    â€œThat’s great, Finn. I can’t wait to meet you…”
    She looked up again at Shipwreck Hill. The flickering light coming from the living room told her that Ian was on his computer, too. But he wouldn’t be navigating on Facebook, though to her surprise, Hy had found his page on the social network. His only friend