“You’re safe, that’s all that matters. You told me yourself it would probably be better to tear down the house and start over than try to fix it.”
“So you’re going to build?”
She smiled but shook her head. “You’ll have to wait and see.”
There were hugs all around when we got to Mel’s apartment. Olivia took me into the bedroom so she could take a good look at my shoulder. After some painful pokes and prodding, she stood back and frowned.
“Tell her to go to the hospital.”
“Mom, cut it out. I’m fine. Aren’t I, Olivia?”
“Then what is that huge bump on your collar bone?”
“That’s called a callus,” Olivia answered. “When a break heals, it forms a callus as sort of a bridge to knit the two pieces together. Her body will absorb most of it in time and the lump will become less pronounced.”
“I told you I was fine.”
“But you don’t look happy, Olivia,” Mel observed. “Is something wrong?”
“I’d need an x-ray to be sure but the break appears displaced. Had I been here when it happened, I could have re-set it, though we’ve been seeing better long-term results with surgery even then. Now it would require surgery to set it.”
“I’m not having surgery.”
“Caribou, if that is what Olivia recommends, that is what you’re going to do.”
“I’m a grown woman and I can make my own decisions. Olivia, is this something I have to do?”
“It’ll heal the way it is,” she answered. “It’ll be slower and it won’t be pretty, but it’ll be functional. If it were me, I’d have the surgery.”
“Functional is good enough for me. Now, can we all please stop talking about my shoulder?”
“No promises,” said Mel, sticking her tongue out at me and ducking out of the room before I could retaliate. I put my shirt and sling back on and followed Mom and Olivia into the family room. They had their heads together, whispering like schoolgirls. I tried to get close enough to hear, but Mom shooed me away.
The family room was decorated for Christmas, with a living fir tree on a table under the window that faced the road. Mel had decorated it with home-made ornaments since we’d left our collection at the cottages. With a string of popcorn and tiny baby gifts hung on the branches it looked charming. There were a few gifts under the tree but in my family, Christmas was less about the presents than it was being together. I had a hunch we might see piles of gifts as Mel and Bent brought more grandchildren into the fold.
Dad was settled on one of two rocking chairs on one side of the fire, with Bent and Mel on a loveseat on the other. Dan was sitting on one side of a couch that faced the fire and Frank was on the other. Both of them started to stand when I came into the room, but my mother waved her hand. “Sit, sit.” I made a beeline for the second rocker, but she squelched me. “Caribou, don’t take my chair.”
Both men were watching me expectantly from the couch. “Olivia?” I asked, hoping for an assist.
“No thank you.” Her mouth turned up at the corners. “I’m good.” Mom was dragging an ottoman over for her to sit on.
I smiled weakly at the two men, who each held out a hand to me. I took Dan’s, disappointing Frank, but my bad arm was in a sling and Dan was on my good side. I sat uncomfortably between them. “So what’s all the whispering, Mom?”
She cleared her throat and sat ram-rod straight in her chair, which is tough to do in a rocker but she managed it. “Olivia has agreed to live and practice medicine in Coho Bay as soon as she finishes her residency.”
“That’s great!” I would have jumped up if I weren’t penned in, but she wasn’t lacking welcome.
“Thank you, everybody. I know this is gonna sound strange, with the circumstances, but I felt at home here as soon as I stepped off the boat when Cara and Dan brought me here. It’s so beautiful and everyone has been so friendly.” Her voice caught. “I know Gram would have been glad.”
“We’re glad too,” said my mother, “and not only because this town needs a doctor.”
“Sure, Mother.” Mel rolled her eyes.
“I wouldn’t be happy having someone I didn’t like and respect move here, no matter how great the need. Olivia is a lovely young woman and she’ll make an excellent addition to our community.”
“I agree,” said Frank. A look passed between him and Olivia that made me catch my breath. It vanished so quickly I wondered if I’d been mistaken.
“We can draw up plans for your new home before you leave,” I said, forcing my mind out of dangerous territory. “We can’t start building until the snow melts and, of course, we’re all crazy busy here as soon as the season opens but we’ll figure out a place for you to stay.”
“Actually, Caribou, the plans are already drawn but the house we’ll be building will be ours.”
“Yours, Mother?” The color had drained from Mel’s face.
“Marcie, don’t tease the girl,” said Dad.
“Your parents are trading my property for theirs,” said Olivia, reaching over to give Mel’s knee a reassuring squeeze.
“You’re going to build a house next door to Mel?” I asked.
“No, silly.” Olivia laughed. “I’m going to take over their log cabin. You know how much I loved that place. Marcie and Bob offered me the trade if I didn’t mind living so far out of town.”
“I’m afraid this is coming as a big shock to you girls, but Melody, you haven’t used your cabin since you married Bentley.”
“I’ve got no problem with it,” agreed Mel.
“Caribou, you’ve been talking about staying in town year-round so we thought you might not mind the arrangement.”
“Mom, it’s your property, yours and Dads. The gallery is all I need.”
“Of course.” She looked at Frank. “This means we will not have a place for you to rent next winter, Franklin.”
“That’s not so bad,” he said. “I was feeling bad about letting Jack down so I went out there to talk to him. He convinced me to give the mill another try. He’s got a dry cabin out there that nobody’s lived in for years.”
“I remember that cabin,” I said. “Johnny and I used to go there and tell ghost stories. It’s creepy.”
Frank laughed. “It is a little creepy, but it’s a roof over my head.”
“You can’t live in a dry cabin, Frank,” said Olivia. “Why don’t you take one of the girl’s cabins? I’m hoping to rent the other out. I’ve got student loans to pay.” Again, the look between them was brief but electric.
“Then it’s settled,” said my mother. “In the spring we’ll break ground. We’ll stay here until it’s ready, of course, but at least you’ll have free babysitting.”
“Now, that I can live with,” said Bent. “And on that note, let’s eat!”
Frank jumped up and offered his hand to Olivia, who blushed as she reached up to accept. The two of them went down to the kitchen without so much as a backward glance. Bent helped Mel up and they walked arm in arm toward the stairs, but Dan and I just sat, staring at the fire. “You upset about the cabin, Cara?” asked Dan when I didn’t speak.
“What? Oh, yes, I guess I am a bit. I loved that cabin, but it was kind of a pain to be in the middle of nowhere all winter and I do love my apartment.”
We didn’t talk for a few minutes, then Dan spoke again. “Look, I know I’m not the type to run into burning buildings.”
“Stop it. I’m sure if you’d been there, you would have done the same thing.”
“Still, a girl’s gotta love a guy who saves her life.”
“Is this your way of asking if I’m more interested in Frank than I am in you? If you didn’t notice, he just walked off with another woman.”
“He’s rattling your chain because you took my hand instead of his.”
“You think so?” I felt a pang of guilt at the hurt look in Dan’s eyes. “It doesn’t matter. You’re a nice man and I like you very much, Dan.”
He made a motion like he was stabbing a dagger into his chest. “Ouch. The nice guy line. Next you’ll tell me you just want to be friends.”
I smiled, considering. I liked Dan, but there was none of the pulse-pounding excitement with him that I felt whenever Frank shot me one of his smoldering looks. He was the man that took my breath away, but that didn’t mean he was the man I should trust my heart to. Dan was sweet and steady and while that kind of guy didn’t grace the covers of romance books, he’d be someone I could always count on. Like a brother.
“I don’t know what to say Dan. I like you too much to lead you on, but I don’t know if that will ever take us anywhere.”
He picked up my hand and waited until I raised my eyes. “Any man who walks away because you aren’t ready to make a commitment isn’t a man worth being with anyway.” My heart gave a lurch and I held my breath as he leaned forward to kiss me.
“Cara? Dan? Pull yourselves apart and get down here. I got a hungry baby on board.” Mel’s voice floated up the stairs and I heard her laughter retreating back into the kitchen.
Moment broken, I leaned my head against Dan’s chin. “Rain check?” I asked.
“Absolutely.”
THE END
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Linda Crowder is best known for her Jake and Emma Mystery series, set in her adopted home town of Casper, Wyoming. The series features a pair of accidental detectives who join forces with the local police to track down killers. Her books are a delightful blend of mystery, relationships, humor and tears. Linda and her husband fell in love with Alaska on their first trip there in 2014. Her love of the Alaskan Inside Passage led her to place the Caribou King Mystery series in the mythical cruise ship town of Coho Bay, Alaska.
From the Author
Thank you for reading my book about the people in Coho Bay, Alaska. The Inside Passage is one of the most beautiful places on earth and it’s my pleasure to bring it into your home. I was there last in May 2016 and saw whales, seals, sea lions and more eagles than I could count. The people are some of the most friendly I’ve met and I appreciate all of them who took the time to answer my questions about what it’s like to live in this northern paradise.
If you enjoyed The Deadly Art of Love and Murder, I would appreciate if you posted a quick review our favorite book website. If you visit my website, http://www.lindajcrowder.com/ sign up for my newsletter. Also, please read the first book in the Caribou King mystery series The Deadly Art of Deception.
Can’t wait? You might enjoy my other series, Jake and Emma Mysteries. Jake and Emma Rand are a couple of accidental detectives who are forced into catching killers when they find the body of a woman on their fence line in Casper, Wyoming. To meet Jake and Emma, look for Too Cute to Kill at your favorite book seller.
Other books by Linda Crowder
Jake and Emma Mysteries:
Too Cute to Kill
Main Street Murder
Justice for Katie
Death Changes Everything
Coming soon: A Body on the Ballot
If you enjoyed this book, please consider posting a review on your favorite retailer’s website.
For other Cozy Cat Press mysteries, visit our website at: www.cozycatpress.com
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Also by Linda Crowder
Caribou King Mystery
The Deadly Art of Deception
The Deadly Art of Love and Murder
Jake and Emma Mysteries
Too Cute to Kill
Main Street Murder
Justice for Katie
Death Changes Everything
Body on the Ballot
Casper Crime Boss Trilogy
Standalone
Legacy of a Snowflake
Watch for more at Linda Crowder’s site.
The Deadly Art of Love and Murder Page 20