“Ow.” He winced. “What are you hitting me for?”
“You said you got all those things out of the woods the day after the Halloween party.”
“So, I missed one. Obviously, it fell out of the tree it was hanging in. I wasn’t in the best shape that day, if you remember.”
“No different than any other day, if I remember.” She cuffed him again. “Look at all the trouble you caused.”
“Jessica, you’re forgetting something.” Kate crossed to the sheriff so she could get a better look at the wayward party decoration. “If this isn’t your mom, that means there’s still hope.”
Jessica’s face lit up.
Kate looked at Josh, who gave her a wink as he put a hand on Sister Marie’s shoulder. “Just tell them what you told me, Sister.”
She dipped her chin, as if she wasn’t used to getting so much attention. “Last night, I was over at the general store when the ten o’clock ferry came in. I saw this young man…” she gestured toward Josh, “…having car trouble. He seemed frantic, so I offered him a ride in my van.”
Josh picked up the story. “She drove me here, and I explained why I was in such a hurry to get back. That I thought Kate might be in trouble, because my roommate had called to tell me that Trina’s body had been found and that it looked like Mr. Cole might be guilty—”
“And I told him to stop right there because I knew for a fact that Mr. Cole hadn’t murdered Trina Cole.”
Clutching her elbows, Jessica stepped toward her. “How did you know that?”
Sister Marie put her hands to her face. “I promised I wouldn’t tell. I even sent the seahorse sculpture…” She gestured toward Josh. “I told this young man about that. I wanted Marion to get the message so I wouldn’t have to break my promise.”
Josh put a hand on her shoulder. “Some promises need to be broken. Let’s not keep everyone in suspense, okay?”
She nodded. “I knew Mr. Cole hadn’t killed Trina Cole, because I knew she wasn’t dead.”
In the next moment, a stunning blonde wearing a pale blue sundress and a hesitant smile appeared in the doorway. Silence fell over the group.
Kate pulled in a sharp breath. It was Trina. Flesh and bones…real ones.
“M…” Jessica’s voice came out in a crackly whisper. “Mom!” She ran to her, and the two women held onto each other. Stuart joined them, wrapping his one good arm around them both.
Chase held back, his hands folded. From the look on his face, Kate got the impression that Trina’s appearance had come as no surprise to him.
“I don’t understand.” Jessica spoke through a tear-filled voice. “What are you doing here?”
“Well,” Trina wiped her cheeks. “When I read last evening’s paper and found out that my body had been found, I just about died.”
Everyone laughed, breaking the last bit of tension in the air.
“Then dear Sister Marie Agnes returned to the monastery with a surprise.”
“Wait.” Stuart frowned. “You mean, you were staying on Shaw this whole time?”
She nodded. “If you’ll remember a year ago, I was pretty upset. I wasn’t being a very good wife or mother, and I think I had announced once or twice that I was ready to just leave all of you.”
“I remember.” Chase looked askance. “The sailor.”
Trina looked distraught. “There was nothing between me and ‘the sailor’.”
Chase looked at her sideways. “No?”
“No.”
“But what happened?” Jessica clung to her mother’s arm as if fearful she’d vanish if she let go.
“As you all know, I had lived with the press hounding us for years about Emily’s death. There were always the rumors, whispers behind our backs that Chase had killed his first wife. Over the years, I saw how easily Chase’s anger could flare up, and I have to admit that I had my doubts. I knew he was involved in some shady business dealings and frankly, I had stopped trusting him.”
Kate eased back into her chair, and Josh moved to stand next to her.
“Then when Stuart told me he had his suspicions about his mother’s death, I started to get scared.” Trina looked at Chase. “And you got so angry with me when I tried to talk to you about it. Remember, you turned it into a fight about Bruce.”
“Bruce?” Jessica asked.
“The ‘sailor’,” Trina explained.
“I hope you can forgive me.” Chase folded his hands in front of him. “I’d been falsely accused for twenty years, and when I thought you were turning against me, I didn’t handle it as well as I should have.”
“So you stormed off, leaving me with no one to turn to but Sam…my friend.” Trina’s emphasis on that word imbued it with an added touch of irony.
Stuart raised a hand. “But Dad came back that next night to spy on you.”
Trina raised a brow at Chase.
He lifted his hands in defense. “I wanted to see if you went to meet the sailor—”
“Bruce.”
“Yes. Bruce. I was relieved to see you leave with Sam.”
“I didn’t know who else to turn to. She suggested we go out on the yacht, like we always did. Only this time, she started to act strange.” She regarded Chase narrowly. “She told me that she was in love with you. Did you know that?”
“Not until yesterday.”
“Well, she got a little hysterical. She told me that if the authorities found out about the payoffs you’d been making to FDA officials, I would be the one to go to prison. She convinced me that the two of you would make it look like it was all my doing, and I know how persuasive you can be when you start throwing money around.”
Chase shook his head. “You might be considered legally culpable as my spouse, but you wouldn’t go to prison.”
Trina pinched the bridge of her nose. “Anyway, it was a terrible, stormy night, and she went to the bow of the boat and said she was going to jump off and kill herself.”
Kate shook her head. “That’s not the way she tells it.”
“Sam is not to be trusted. Well, of course, I tried to stop her, but she fought me off. The boat tipped and I lost my balance.”
A chill traveled through Kate at the reminder of her own ordeal. “What did you do?”
“I just started swimming. I decided to get myself to the dock behind the general store where Bruce kept his boat.”
“Bruce,” Chase repeated dryly. “The sailor.”
“Please forgive me, Chase. But I honestly thought you had killed Emily, and that Sam meant what she said about making me pay the price for your crimes. I was afraid to go home. Anyway, once I got to the dock, I discovered that Bruce’s boat was gone.”
Sister Marie spoke. “That’s where I came in. Trina stumbled out onto the road, looking like the Creature from the Black Lagoon. She told me her story and asked if she could stay with us until she sorted out what to do. She asked me not to let on that she was there, and I agreed, of course not realizing what a stir her disappearance would cause.”
“At the monastery,” Trina said, “I was surprised to find some of my glass pieces.”
“We love to collect local art.” Sister Marie explained.
“I was so upset about everything in my life, that I shattered them. Sister Marie swept up all the pieces, and over the next months helped me to heal and to find peace and God. When she presented me with the broken glass, I literally put the pieces back together by creating mosaics from the artwork I had destroyed.”
Kate smiled. “The seahorse.”
“That was one of them, yes.” Trina gave her a gentle smile.
Sister Marie kneaded her hands together. “And when I finally started to realize what a problem this was, I sent the seahorse sculpture to Marion. I thought she’d pick up on the clue. I guess I should have been a little more direct.”
Chase cleared his throat. “Then last night, as I was panicking, thinking I had killed that poor deputy, the sister and Josh suddenly appeared in her van. I t
old Josh where to find you,” he gestured toward Kate, “and the sister and I took care of the deputy. I told her my situation and she drove me to the monastery before the sheriff came. Imagine my surprise at finding my ‘dead’ wife there.” Chase closed the gap between himself and Trina. “We’ve been up most of the night negotiating the terms of a second chance.”
For a long moment, the group encased the two of them in a collective hopeful gaze, until Stuart broke the spell.
“Hey Dad. I’ve been thinking about our conversation. You know, about me getting a job?”
Chase gave Trina’s hand a squeeze before turning his attention to his son. “Yes?”
“I think I might like to become a ski instructor.”
Dakota’s eyes lit up. “You sk…ski? Will you teach me?”
“Sure, bro.” Stuart gave Dakota’s arm a friendly flick. “Anybody can ski with the right teacher.”
As the boys’ conversation hopscotched from skiing to snowboarding to skateboarding, Chase moved to the chair on Kate’s other side. “I think I speak for both of us when I say it’s best we call off the engagement.”
“I’d have to agree.” She smiled, then glanced at Trina. “Besides, I have a feeling the second Mrs. Cole is going to be happy she gave you that second chance.”
“I’m banking on that.” He winked at Kate, then again at Josh as he stood.
Claiming the seat Chase had just vacated, Josh cleared his throat. “If you’re up to it later, maybe we could go grab some burgers and take in a movie.”
“Sounds good.” Her cheeks heated a little at the thought of going on an actual date with the actual man of her dreams.
“Or…” His eyes seemed to catch a glint off the sparkling water below. “We could go kayaking.”
“Kayaking?”
“Sure. I’m an old hand at it now.”
Kate felt her jaw literally drop. “You mean, that’s how you got out to the yacht last night?”
He nodded in triumph. “I had no other choice. Mr. Cole had told me you were out there and that you were probably in trouble.”
“But you said you’d rather die than get into a small boat like that.”
“I didn’t say I’d rather see you die, which seemed like a distinct possibility.”
“You’re right about that.” She smiled lightly. “And I was right too. About fate bringing Chase into my life. That was one of the best things that ever happened to me.”
“Yeah?” He raised a brow.
“Uh huh. Because that’s what brought me to you.”
As they shared a smile, she glanced out at Blind Bay, where her life had almost ended the night before, but had instead only just begun.
Epilogue
One year later.
“Do you trust me?”
“Well…” Glancing down at the gorgeous vintage dress that Audrey Hepburn herself would have loved, Kate pretended to ponder. “Promise not to get any frosting on the lace?”
“Cross my heart.” Josh made an X over his chest with his finger. “Now do you trust me?”
Her grin blossomed. “With my life.”
Grinning, he placed a bite of cake gently in her mouth while she did the same. He flicked a dollop of frosting onto her nose. “Good thing.”
The friends and family surrounding them laughed and applauded as cameras clicked. Kate didn’t even mind that a few of them belonged to members of the media.
As the cake was served and their guests returned to mingling, Kate and Josh scanned the beautifully manicured front lawn of what had once been the Cole home but now served as the headquarters of the Safe Harbor Foundation, Kate’s non-profit organization which housed teenage runaways. Standing at the center of the enormous front porch, she felt like a princess surveying her kingdom.
“There you two are.” They looked down as Marion mounted the stairs carrying a large box wrapped with what was, knowing Marion, hand-stamped paper.
“I’m setting this on the gift table, but I want you know that it’s fragile.”
“Let me.” Josh reached out and took the box as Marion hit the top step. He turned and disappeared into the house.
“Thank you so much.” Kate smiled at Marion, who had definitely lightened up since her best friend’s resurrection. “It will look beautiful on the mantle of the guesthouse.”
Marion gave her a wry look. “Why Kate. You talk as if you already know what it is.”
Kate feigned innocence. “Well, Jocelyn hinted that you had finally decided what to do with the seahorse. When she said ‘no’ to both my guesses—keeping it or selling it—I kind of assumed…”
Marion smiled. “Jocelyn never could keep a secret.”
As Marion slipped into the line for cake, Josh returned. He stood behind Kate and put his arms around her waist. “That gift table is now officially overflowing.”
“Everyone’s been so generous. Especially Chase and Trina.” Glancing over the heads of their friends—his from Seattle and hers from Sacramento and San Diego—she leaned into his embrace. “I still can’t get used to thinking that we’re actually going to be living in the guesthouse.”
Josh kissed the side of her head, just below where the baby’s breath clung to her brunette chignon. “It’s perfect. And with Dakota living over here with the Safe Harbor kids—”
“Are you sure he can handle the job?”
“He’s the maintenance man, not the CEO. He can handle it. Besides, we’ll be right next door.”
“Excuse me, you two.”
They turned to see Jessica, looking downright demure in her lavender bridesmaid dress, balancing two small plates of food. Tad followed, carrying two cups of punch.
“As my last official duty as maid of honor, I’m making sure the two of you eat.” With a satisfied grin, she handed each of them a plate.
“Thanks. I’m starved.” Kate smiled at Jessica, who still had the occasional diva moment, but had undergone a lot of changes since her mother’s return. She’d gotten her own place—a cute little house in Friday Harbor, conveniently located just a few blocks from Tad’s apartment—and a job at Marion’s art gallery.
Tad set the drinks down on the porch rail and addressed Josh. “I didn’t get a chance to tell you I loved your documentary. The one about the artist. What are you doing next?”
Josh picked up an egg roll. “After we get back from our honeymoon, I’m going to the penitentiary in Atwater, California to interview Joe Malone.”
Jessica shuddered. “Isn’t that a little scary?”
“I’ve already faced my biggest fear.” He gave Kate a wink. “After that, nothing seems to faze me.”
Kate picked up a chicken skewer. “Josh is making a documentary about scam artists, and how people like Joe take advantage of teenage runaways.”
Jessica’s face lit up as she turned to Tad. “They got Shania Hane to narrate the documentary. Isn’t that awesome?”
“My son-in-law has some impressive connections.”
“Mom.” Kate turned to see her mom approach, along with Trina. Both of them carried plates of cake. “You look like you’re having a good time.”
“I am.” Her mom brushed the last bit of frosting off Kate’s nose. “Trina is trying to convince me to go back to Seattle with her to spend a couple of days in her condo.”
Trina nodded. “I promised I’d give her some glass-making lessons, right Ellen?”
Kate’s mom smiled. “She has her own studio right in her condo, did you know that?”
Kate grinned. It was good to see her mom feeling so happy and free. She had confided in Kate that her running away had opened her eyes to how abusive Kate’s stepfather was. It had been a blessing when the marriage had dissolved soon after.
“I’d appreciate the company.” Trina slid her fork across the creamy white frosting. “It’s going to be lonely in that big condo for the next year until Chase gets released.”
“I can’t wait to meet him.” Kate’s mom gave Kate a side hug. “I want to tha
nk him in person for everything he’s done for you and Josh. Letting you use this house. Funding your movie.”
“He really has turned a corner.” Trina beamed. “He’s like a new man.”
“Speaking of new men.” Kate gestured with her plate toward the edge of the driveway, where Stuart and Dakota balanced on a log, as if in the middle of a snowless snowboarding lesson. “If you had told me a year ago that Stuart would be teaching skiing at Whistler and coming up on his one year anniversary of sobriety, I don’t think I would have believed it.”
“They’re going to get their tuxes dirty.” Trina tsked. “Come on, Ellen. We’re going to ask them to dance.”
“Oooh. Sounds like fun.” Jessica took Tad’s arm. “Come on, Deputy. Let’s dance.”
“Excuse me, Mr. and Mrs. Collins.” The photographer who had chased her down in Friday Harbor all those months ago looked like a different person with his nice suit and fresh haircut. “I’d love to get a shot of the two of you here with the bay in the background. People needs their cover shot.”
Smiling, they situated themselves next to the porch railing and gazed at each other. They had agreed to a cover story for the magazine, on the condition that it focus more on Kate’s foundation and Josh’s film than on the scandal of the Cole family.
“Let’s get one of you kissing the bride.”
“How about it, Mrs. Collins?” Josh smiled. “Every good movie ends with a kiss.” He took her in his arms and lowered her in an elaborate dip. “Even the one about the swamp monster.”
She giggled. As his lips touched hers, her amusement gave way to something else. She returned the kiss with the joy that came from finally finding what she’d been looking for. Not just passion or protection, but something more. She clung to him, giving over control of her fate to God, and the only man who’d ever made her feel truly safe.
“That’s perfect.” The photographer called out between shots. “Just like that.”
As his camera clicked and whirred, Kate smiled up at Josh and counted her blessings. It had been a long journey, but this runaway had finally found her way home.
The End
Tide Will Tell (Islands of Intrigue: San Juans) Page 23