by Kathi Daley
“There were a few minutes when I wasn’t sure you would.”
I let out a breath. “Yeah. Me neither. It was pretty dicey there for a while, but it worked out okay. I’m sorry we couldn’t save Zane. I wanted to, but he was in a lot of pain. I don’t think he could live with it any longer. I hope he’s at peace now.”
“I heard Harley Medford is going to help Chloe rebuild her café,” Houston said.
“He is. Harley’s such a great guy and such a fantastic addition to the community.” I looked around the room. “I thought he’d be here.”
“I saw him pull up out front. He’s talking to Jake. I’m sure he’ll be in soon.” Houston looked toward the buffet. “I haven’t had the chance to eat all day. Can I bring you something?”
“No, I’m good. Try the wontons. They’re to die for.”
When Landon showed up at my side a minute later, I realized there must be a plot afoot to make sure I was never left alone for an extended period of time. While I appreciated everyone’s effort, I didn’t need to be babysat.
“Great party,” Landon said.
“You know you don’t have to babysit me. I’m fine. Go have fun.”
He sat down next to me. “I am having fun. How’s the leg?”
“It hurts and you know it because you’re playing nursemaid, still staying in my cabin with me even though the danger has passed.”
“You have a broken arm and a broken leg. You needed someone to take care of you, and I was already there.”
“Chloe offered to come stay with me.”
Landon shrugged. “I suppose that might be something to consider. I’m sure you’ll be happy to get me out from underfoot.”
I placed my hand on his arm. “I’m fine with having you underfoot. You know that. But you’ve put your life on hold for a really long while now. It’s only fair to let you get back to it.”
“Yeah, maybe.”
I leaned back in my chair and let the lighthearted atmosphere warm my somewhat battered soul. “By the way, I spoke to Kelly a little while ago. The mama bear is doing so well, they’re planning to release her and her cub back into the wild in about a week. Just in time for them to settle into their den for the winter.”
“That’s great. I’ve been pulling for the little family.”
“It’s nice when things work out well in the end,” I agreed. “Oh look, Harley just arrived.” I waved toward the entrance.
“Seems like my cue to give you some space.” Landon stood up. “We can leave at any point if you start to get tired.”
“Thanks. I appreciate that.”
Harley sat down on the revolving chair after Landon pulled Dani onto the dance floor. I reached over and gave him a big hug. “I heard what you’re doing for Chloe. You really are the most awesome guy.”
Harley shrugged. “It seemed like a good investment, and I’m addicted to Chloe’s cinnamon rolls. If I have to build a new building to ensure I can get them whenever I want, it seemed worth it.”
I laughed. “I’m sure Chloe will make you as many as you can eat. How was Hollywood?”
“Boring, but I’m home now until after the first of the year. I’m looking forward to the holidays this year. In fact, I was thinking of having the whole town over for a party, or dinner, or something. I haven’t worked out all the details.”
“I’m sure everyone will be thrilled to come. And I’m looking forward to the holidays too, despite the fact that it’ll be a while until I can get around on my own.”
“If you need someone to carry you, I’m your guy.”
“Really?”
“I even have experience carrying damsels in distress through battlefields, across gator-filled swamps, and even through snowstorms.”
I thought about the films in which Harley Medford the action star had done all those things. “I guess you would be the best choice in terms of experience should I need to be carried through a minefield. I’ll definitely let you know if your services are required.”
“I heard Landon has been taking care of you.”
I nodded. “Yeah, he’s been great. Jake would help out too, but he’s had his hands full with Wyatt, who, by the way, is doing a lot better. I hope there aren’t any rescues for a while; half the team is on the injured reserve list.”
“I’ll help out if necessary.”
“Talk to Jake about it. I’m sure he’d appreciate an extra body. We really need to recruit some additional trainees, but after everything that’s happened, people are skittish. I guess I can’t blame them.”
“I’m afraid it’s going to be a while before people begin to feel safe again.”
Okay, now I was starting to feel depressed. Changing the subject, I asked Harley about his sister, who’d gotten married recently. Just as we exhausted that subject, Jake came over to check on me, and Harley went to talk to Chloe about a timeline for construction.
“Is there some sort of a formal schedule floating about?” I asked Jake.
“Schedule?”
“I’ve had a steady string of people stopping by to chat. I probably haven’t been alone for two minutes total all night. I figured you’d organized everyone so I wouldn’t have a chance to feel sorry for myself.”
“Do you feel sorry for yourself?”
I smiled. “No. My leg is beginning to throb, but overall, I feel very lucky to be here.”
Jake leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. “And I feel very lucky to have you here.”
“It’s been a heck of a couple of weeks. A total mental and emotional roller coaster.” I glanced at Jake, who seemed to be distracted. “We never did talk about the fact that Zane was with Val when she died. How are you doing with that?”
“At first I wasn’t sure how I felt about it, but now that I’ve had a chance to think about it, I realize I’m glad she wasn’t alone. I’m sorry his being with her caused him to become obsessed with you, though. Val wouldn’t have wanted that.”
“Yeah, she wouldn’t have.” I glanced at Jordan, who was talking with Wyatt and Dani. “I do know she would want you to move on. To be happy. I’m glad things seem to be going so well between you and Jordan.”
Jake glanced in her direction. “I’m glad you brought that up. We’ve talked about her moving in with me, but I wanted to talk to you about it first.”
I smiled. “I love the idea. Maybe you can build a room over the garage for Wyatt, though, because I doubt he’s going to want to move back into his tiny, dingy apartment now that he’s gotten used to living in your house.”
Jake laughed. “You might be right about that. He fought the idea of staying with me at first, but now he seems quite settled.”
I must have made a face because Jake was all over it, asking me what was wrong.
“Just a twinge. I think I’m ready to head home. Can you let Landon know? He’s my ride tonight.”
“I’ll get him for you. Wait right here.”
I looked at my leg. “I’m not going anywhere.”
After Jake walked away, I actually had a few minutes to myself. I couldn’t tell if I was happy or sad. Probably a little of both. Happy for the friends who felt more like family, and sad for the loss of the friend I’d never see again. Everyone had been so great since I’d been hurt. Landon had taken on the bulk of the responsibility for taking care of me and my menagerie, but Chloe stopped by almost every day to visit with me and help him with the dog walking and animal maintenance chores, and Houston had gotten into the routine of bringing food for all of us at the end of the day. The gang who volunteered at the shelter had really pitched in, taking up the slack my absence had left, and Jake popped in at least once a day to make sure I was okay.
I thought about Zane and the lack of personal relationships in his life. Connections to others, it would seem, genuine, deeply felt caring, really was the thing that, in the end, caused our lives to make sense. Without it, we were nothing more than empty shells, existing in time and space but not really living.
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Sample Chapter
Friday, October 26
The dark hardwood floors shone brightly as the first patrons entered the newly remodeled bar my brothers, Aiden and Danny Hart, had sunk all their money as well as all their time into. While O’Malley’s had been the local watering hole for quite some time, after years under the same ownership it had begun to feel tired and somewhat dated. When the O’Malley family came to the decision to move to Boston, Aiden and Danny had decided to buy the bar, refurbish it, and make it their own.
And what a facelift they’d given the place! The scuffed and faded wood floors had been sanded and stained in a dark walnut to match the original bar which now had to be considered an antique by anyone’s standards. The old rickety tables and wobbly chairs had been replaced with new furnishings in a much lighter shade. The natural wood walls, which had previously been dark and dingy, had been sanded and stained with a rich pine finish. The most dramatic change, however, was to the old back wall, which had featured a black metal door leading out to the back deck. My sister Siobhan had suggested that the brothers replace the metal door with large glass sliders, which would bring in more natural light and a new element if placed on either side of a floor-to-ceiling brick fireplace. The doors, along with the additional accent windows that had been placed along the entire wall, brought in the feel of the outdoors, while a low-maintenance gas fireplace provided a warm, cozy feel during the colder winter months.
The place, in a word, was fabulous.
“It looks like the whole town came out for the grand opening,” my best friend, Tara O’Brian, said to me. Tara and I, along with my sisters, Siobhan Finnegan and Cassidy Hart, my fiancé, Cody West, and my brother-in-law, Ryan Finnegan, had volunteered to help out during this important event.
“I knew people were excited about seeing what the guys had been up to, but even I have to admit the turnout is better than I could have hoped.”
“I guess the real test will be whether the guys can retain the steady local business O’Malley always was able to depend on,” Tara commented as we loaded pints of beer on a tray for delivery to the tables to which we’d been assigned.
“Danny and Aiden have been customers at the bar for years. They know all the regulars. I think they’re going to do fine.”
I looked around the crowded room. As I’d predicted, many of the bar’s regular customers had shown up and were holding court at their usual tables. Chappy Longwood was an old and weathered fishing captain who’d worked the waters surrounding Madrona Island since before my brothers were born. He was retired from commercial fishing now, but it wasn’t unheard of to find him out on the water reeling in his own dinner for the evening. Chappy was in many ways considered to be a fixture at O’Malley’s. He liked to sit at the bar and chat with whoever was tending bar on any particular day.
Edwin Brown, a retired history teacher who’d worked at the high school when I was a teenager but had since retired, liked to set up camp in the corner by the window. He was currently running for island council and used the bar as a place to meet with voters and campaign for the seat. He usually showed up early with a book. He liked to read the classics while he waited for his fellow islanders to arrive, but once he had an audience, he worked the room so effectively, you’d assume he’d been in politics his entire life.
And then there was Pops McNab. Pops had lived on the island since before my father was born. I had no idea how old he was, but I was certain he must have passed his eightieth birthday years ago. Pops liked to talk about the Madrona Island of his past, and most of the regulars who spent time at the bar enjoyed listening to his often far-fetched stories.
Yes, I decided as Tara and I picked up our trays and walked through the crowded room, the regulars had shown up in an offer of support. Both Aiden and Danny were behind the bar, filling orders and chatting with everyone who came in. Cody and Siobhan were helping Cassie in the kitchen, while Finn stood near the front door, ready to take on the role of bouncer if necessary. Tonight truly was a family affair, but after this, Danny and Aiden would have to make do with the staff they’d hired, including two new waitresses, Stacy Barnwell and Libby Baldwin. They were both running a mile a minute, so I’d pitched in to help deliver drinks. I’d just emptied my tray when someone bumped into me from behind, almost knocking me onto my backside. I turned around only to come face-to-face with the last person I wanted to see.
“Monica,” I said with the sweetest smile I could muster. Monica Caldron had gone to school with Cody and Danny. She’d been, and still was, a beautiful woman who’d dated both my brother and my fiancé before leaving the island a decade ago. When I heard she was back, I was cautious. When she told me right to my face that she planned to seduce Cody away from me and would offer proof that she had, I was furious.
“Well, if it isn’t the soon-to-be-dumped Caitlin Hart,” Monica purred.
I was pretty sure I snarled at her.
“Where is that handsome fiancé of yours anyway?”
“In the kitchen helping out, but I’m afraid that’s off limits to everyone other than staff and tonight’s volunteers. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.” I turned and headed back to the bar, summoning every ounce of willpower I had not to deck the witch I’d been itching to punch it out with ever since she’d shown up on the island two weeks ago.
“What’s she doing here?” Tara asked as I began refilling my tray with the next load of drinks.
“She’s looking for Cody.”
“Ask Finn to kick her out,” Tara suggested. “You know she’s only here to cause trouble.”
I watched as the woman made her way around the bar, distributing her own sickeningly sweet brand of sensuality to every male, whether they were with a date or not. She stopped to smile at Chappy, kissed Pops on the cheek, then sat down across from Edwin, leaning in close, as if to have a serious conversation. I had to admit she knew how to use her God-given gifts.
I looked away from the woman who seemed to be working hard to piss me off and turned my attention to Tara. “Other than bumping into me, which I’m sure was intentional, she hasn’t done anything to warrant removal from the premises. This is a public grand reopening and the whole community was invited. If I insist on her being bounced, I’ll be the one who looks petty.”
“She’s on the island to steal your fiancé,” Tara reminded me. “I don’t think anyone would consider you petty for defending what’s yours.”
“I know why she’s here and you know why she’s here, but no one else other than family knows she’s been threatening to seduce Cody away from me. Even Cody defended her in a roundabout sort of way when I made it clear to him Monica was on the island for one reason and one reason only.”
Tara frowned. “He defended her?”
“Sort of. First, he assured me that even if she was here to win him back, she had absolutely zero chance of success because I was the only one he’d ever loved or ever would love, but then he ruined his vow of devotion by adding that Monica had been drunk when Siobhan and I ran into her while dining at Antonio’s, and he was sure she’d spoken out of turn when she made it clear she was on the island to rekindle things with him after all this time. He even hinted that perhaps I’d misunderstood what was said.”
Tara picked up her tray. “Men are so clueless. They see a pretty face and a perfect body and their minds freeze up, preventing them from seeing the demon beneath the beauty.” She added napkins. “I’ve no doubt Monica is here to do exactly what she threatened to do, but Cody loves you. I doubt he’ll even notice if she comes on to him.”
I hoped Tara was right, but I had my doubts. I remembered how Danny had followed Monica around like an obedient little puppy when they were dating, and he wasn’t the type to follow any girl around. He was much more the love-’em-and-leave-’em sort, so the fact that she seemed to have mesmerized both Danny and Cody when she lived here before terrified me. I trusted
Cody. I really did. It was Witch Monica I didn’t trust.
“The group at table seven wants another round,” Stacy informed me. She was a single mom with two-year-old twins who had recently moved to the island, a hard worker who seemed like a genuinely nice person. It was my opinion she would fit in to the O’Malley’s family quite nicely.
“I’m on my way,” I answered with a smile. “I think we’re all going to be exhausted by the end of the evening, but I’m loving this turnout.”
Stacy smiled back. “Yeah. I think the guys are pretty happy too.” She picked up her own tray. “By the way, I saw what happened. I have your back if you need some help with the she-devil.”
“Thanks. I appreciate the offer, but I can handle Monica if need be.”
The next two hours were so crazy busy, I had little time to worry about, or keep track of, Monica. Finn was called away from his post by the door after an accident was reported on the highway. Of course this was Madrona Island, so a bouncer was probably unnecessary anyway.
By the time ten o’clock rolled around, the bar was so crowded it was almost impossible to walk through. I wasn’t sure how Danny and Aiden were keeping up with the drink orders until I noticed Siobhan had joined them behind the bar. “Who’s helping Cassie in the kitchen?” I asked my older sister.
“The brothers decided to close the kitchen and focus all their energy on the bar until closing. Aiden ordered a bunch of pizzas from the place down the street and Cassie went to pick them up. She’s going to cut them into small pieces and we’ll serve them as complimentary appetizers.”
“That’s a good idea.” I looked around the room but didn’t see Cody. “Did Cody go with her?”
Siobhan shook her head. “I don’t think so. I’m not sure where he went. He was talking to Alex Turner, who showed up with Willow earlier, but I think they left to pick up the baby from his grandpa’s.”
Alex Turner and Willow Wood were friends who were co-parenting Willow’s son, Barrington Wood Turner. Alex had adopted baby Barrington, who was named for his biological father, which made him legally responsible for him along with his mother, despite the fact that he and Willow weren’t married or even dating. At least they weren’t dating in the traditional sense of the word. They were living together and raising a child, but so far their personal relationship seemed to have remained platonic.