Mr. Rogers Goes to Church.
For a moment, I felt like we were two high schoolers who’d been caught making out under the bleachers. Only we hadn’t been making out. Or around any bleachers.
“First, I thought I’d give you an update,” Dr. Turner started. “Apparently, some fishermen Leroy knew had been paying him a percentage of their profits in return for his silence. Those watermen knew that the oysters being cultivated on the shores of this island were protected.”
“Protected?” I clarified.
“The oyster population in the bay had been steeply declining in recent years. Watermen can only harvest a certain amount of oysters at certain times of the year. These men knew exactly what they were doing. They were making thousands of dollars from their crimes.”
“That’s horrible,” I said. Sierra would have a field day with this. The animal lover would fight to the death to protect any living creature from being mistreated. Even oysters.
Dr. Turner nodded, his head looking heavy as it moved up and down. “I agree. Leroy admitted that he was suspicious you were on to him. He said you were constantly in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“I see.” I touched my throat.
“He said something about a confrontation he had with you last night?”
I nodded, realizing he had been the one who threatened me in my room last night. I must have tipped him off and made him nervous when I informed him about the boats I’d seen at night on the water. “Someone told me to go home. It was dark. I couldn’t see his face.”
“I apologize that happened to you on this island. He was obviously getting desperate. He would like to fully retire, but he just hasn’t had the money. He took the easy way out.”
My heart softened toward the man. He must have been the person I’d seen outside that first night I was here. He’d been working with the poachers even then. “I see.”
Dr. Turner let out a sigh. “I worry about the things happening here. I want to heal, not harm. I’m afraid I’m failing.”
“I can see a difference in the couples here, Dr. Turner,” I told him. “Don’t lose hope. Not yet.”
“I appreciate your kind words. I hope you’re including yourself and Riley in that equation.”
“Will you fire Leroy?”
“I believe in second chances, Gabby. I hope with some help and counseling that he’ll be able to turn from his ways.”
“That’s generous of you.”
“People have been generous to me in the past. I try to pass that along to others.” Dr. Turner paused for long enough to lean closer. “You want to know why I started doing this? I started as a psychotherapist, but I decided to specialize in marriage counseling. My own wife was killed by a hit-and-run driver. We had a beautiful marriage, and I want the same for other people.”
“I’m so sorry to hear about what happened,” I told him.
“I think I’m really beginning to see what the root of your problems are,” he continued. “It’s your nosiness, Gabby.”
My jaw literally seemed to come unhinged. “What was that?”
“Nosiness can lead to a multitude of sins.”
“Oh, so this is all about me? The disintegration of our relationship has nothing to do with him?” Outrage lined my voice, and I didn’t even try to hide it. It took all of my willpower not to charge out of the pew and throttle someone.
“Men like to feel that they’re first priority,” Dr. Turner explained.
“He was first priority! He always has been.”
Dr. Turner didn’t look convinced. “Riley, what do you say to that?”
He swallowed hard, a surprising seriousness in his gaze. “There have been times when I wonder if I can even compete with your curiosity.”
My mouth dropped open again. Could this get any more absurd? “What?”
“Let him talk, Gabby,” Dr. Turner encouraged.
Riley nodded. “I mean, I think that’s your first love.”
“Nosiness?” Dr. Turner asked, his eyes crinkling.
Riley nodded. “Getting in other people’s business. Injecting yourself into situations uninvited. Having no concern for your own safety.”
I stood this time, unable to resist the impulse. “I knew it! You don’t support me, and you never have! That’s what this all boils down to, isn’t it?”
“Calm down, Gabby,” Dr. Turner instructed, lowering his hand toward the ground like he was performing a magic trick.
I wouldn’t be that easily manipulated.
“It’s not like you’re nosy for a living, but I can understand what you’re saying,” Dr. Turner said. “You don’t feel like he supports who you are. Is that correct?”
I stared at Riley, my gaze no doubt sending daggers into him. With that message clearly communicated, I sat back down, feeling much colder now than I did before.
“Exactly. I’m not nosy for a living. That’s a ridiculous thought.” I cleared my throat. “I suppose I just embarrass him when I’m a little too pushy sometimes.”
“You could never embarrass me, Gabby.” He said the words softly, gently.
“Then what is it?” I asked, my voice still edgy.
“In the past, I guess I just never felt like we were partners, you know? I felt like you got in trouble, and I tried to get you out of trouble.”
“Many couples experience that,” Dr. Turner said. “It’s how you handle stress that makes the difference.”
“I never meant to be a nuisance,” I told him. “And, believe me, my entire life I’ve felt like I’ve encountered people who don’t accept me as I am.”
“Having people accept you for who you are doesn’t mean that you close the door to change and growth,” Dr. Turner said.
“I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’m different now, Gabby. So are you.” Riley sounded so sincere, so intense. But there was an underlying message he was trying to get across. I just wasn’t sure what. Or I didn’t want to know.
“What would you like to see from Gabby, Riley?”
“I love her spirit,” he started, leaning toward me casually. “I want her to keep being who she is. I think I just needed a wake-up call to get me away from all these expectations that people have put on me for my entire life. I’ve always been taught to fit a mold, but I feel like my purpose has changed.”
“The person you married is rarely the person you eventually are married to,” Dr. Turner said. “We all change. It’s a part of life. You just have to learn to grow together. It’s important that we don’t look to someone else when we realize the gravity of those changes. Your curiosity hasn’t led you to anyone else, has it, Gabby?”
I blinked, stunned at his questions. “You mean, have I cheated?”
“Well, yes, I suppose that is what I’m asking.”
“No, I haven’t cheated.” But as soon as the words left my mouth, I thought about Garrett.
But Riley and I had broken up. So going out with Garrett wasn’t cheating. I had nothing to feel guilty about.
“Riley, your gaze is telling a different story,” Dr. Turner said. “You feel like she has been unfaithful.”
“Maybe deep down inside I thought our relationship meant more to her,” he said quietly.
I flexed my jaw trying to keep my emotions at bay. It wasn’t working well, though. My emotions raged inside me with hurricane-force winds. “That’s not fair.”
“I thought I just wanted you to be happy. But maybe the truth is that I’m selfish, and I can’t imagine my future with anyone but you.”
“How about you, Gabby? What would you like to see from Riley?”
I stared at Riley, my words gone. Had he been acting earlier? Or was he speaking the truth?
My head spun while my heart squeezed and released. Squeezed and released. Squeezed and released.
“Gabby?” Dr. Turner continued.
I pulled my gaze away from Riley, trying to come back to reality. “Commitment. That’s what I want. Our relationship has an ebb
and flow that hasn’t always been healthy. We had—have issues. It’s time to face the truth.”
“I agree,” Riley said.
“Great. You both agree on something,” Dr. Turner said. “I think we’ve gotten a good start here, Riley and Gabby. I’d like to talk about this again more next weekend, and I have some very specific homework for the two of you this week. I want you two to write down everything you love above the other person. Can you do that?”
Begrudgingly, I nodded. “Of course.”
“Yes,” Riley said.
“Wonderful. Now, we have one more session until it’s time to leave for the weekend. I have a new captain coming to take you back to the mainland.”
Captain Leroy might be gone. But there was still a killer out there.
CHAPTER 37
I’d felt the tension between Riley and me since we’d almost kissed last night and since our “session” with Dr. Turner this morning. We hadn’t had time to talk about anything, and, truth be told, I didn’t want to talk about it. There was no need to dig up the demons from the past. We’d both had a moment of lapsed judgment. They happened, but I tried to avoid stuff like that overall.
That’s why, when my boss called me to talk about my assignments for the week, I was more than happy to fill the drive home with that conversation rather than one with Riley. In fact, our phone call lasted nearly an hour, which worked out perfectly for me. I may have even drawn it out, talking about barbecue and baseball and dream vacations.
But then the time came when we pulled up to our apartment complex. I knew there would be an opportunity as we said goodbye, and the thought made my stomach clench.
I climbed out before any deep talks could be initiated and grabbed my suitcase from his popped-open trunk.
“Well, it looks like we have another weekend behind us.”
He nodded stiffly. “That’s right. At least we can rule out Captain Leroy.”
“That means our pool of suspects is only getting smaller and smaller. That’s the good news.” My voice sounded falsely cheerful.
“Gabby, I really think we should talk,” Riley said as we stood on the front stoop.
This was it. The moment I was dreading.
Suddenly, the door beside us burst open. “Gabby!”
The lump in my throat nearly choked me a moment. My eyes had to be deceiving me.
Please?
Finally, I croaked, “Garrett?”
It was definitely him. Tall and lean and with undeniable swagger. Though he also had dark hair like Riley, his good looks were far more exotic. His hair had a touch of curl, his eyes had a touch of naughty, and his smile seemed to indicate that he could own the world if he chose to.
Before I realized what was happening, he pulled me into his arms and swung me in a circle. His familiar scent—sandalwood, I’d always guessed—filled my senses.
“I couldn’t wait another second to see you.”
“You're back here. I just can’t believe it.” I was stunned. More than stunned. I was stupefied.
“Sierra told me you’d be home this evening.”
I’d seen a couple of missed calls from Sierra. Perhaps I shouldn’t have ignored them. But if the baby was coming, she’d promised to send a SOS text to inform me, and I hadn’t gotten one of those. I figured I’d been safe to wait.
I pulled my hair behind my ear, suddenly feeling self-conscious. “Right. We’re just getting back from an investigation we were hired to take part in.”
It was only then that Garrett's gaze fell on Riley. Some of his earlier gusto slipped from his gaze.
“Riley.” He nodded woodenly.
“Garrett.” Riley regarded him.
Tension as thick as the fog around Bird’s Nest Island fell between all of us.
“I’ll let you two talk,” Riley finally said. “I’ll catch up with you later, Gabby.”
Garrett watched him walk away before turning back to me. When he saw me, a huge grin stretched across his face. "You look great. The weeks have been good to you"
I nodded. “I guess you could say that. I have a new job. I’m moving in the right direction.”
“That’s great.”
“You look great also,” I told him.
“I can’t wait to tell you about Africa.” He practically glowed.
“I can’t wait to hear about it.”
He shifted and took a fleeting glance toward the door where Riley had disappeared. “I realize you just returned, but do you have time tonight? I just hate that it’s taken this long to see you, especially considering I’ve been back for a week.”
“I can do something tonight,” I said, despite the fact that I really just wanted a hot shower and time to decompress.
“Great.” He grabbed my suitcase, and we started upstairs. “There’s a new restaurant some of my colleagues have been raving about. I thought we might go there. It’s got oysters that are out of this world.”
Oysters? Argh. He had no idea.
“Sure. Let me just get freshened up.”
***
An hour later, Garrett and I were seated at a window table overlooking the bay. It seemed ironic to be here. The basic landscape was the same. The basic food was the same. Yet so much was different. The location, the company, my feelings.
Garrett Mercer was a great guy. Anyone would say so. He was handsome and generous and kind. A world changer. A most eligible bachelor. A dream come true.
“So how are you?” He leaned toward me and took my hand.
Earlier, I’d felt like I was betraying Garrett by being at the marriage retreat with Riley. Now I felt like I was betraying Riley by being with Garrett. Gabby Goes to Royal Messville.
What exactly did it say about me that I kept giving titles to portions of my life, as if I was living in various sitcom episodes?
“I’m doing well, Garrett.” I told him about a conference I’d gone to a few weeks ago in Oklahoma, meeting my future stepbrother for the first time, and starting my new job. I talked about Sierra and the baby and a new coffee flavor I thought he should try out.
“It’s amazing what can happen in your life in a few short months, isn't it?”
“That’s the truth,” I told him, an uncomfortable feeling of dread in my stomach.
Our food came. I’d bypassed the oysters again, especially knowing now what I did about them. Instead I’d gotten some grilled wahoo, steamed vegetables, and brown rice.
After we prayed and as I raised my fork, I turned the conversation on Garrett. “Please, tell me all about your trip.”
A fire seemed to ignite in his gaze. Passion—that’s what it was.
“There's so much to say. I loved it over there, Gabby. I’ve been to Africa before, but this trip was different somehow. Something stirred in my heart."
“Tell me more.” I honestly wanted to know. He was doing good work over there, leaving an impact that would last for years.
He told me stories about the children he'd met, the villages he'd visited, and the ways people had let him into their lives. He told me about interesting foods he’d tried and about trips to the market and how kids entertained themselves with rocks and sticks.
“I’m going to be spending more time over there. I want to oversee the operations more.”
His announcement surprised me, even threw me off kilter. “But what about your coffee business here?”
“I’ll still oversee that as well. But I want to be more hands-on. Life is too short to just sit behind a desk all the time and push paper.”
“I'll have to agree to that.”
His gaze latched onto mine. “I want you to come with me, Gabby.”
Suddenly, I lost my appetite. I put my fork down mid-bite and stared at him, waiting to hear “just kidding!”
“What?” I had to have heard him incorrectly.
But the earnestness in his eyes told me I hadn't.
He leaned closer. “You would love it over there. It would change your life. I could see us doing
good work together.”
I leaned back, hitting the chair behind me a little too hard. “I don’t know what to say. I’m flattered.”
“Say yes.” His eyes implored me. There was a promise of adventure there, of every day being different, of the chance to be satisfied.
“It's not that easy.” My throat ached as I said the words.
“It could be.”
“As tempting as it sounds, my life is here. I just got a new job. My interest is in the field of forensics. I know I would love it over there. But I feel my place is here.”
His smile dimmed. “Is it because of Riley?”
I totally abandoned my food now. At least I’d had the chance to down about half of it before we got to this point in our conversation. I was downright uncomfortable and wished I could teleport myself to a happy place. “There's nothing between Riley and me.”
He didn’t break his gaze. “My assistant said Riley moved back and stopped subletting his apartment.”
I nodded curtly. “He did. I found out while I was in Oklahoma.”
He put his fork down also, his food forgotten. “And you’re working on an investigation together?”
“That's correct. But it's purely professional.”
He tilted his head, questions swirling in his eyes. "Do you really believe that?”
I nodded, maybe more adamantly than necessary. "I really do. We’re done. Over. History.”
“I’m not so sure.”
I swiped my hand through the air, indicating my decision was final. “Well, I am. I’m determined to be the bigger person and prove that we can still be friends, though.”
He stared another moment longer. When he glanced down, I knew the conversation was turning yet again. “I see. So what does this mean for us, Gabby? You’ve had three months to think.”
A physical pain twisted my heart. “I can't fit into your life, Garrett.” My voice cracked as I said the words. “I think that's obvious. We’re different people going in different directions. There’s no part of me that feels led to go to Africa long-term.”
“I see.” He placed his napkin in lap. “I guess this is it then?”
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