“That’s what you do, Riley. You run. You ran then, and you’re running now.”
Riley gritted his teeth until his jaw ached. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“What are you running from this time?”
“This is nothing like that.”
“This is exactly like that!”
His muscles tensed. “Oh yeah? ’Cause I’m pretty sure I have Paige now. I don’t have to sit around watching you rub your relationship in my face.”
Surprise flickered in Beau’s eyes. He blinked. Sank back against the booth.
“Oh boy,” Zac said.
Riley hadn’t meant to say that. He tightened his fists under the table and fixed his gaze on the jukebox across the room. Stupid! Why’d he have to go and lose his temper?
“Wait.” Beau’s tone was tempered with dread. “What does that mean?”
“It doesn’t mean anything.” Riley’s eyes bounced off Beau. “Bottom line is I’m moving on, and you need to come to grips with that. I have a good job, and I’ll keep in touch.”
“You had feelings for Paige back then? While I was with her?” Beau sounded torn between indignation and empathy.
Riley narrowed his eyes. “Let me help you out here, buddy. I loved her way before you ever did.” He let that register for a long minute. Watched the emotions cycle across Beau’s face. Realization. Pity. Guilt.
For a moment Riley was back in time, watching the two of them cuddling on the couch. Kissing hello and good-bye, murmuring quietly to each other. He’d been sick with jealousy over his own brother.
Beau’s eyes shadowed with guilt. Something like pain flashed in their depths. “That’s why you enlisted. You were running—from me and Paige. And I was too big an idiot to see it.”
“Stop taking credit for my decisions. I enlisted because I wanted to.”
“Because I was with the woman you loved.”
“All right, all right,” Zac said. “It’s out on the table, but it’s in the past. Let’s just move on, okay?”
“I don’t understand,” Beau said. “You’ve finally got her, and now you’re leaving again. What am I missing here?”
He just wouldn’t quit. Riley’s fingers twitched. “There’s nothing to fix here, Beau. Just leave it alone.”
“Not until you tell me what’s really going on.”
“It’s none of your business. That’s between me and Paige. And you know what?” Riley moved from the booth. “I’m not really hungry anymore.”
“Riley,” Zac said. “Come on.”
But Riley was already walking away. He’d had about enough of his brothers for one day.
Chapter 36
Riley was gone.
Paige picked up the basset pup, and he nuzzled her under the chin. Sometime between Sunday and today a wide hollow spot had opened up in place of her heart. She worked. She ate. She slept. Well, a little. Mostly she fretted and missed and cried.
She’d played his words back in her head a hundred times. And yet despite his claims that she deserved better, the old doubts crept back. She wasn’t enough somehow. She’d known it all along, deep down. She hadn’t been enough for her parents, hadn’t been enough for Beau, and she wasn’t enough for Riley. Maybe as a friend, but nothing more.
She set the pup back in the kennel and went through the motions of closing up shop. After the shelter was locked up, she walked to Wicked Good Brew, the folder filled with her carefully prepared financial statements tucked into her side. This was supposed to have been a happy day. She’d worked so hard. Her animals would be okay. Her sanctuary was saved.
At the coffee shop she ordered a latte and found an empty table. Margaret arrived a few minutes later, looking elegant in a long tunic and trendy jeans. After the woman had collected her iced tea from the barista, Paige waved her over.
They exchanged small talk for a minute before settling into business. Paige went over the financials, detailing the new monthly sponsors she’d signed on.
“And,” Paige said, injecting enthusiasm into her voice, “I just received word last week that the shelter is receiving a grant from a private foundation out of Boston. With the added funds we can host at least one spay and neuter clinic this year, maybe two.”
Margaret sat back in her seat. “Well, you have certainly outdone yourself, Paige. The sponsors, the successful fundraiser, the grant. I don’t know how you pulled it off, but I’m so happy you did. The shelter is a vital part of the community, and it would’ve broken my heart to see it close. You should be so proud of yourself.”
For some reason the words made Paige’s eyes sting. “That means a lot to me.”
Margaret took the offered folder and drained the rest of her tea. “I have no doubt the board members will be most pleased. It’s never been more obvious that we have the right woman at the helm.”
“Thank you, Margaret.”
A while later they parted ways in the parking lot and Paige walked home, wishing she could feel a glimmer of optimism through the haze of loneliness.
“You still working?”
Riley’s gaze shifted from the bright light of the computer screen to the doorway of his new office. Noah’s fit form filled the space, and his hands rested on his narrow hips. He had jet-black hair and a pretty-boy face the ladies used to go crazy for. But his tired eyes spoke of sleepless nights and an aching heart.
“I was passing by and saw the lights on.”
“Yeah, just getting familiar with this program. It’s a little different from the one I used at the co-op.”
“You know it’s eleven o’clock on a Sunday night?” He’d invited Riley to go out for a late dinner with his friends, but Riley had begged off.
“I’d like to hit the ground running tomorrow.”
“Right, well . . . We had fun tonight. Maybe you can come along next time.” He doubted Noah had anything resembling fun in weeks. But they all had their own ways of coping.
“Sure,” Riley said. But the last thing he felt like doing was meeting a bunch of new people.
Noah tapped the doorframe twice. “Okay, I’ll see you in the morning.”
After he left, Riley put in another half hour, then locked up and headed home. He’d brought Bishop to the office with him, and the boxer’s claws ticked on the stairs to his apartment, located over Noah’s garage.
“Home sweet home,” he said as he opened the door for the dog.
A musty smell assaulted him as he entered. The streetlight filtered through the curtains, so he didn’t bother with the light switch as he filled Bishop’s water dish.
Riley doffed his prosthesis and washed up, then fell into bed, his body tired and aching. He should sleep well, if for no other reason than that he’d only had about ten cumulative hours over the past three days. The sofa bed was lumpy, and the window air conditioner didn’t quite do the job.
He refused to admit the real reason he was losing sleep. A little denial went a long way.
Copper Creek was a pleasant enough place. About the same size as Summer Harbor, with plenty of small-town charm. The people were friendly and the scenery was nice. Maybe next summer he and Noah would go hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains. He tried to dredge up some excitement about that and failed.
He settled into the pillow and closed his eyes. Within minutes Bishop was snoring.
The early evening sky lit with an explosion of light and sound. His body lifted, and he was flying like a rag doll. He hit the ground with a hard thud, knocking the wind from his lungs. Pain. Darkness sucked at him.
He couldn’t pass out. His buddy.
He spit out a mouthful of dust and pushed up. Looked down at his leg, then wished he hadn’t. Bile rose in his throat, but he swallowed it back. He looked around, assessing the situation through a fog of pain.
A body lay in the dust several yards away.
“Tex!” The name scraped across his throat.
His friend’s abdomen moved up and down. Breathing. Moaning. Alive.<
br />
“It’s okay! I got you.” He crawled toward him, his elbows digging into the hard, dry ground of the goat path. His leg useless. “I got you, buddy!”
As he neared he saw the gaping wound. Bloody and big. Oh God, help him! It was so big. And right where his heart was. Riley tried to stanch the flow of blood with his hand. It was all he had. Blood poured over him, staining his flesh red.
“It’s okay. It’s okay, buddy.” He looked up into Tex’s face.
But it wasn’t Tex’s weathered face. Not Tex’s eyes staring back at him.
It was Paige’s. Her blue eyes, blank as death, fixed on him.
“Nooooo!”
Riley flew upright, his eyes opening to darkness. His heart was a jackhammer inside his chest. His breaths came quick and shallow, and he was shaking uncontrollably.
Paige!
But he wasn’t in the sandpit. He was inside. In a bed. Bishop stirred at his feet.
Just a dream. Just a dream. Oh God! Thank You!
The image of her face haunted him. Her skin pale and lifeless. Her eyes like death. He tried to push the image away, but it wouldn’t leave. He fell back in bed, catching his breath, a hand over his racing heart.
He lay there for hours, the bed shaking under the force of his beating heart. His mind filled with the terror of sleep.
He must’ve drifted off, because he wakened later to the buzzing of his phone.
He reached for it, answering, his voice nothing but a croak.
“Where are you, buddy?”
Noah. Riley ran a hand over his blurry eyes and checked the time. Ten o’clock! He must’ve turned off his alarm in his sleep.
He sat up, pushing the covers back. “I overslept. Sorry. I’ll be there in twenty.”
Chapter 37
Frumpy Joe’s was filled with Saturday morning customers, some chatting animatedly, others still trying to wake up with their steaming white mugs of coffee. The savory smell of bacon hung in the air alongside the sweeter smell of maple syrup.
Paige settled into the last booth. She was lucky to find an empty one. She’d forgotten today was Open Lighthouse Day. The one day a year the Coast Guard provided access to many of Maine’s lighthouses. Lighthouse Pointe drew its fair share of visitors. Already the town was crawling with tourists.
Her empty stomach gave a hard twist. Had she forgotten to eat supper last night? She’d worked until almost ten and yes, she had fallen into bed exhausted. There might’ve been a vending machine snack somewhere in there.
All her days were running together. It had only been two and a half weeks since Riley had left. Was this what life without him was going to be like? She had to find something else to do. She was all caught up and then some at work. She’d already cleaned out and rearranged all the files and scoured the place to death. She was probably driving Molly crazy.
Lucy bounced into the booth, all smiles. “Morning!”
Paige tried not to hate her. “Someone’s already highly caffeinated.”
Lucy made a face. “Guilty. Three cups. But let’s get you some.”
She signaled Charlotte, who was bustling around with a full carafe, her red hair coiffed in a low, messy bun.
Paige tipped her mug over as Charlotte approached. “Help.”
“Is on the way,” the owner said, pouring a steaming stream of the dark brew. When she finished she looked at Lucy. “Any for you, sweetie?”
Paige’s hand fell to cover Lucy’s upside-down mug. “Don’t you dare.”
Charlotte patted her shoulder before turning to the next table.
“What’s Zac doing this morning?” Paige asked after she’d taken a long, slow sip of the java.
“Sleeping in. There was a band last night, so it was a late one. You should’ve come. It was fun. They played a lot of country classics.”
“I had some work to get caught up on.”
Lucy shrugged out of her jacket. “You’ve been working a lot lately.”
“Just trying to stay busy.”
Lucy gave her a sympathetic smile as the server came to take their orders. Paige ordered a Belgian waffle and added a side of bacon. She needed the protein. None of it sounded good.
A siren fired up in the distance, its wailing gaining steam as it neared and passed the café. Some crazy tourist had probably taken a dive off Lighthouse Pointe or something. She whispered a quick prayer for their safety, then felt a pang of guilt. One-liner prayers for help were becoming a habit. She couldn’t even remember the last time she’d had a quality quiet time.
The bell over the door jingled, and Paige’s eyes went to the entrance. Miss Trudy entered, and Paige caught her eye and waved her over.
“I can only stay for a minute.” The woman slid into the booth next to Lucy. “I’m meeting friends. I’m just waiting for a table.”
“Are you going through the lighthouse today?” Lucy asked.
“No, I’ll be at the visitor center. It’ll be a busy day.” She looked at Paige. “And how are you doing?”
Paige tried for a smile and injected some enthusiasm into her voice. “I’m fine.”
Miss Trudy scowled. “Don’t you lie to me, missy. I can see the misery all over your face.”
Paige settled back in the booth, her smile crumbling. So much for faking it. “Has anyone heard from him?”
“He called Zac,” Lucy admitted after a brief pause. “He’s settled into his apartment and his job, I suppose. Zac didn’t think he sounded very happy.”
Miss Trudy huffed. “Of course he’s not happy.”
A moment’s consolation surged inside Paige, until guilt rose up in its place. Was that really what she wanted? For Riley to be as miserable as she was? After all he’d been through, he deserved better than her ill wishes.
“I hate seeing you all torn up like this,” Lucy said.
“I’ll be fine.”
The server set down three ice waters, then scurried away.
Lucy pulled her straw from its wrapper and stuck it in the cup. “I left Zac, too, remember? Last summer after I got my memory back? I just needed to go back home and get some things straight. But I came back.”
Paige gave a wry grin. “I don’t think it’s the same thing.”
“Maybe not . . . but you never know.”
“I just feel so . . . adrift.” Her mind shot forward to the long day ahead. To the long evenings in her near future. It seemed so empty. So lonely. The kind of loneliness that struck terror in her heart.
Lucy placed her hand over Paige’s. “I know it’s hard not to have any kinfolk, but you’re not alone. You’re one of us.”
“Of course she is,” Miss Trudy said. “She knows that.”
“I do know, it’s just . . .” Paige’s face warmed. “I think about him all the stinking time.”
“Riley made his decision,” Miss Trudy said. “And there’s nothing to be done about that. Maybe he’ll come around, and maybe he won’t. But if there’s anything I’ve learned in all these years, it’s that you can’t control someone else. You can only control yourself—on a good day. You need to find something productive to keep your mind busy. Focus on you. On being the best you you can be.”
“Why, Aunt Trudy,” Lucy said. “That’s wonderful advice.”
“Don’t know why you sound so surprised. I’m a virtual fount of wisdom.”
“I have been staying busy,” Paige said. “I’ve been working till bedtime, but I’m running out of things to do, and if I don’t find something to occupy me, I’m going to go crazy.”
“You could start jogging with me and Eden. We go three mornings a week.”
Paige sighed. That would take care of three hours. It was something. “Maybe.”
Miss Trudy’s brows puckered in a thoughtful look. “What about volunteering somewhere?”
“Like where?”
“We could always use more help at the community center,” Lucy said. “There are a few adults who help out on Saturdays and after school. The kids need ment
ors, and I have a few who need help with homework. Sometimes we get a little overwhelmed.”
“That’s a fine idea,” Miss Trudy said.
A bit of hope bloomed inside Paige at the thought of helping kids who might be disconnected at home. She knew what that was like. She wished the center had been there when she was a kid. It would’ve been a place to go. A place where she might not have felt so . . . in the way.
“I could do that. I was good in school. Hey, maybe I could even bring an animal for the kids to play with—if it’s okay with you.”
Lucy’s blue eyes sparkled. “I love that idea. I wish I’d have thought of it before. I have a couple kids who haven’t really connected with anyone. A dog or a cat might be just the thing.”
“Animals have a way of breaking through barriers.” Paige thought of Bishop and Riley and immediately pushed the thought away. “Let’s do it. I have a mixed breed adolescent that’s very friendly. Calm but playful. I think he’d be perfect.”
“Bring him on over. The kids will love it.”
There was a lot of shuffling at the entrance of the café. A couple had just entered and were speaking with Charlotte. The owner put her hand over her mouth, her eyes going wide.
“What’s going on?” Lucy turned to see what Paige was looking at.
Charlotte rang up an older gentleman with a cane, then picked up her carafe and came to their table. She turned over Miss Trudy’s mug and filled it, her hand shaking.
“Everything okay, Charlotte?” Lucy asked.
“I don’t think so. The Crawfords just told me there’s been a terrible accident a couple blocks over.” Her gaze went around the table, stopping at Miss Trudy. “I’m afraid it’s Sheriff Colton.”
Chapter 38
The columns on the computer blurred together. Man, he was dragging. Riley blinked hard a few times, rubbed his eyes. Even the coffee hadn’t perked him up this morning. He propped his chin on his fist and continued scanning the columns.
The hum of a truck filtered into the office. Someone was loading windows or doors in preparation for their day. The air in the office was warm, almost stifling. Stupid Georgia weather. It was supposed to be fall. He thought wistfully of autumn in Summer Harbor. The temperatures would be cooler now, the trees shimmering with gold and red. Wood stoves churning out the homey smell of burning logs into the crisp fall air. He could almost smell it now.
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