Close to the Bone (Widow's Island #1)(28)

“Not bad.” She touched the front of her shoulder as she met his gaze. “My strength isn’t back yet.”

“It’s way too early for that. Can I see it?”

Her chin came up, and defense rose in her eyes.

“You don’t have to.” I overstepped.

For a long moment she searched his eyes, and he sensed her indecision. Looking away, she inhaled and unbuttoned the top two buttons of her shirt, then slid the fabric off her shoulder. The wound was dark pink and puckered, but he knew it’d fade over time. If it’d been three or four inches lower, she could have died. He gently pressed the unharmed tissue around it. She slightly flinched and brought her gaze back to his.

“It looks good.”

She pulled her shirt back into place. “I asked for an additional month of leave. I didn’t expect to have a gun pointed at my head during my medical leave. I’ve learned I need more time before I return to work, and I want to sleep through the night without nightmares.”

“Is that why you’re here? For insomnia?”

“No.” She met his gaze. “I wanted to tell you in person that I wasn’t leaving anytime soon.”

“You’ll be staying on Widow’s?” He held his breath.

“Yes.”

Her answer made him smile.

“I feel better here. Jane is right about this place helping me heal.”

“I’ve felt it too,” admitted Henry. “I’ve always had a lot of anger simmering under my skin. It’s been gone since I stepped off the ferry.”

“Anger?” Surprise shone in her eyes.

“Yes. Working in a big-city ER made me skeptical that something could ever be done for the drug addicts. I couldn’t make a dent in LA. But here . . .” He glanced at the exam room’s new glass window. “Here I think I can make a difference. Some sort of outreach program . . . I don’t know the details yet, but ideas have been spinning in my head. They give me hope.”

“That’s wonderful.”

“I’m glad you’ll be around longer,” Henry admitted.

“Oh yeah?” She grinned and raised a brow.

“Yeah. Will you have dinner with me tonight?”

Her grin was radiant. “I’d love to.”



Cate held the carton of ice cream so Tessa could easily reach it with her spoon.

They’d agreed to meet at Widow’s Walk after lunch. Cate had driven all the way into Bishopton on the opposite tip of the island to buy ice cream to share with her friend. It’d been nearly ninety minutes out of her way, but she’d needed to see the even rows of organic ice cream tubs and feel the smoothness of the ice cream on her tongue.

Cate and Tessa leaned against the railing, looking across the bay at Camilla’s Island. The day was chilly, and the gray sky was covered in dreary clouds, but there was no wind. It felt wrong to eat ice cream outside in that weather, but Tessa hadn’t complained.

“Milton and Naomi are both being prosecuted,” Tessa said between bites. “Milton for murder. Naomi is lucky she didn’t shoot you.”

“I’m the lucky one,” stated Cate. “Rex said he’s going to bury Becca in the cemetery here. His wife is upset that he’s not doing it in New York, but he swears he’s never moving back to the East Coast. She’ll have to settle for visits.”

“I can tell Rex likes it here,” said Tessa. “He fits, you know?”

“He does,” agreed Cate. The women were quiet for a moment, simply enjoying each other’s comfortable presence. I’ve missed this. Nothing can replace a close friend.

Especially one who knew Cate inside and out.

“I ran into Marsha Bishop,” started Cate. “She wants me to look into Samantha’s case.” She watched Tessa for her reaction.

Tessa sighed. “I haven’t been able to get Samantha out of my head since we found those bones.”

“It can’t hurt to read over the files. Maybe we can find something that was missed . . . or see new possibilities to investigate.”

Tessa dug her spoon into the carton. “I may have already requested the files.”

Cate grinned and elbowed her in the ribs. “May have?”

Of course we’re on the same page.

“Okay. I did. I need something to read in the evenings.”

“I have a lot of spare time,” added Cate. “I’ve got at least six weeks of leave left.”

The women looked solemnly at each other, and Tessa held up a spoon of white chocolate curry ice cream. “To Samantha.”

“To Samantha,” echoed Cate, imitating the ice cream salute.

I hope we can bring you home.