Bred in the Bone (Widow's Island #4)(25)

He wants me to stay.

She’d thought of little else for weeks.

“Do you remember when we both didn’t feel right after flying to the mainland?” she asked. “That feeling stayed with me the entire time I was there, even at the hospital with Sam. But the minute we took off to come home, the feeling eased. And touching down was a relief.”

He nodded vehemently, agreeing. “I felt that too.”

She laughed. “For a while I thought I needed a pregnancy test.”

The sudden light in his eyes touched her heart.

“Since I was a kid, I’d heard stories,” she continued. “Some people are meant to be on Widow’s. They belong to the island. My view of the island is much different as an adult than it was when I was a teen,” she added thoughtfully. “I left as soon as I could and was thrilled to be off the island and out in the real world. But now it’s different.” She frowned. “When we went to get Sam, I felt I shouldn’t leave. Why do I feel different today than when I left for college?” She tilted her head, holding his gaze. “I think it’s because you’re on the island now.”

His hands tightened on her waist.

“I’m lucky to have been raised in paradise,” Cate said. “Maybe paradise is the wrong word. So many of our days are gray, but when I’m around you, there is color everywhere I look. Is it because you were brought to Widow’s for me?”

“You sound confused,” he said.

“I was, but I’m not anymore. I’m not going to question my gut. I’m not going back to the mainland or the FBI. I can’t do my job anyway; I panic simply standing in front of doors.”

“You didn’t panic in front of Travis.”

“That was different. People I loved were in danger. There was no time for my brain to ruin my concentration. I just acted.”

“You’re not going back to the FBI.” It wasn’t a question.

“No.”

He hugged her and planted a kiss on her mouth. “You won’t regret it.”

“I know.”

“But what will you do? You’ve got to have a purpose. You’ve been driven your whole life. You can help me at the clinic . . . maybe figure out how I can expand to serve some of the neighboring small islands that don’t have a doctor, but I don’t think that’ll be sufficient for you.”

“You’re right, it won’t.”

He waited.

“I want to buy the bookstore. I don’t think Rosa Underwood will be back.”

Henry sucked in a breath. “You do? Will that be enough? I mean, I swear sometimes she didn’t have a customer for days. That definitely won’t be a challenge.”

“I’m going to ask Edith if she’d consider selling the bakery to me.”

“You want both?”

“Yep. I haven’t been able to think about anything else—maybe I’ll combine them.” Cate grew excited as she voiced the thoughts that had been bouncing in her head for days. “Jane would love to be involved in the bakery—I can bake. I was taught by the best, my grandmother. I just don’t do it that much, and between her and me, I know we could do it, and Sam could work with us.”

“And you’d read books and pet that cat whenever you wanted.”

“Sounds pretty great to me.” She smiled, feeling it all the way to her toes. She’d never been more sure of anything in her life. Except maybe the man in front of her. This was meant to happen; she knew it.

“You have my full support for whatever you want if it means you’ll stay with me.” He leaned his head against hers. “The thought of you leaving has been killing me for weeks, but I didn’t think it was fair to say anything.”

“I’m glad you did.”

“But you were already making plans to stay anyway?”

“Maybe.”

“You were, you totally were.” He took her head in his hands and kissed her deeply.

“Go, Doc Henry!” shouted Tessa as Sam whooped her delight.

Cate smiled against his kiss.

Everything was perfect.





ACKNOWLEDGMENTS


After writing ten Rogue River novellas, Melinda and I were ready to write about new characters and a new location. A trip to the beautiful San Juan Islands convinced us a Pacific Northwest island would be a fabulous setting for more mystery and murder, and the concept of Widow’s Island was born. We carried over a couple of characters from Rogue River—we weren’t ready to leave it completely behind. Thank you to Montlake and our editor, Anh Schluep, for their enthusiasm about this project. Thank you to Charlotte Herscher for helping us sound like we know what we’re doing. Thank you to our readers who loved our first novella series and constantly begged for more. We hope you enjoy Widow’s Island as much as we do.

Kendra Elliot Melinda Leigh