Bred in the Bone (Widow's Island #4)(8)

I guess this is our driver.

Rosa Underwood was an average-looking woman who blended in on the island. She was small and always wore simple sweatshirts and jeans, her graying hair in a short bob. She rarely spoke up unless addressed and preferred her books to people. Cate often felt the same way.

Right now Rosa was a blubbering mess.

Cate hung back as Tessa led the woman to a table and chairs near the back of the store. A black longhaired cat emerged from the shadows and jumped up on the table, rubbing its head against Rosa’s arm. Kurt flipped over the OPEN sign and locked the front door. It was doubtful there’d be any customers on the cold afternoon, but they didn’t want to risk someone walking in as they talked to Rosa.

The gossip would race through the entire island.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry!” The wails continued. Cate grabbed a box of tissues and set it next to the upset woman. “I didn’t mean for it to happen,” she cried, grabbing a tissue. “That’s not true. I did it on purpose.” The sobs got louder.

On purpose?

No one else spoke, but the three observers exchanged confused looks.

Kurt stepped up and tenderly patted the woman on the back. “It’s okay, Rosa. You can tell us what happened.” Sincere concern shone in his eyes. He’d probably known Rosa for thirty years. She was part of the knitting circle, but Cate didn’t think she was a close friend of her grandmother’s. She had the impression Rosa stayed to herself a lot. Her cat moved to the center of the table, sat, wrapped its tail around its feet, and watched everything with golden eyes.

“I can’t,” she said between sobs. “I can’t. I’m a horrible person.”

She did it.

“I’m sure you didn’t mean it when you said you did it on purpose,” Kurt said carefully.

“But I did! I saw him, and I hit the gas.” She gasped for air around her words, her face wet with tears. “I didn’t think I’d actually go through with it.” She took a tissue and held it against her eyes. “But I just love him so much.”

Cate caught Tessa’s eye; she looked as stunned as Cate felt. Rosa and Brad?

There had to be a twenty-five-year age difference.

“What do you mean, Rosa?” Cate finally asked. “Are you saying you went looking for Brad to hurt him?”

Premeditated?

“I did.” She sniffed loudly. “I had to stop him.”

“Rosa, maybe you should have a lawyer—”

“I don’t need a lawyer. What I did was wrong, and I know I need to pay for it.” Her chest heaved as she tried to get past the tears.

“But, Rosa—” Tessa began.

Rosa held up her hands. “Listen to me. I have to say this.” She shuddered, exhaling a large breath as she ran a hand down the cat’s back. Her eyes were still wet, but determination shone. She wanted to talk.

Kurt squeezed her shoulder. “Only if you want to. You don’t have to do this now.”

Her chin lifted, her eyes flashing. “There’s no point in waiting. I ran Brad over with my car so he wouldn’t hurt my son.”

Cate racked her brain trying to picture Rosa’s son. She had no recollection of one. In her mind, Rosa had always been a solitary person without family.

Kurt slowly nodded, his gaze distant. “I faintly remember him . . . Travis, right? He’d visit occasionally when he was younger.”

“He hasn’t come in a long, long time,” Rosa said softly, her face falling. “He lives on the property his father left him on the mainland.”

“You are divorced, right?” Cate asked.

“Yes. For nearly thirty years now.” Rosa winced. “How has time gone so fast? I first came to Widow’s to visit a friend after my divorce . . . and breast cancer,” she added, lowering her eyes. “Everything fell apart when I was diagnosed. My husband couldn’t handle it. I was on the island, mourning my marriage and the loss of both breasts, when I noticed all the noise in my head was gone. There was a peace that I hadn’t experienced since I first had Travis. So I never went back, and I opened the bookstore. I don’t go to the mainland for anything. I’m content here.”

Cate had heard similar stories all her life.

“Travis would come visit sometimes. I was crushed that I only received partial custody. He was ten and very impressionable, and his father did his best to turn him against me.” Her shoulders sagged. “Travis was bitter every time he came to the island. He hated it here.”

“Travis knew Brad Gill?” Tessa asked. “They’d be about the same age.”

“You have to understand how much I love my son,” Rosa told her earnestly, not answering Tessa’s question. “Even though he’s been lost to me for years, he will always be my heart. I’d die for him.” Her face paled, as if she’d realized that she might have given up her life for her son. There was no death penalty in Washington, but if what Rosa said was true, her life would never be hers again.

“We can see you care about your son,” Cate said carefully. “But what does he have to do with Brad Gill?”

“Travis doesn’t want anything to do with me anymore,” Rosa said. “He’s changed. He thinks everyone is out to get him—the government, his neighbors, even me. He lives in isolation on that property and only interacts with conspiracy theorists. He used to send me emails outlining how the government is controlling us through our food, our water, taxes, and vaccinations. I asked him to stop, but he said I needed to know the truth.” Her mouth turned down. “That’s not the boy I raised. It can’t be healthy to constantly obsess and live in a state of fear.”