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I led her through the house to the kitchen, which was the most put-together room by far. The flash of her smile at the sight of the flowers made me relax a little more. They hadn’t been a bad call.
Caroline hung her purse on one of the chairs. “What smells so good?”
“Well, I’m not ashamed to admit that I adhere to the firefighter stereotype. I’m an excellent cook. What you smell is my famous arrabbiata sauce.” To give myself something to do with my hands, I lifted the lid and stirred. “I hope you’re okay with pasta.”
“Pasta of all kinds is a staple in our house. We rotate dinner duty, and it’s something all three of us could cook from a very young age.”
“Seems fair. Wine? It’s a classic chianti.” I was no connoisseur, but that had seemed a safe enough bet with a red sauce.
“Sure. Thanks.”
I uncorked the bottle and poured into a couple of jelly jars. “I do actually own wine glasses—” I was pretty sure, at least. “But I haven’t found them yet.”
Caroline’s lips curved. “I’m not a woman who stands on formality. And I’m pretty sure we don’t own wine glasses at our house, so…”
I passed her a glass and lifted my own. “Salute.”
“Salute.”
“So, how are you doing?” I didn’t specify with what. We both knew that yesterday’s questioning had already hit the island gossip train. I hadn’t wanted to do it at her job for exactly that reason, but my personal sympathies couldn’t overrule the investigation.
“I’m doing okay.”
I wasn’t sure I believed it, but I decided to take her at her word. I wanted to spend some uncomplicated time with her, and bringing up the stresses she was constantly under definitely wasn’t the way to accomplish that.
Lifting the lid on the pot, I gave the sauce a stir. “You know, I remember you from high school.”
I turned just in time to catch her epic wince. She took a hefty sip of her wine. “Well, that’s mortifying.”
“Why? I remember you as being quiet and studious. I always wondered what was going on in that brain of yours.”
“Why would you remember me at all? You were well ahead of me. A senior to my freshman.”
The sides of the jar were smooth as I rolled it between my fingers. “I made it a point to watch you.” When her brows nearly hit her hairline, I rushed on. “Not in some kind of creepy stalker way, but just… My dad works with your dad down at the boatyard, and your dad has a reputation. I worried about you. About all three of you. Especially after your mom—” I cut myself off as pink rose in her cheeks.
She didn’t meet my eyes as she set her glass down.
Way to go, McNamara. How’s that foot taste?
Feeling like I’d blown my shot already, I reached out to lay a hand over hers on the table. “I don’t say that to embarrass you. I just wanted to let you know that my looking out for you isn’t a new thing.”
Her head snapped up from where she’d been staring at my hand, and her expression was full of baffled surprise. “I appreciate that. I think. It’s been a long time since anybody other than my brother and his friends really looked out for me.”
Given everything I’d overheard about Rios since I got back, I wasn’t surprised. “For the record, I don’t believe your brother did anything. It’s really shitty that people are trying to hold him accountable just because they don’t have someone to legitimately blame.”
“Thank you.”
Because she hadn’t moved since I touched her, I eased back. “So, moratorium on the shitty stuff. Tell me about something good in your world.” God, I hoped there was something, otherwise I’d really just stepped in it.
Caroline picked up her glass again and sipped. “My baby sister has a full-ride academic scholarship to UNC Chapel Hill. She’ll be leaving for college at the end of the summer.”
“Shit, that’s a great school. Full-ride there is no joke.”
“Gabi’s brilliant.” The smile that curved her lips made it crystal clear that she was as proud of her sister as any parent.
“That’ll be different, having her off island.”
“It will give Rios and me some more flexibility. I’ll finally be able to move out of our father’s house. I’ve just got to find a place I can afford.”
