Page 106 of The Sandbar saga

"Very much." His eyes softened. "We might have to move down the street."

She laughed. "No way. I love our house, and there are no cottages behind any of the planned houses in the Conner Estates for your office."

He tucked her against his side. She walked, matching each of his steps. Her big jump into buying the land and overseeing the development with the contractor wouldn't have been possible without his encouragement, and monetarily backing her in case she failed.

The old wrought-iron bench came into view. Though the walk wasn't far and both of them could go the full distance and then some on the path, Race led her off to the side. She sat down. Thigh to thigh with him. Shoulder to shoulder.

She stroked his upper leg with her hand and gazed at the stream. The water was higher in the fall with all the rain that had hit the coast lately. The trillium no longer bloomed, and sword ferns took over the bank.

The breeze picked up. She pulled the edges of her long sweater in front of her and hugged her middle.

"Cold?" Race pulled her closer, wrapping his arm around her.

She tilted her head, gazing up at him. "A good cold."

He grunted in response, used to her contradictions. "It's nice."

"Yes," she whispered, the wind stealing her reply.

The trunks of the trees groaned, bending with the air. The sturdy wood, year after year, surviving the harshness of their long lives.

Several minutes passed. She leaned her head on Race's shoulder. They needed more days like this where they could just enjoy the moment and each other. The practice was busy and constant for Race. Business was growing every day since becoming the owner of the formerly named Seashore Realty.

Now, officially named The Sandbar Realty, she focused on new housing developments.

Callie was happy and maturing away from home, going after her dreams. It was a new stage of life for her and Race as empty nesters.

"Katie?" Race squeezed her. "Look."

She opened her eyes and gazed in front of her. A deer stepped toward the stream, eyeing them carefully.

Sitting up straighter, warmth filled her chest. They were peaceful, majestic animals. Leery, yet graceful.

The brush moved, and two smaller deer walked out of the woods to join their mother. "Fawns," she whispered.

Transported through her memories, she shared a smile with Race. Not a year went by that he hadn't taken pictures of the deer and sent them to her. Even the five years she'd lived apart from him, he'd taken and saved every picture.

Race slowly slipped his hand into his pocket and removed his phone. She held still, not wanting to disrupt the family of deer.

He took a few pictures. Without asking, she knew he'd send them to her.

"Send one to Callie's email, too. It'll make her smile," she whispered.

"I just did." Race put his phone back in his pocket.

The fawns, knowing it was safe, pranced around their mother. Watching them interact, Katie leaned against Race again. She wondered if the deer were from a long line of descendants from the first momma and babies that Race had told her about many, many years ago, that had started her fascination with the deer by the stream.

Above them, the sky crackled with thunder. Katie jolted. The deer jumped back into the thick of the woods. She looked up at the sky at the same moment, lightning flashed. The bolt of light was quite a distance away yet.

"We should start walking back. The rain will be here soon." He stood from the bench.

She slipped her hand into his. Already the cloud cover grew darker.

Walking beside her, Race studied her. "Okay?"

She nodded, knowing he would understand when she preferred not to verbally answer his question.

Her daughter was safe. Race was with her. The storm couldn't hurt her.