“The cops might have brought their killer to justice if they’d had any idea where to look.” Drew’s clipped voice and tight jaw revealed his disgust. “Fletcher might not even be alive now. I read the investigation files, and there was no mention of Becky having another child. That direction was never checked out.”
“I—I can’t believe it.” Trisha set her glass of tea on the table in front of her. “I never would have dreamed Becky would get back with him when he had deceived her like that. And she never told me she’d been in contact with Ben.”
“She was getting a little older, and maybe the pull of her first love was stronger than she realized when he showed back up.” Paradise had never gotten over Blake either, and it hadn’t taken long for her to realize she still loved him. The minute she looked into his blue eyes again, she’d been swept up in a cauldron of emotions from her teen years.
She wiped the moisture from her cold glass and swallowed the last of her tea before she rose. “Thanks for your honesty, both of you. We’ll let you get back to your day.”
Drew rose and handed Wes his card. “Call me if you think of anything else.” Wes nodded and slipped it in the pocket of his tee. “I’ll be in town awhile.”
Paradise took Blake’s hand and tried to think of the next move. This changed everything.
Blake had watched Paradise through dinner and her interactions with the boys at Mom’s house. She’d tried to keep up a good front, but he’d seen the shadows in her amber eyes.
They kissed the boys good night and headed for the back deck. Drew was holed up in Blake’s apartment over the garage, and Blake had been waiting for some time alone with Paradise. They stepped out into the night lit by stars and a sliver of moon. The scents of grass and camellias wafted on the breeze. An owl hooted in the distance, and monkeys chattered in response.
He spotted one of her hair ties on the floorboard and picked it up. “You have a hard time hanging on to these things.”
She took it from him. “They flip out of my fingers.”
A tiger chuffed, and he turned that way. “Sounds like Evan is feeding the big cats.”
She leaned against his chest. “There’s nothing like the sound of the park at night. The animals moving to rest or to prowl around their acreage. There’s a feeling of contentment—that all is right with their world and ours. I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”
“I can’t imagine having anyone but you to share it with.” He kissed her, relishing the taste of her lips and the way she leanedagainst him with total trust. She pulled away and rested her cheek back against his chest.
He’d gotten a text that her ring was ready for pickup, and he was awed when he saw it. Hez was going to return the favor of taking pictures when Blake asked her to marry him, but he still couldn’t decide where or how to do it. Aboard a Gulf dinner cruise? On a walk through the park? Here at home with his little brothers so she realized how much the whole family loved her?
There were so many choices. Now that the park was on stable financial ground, thanks to Governor George, nothing was standing in the way of looking for a house of their own. He loved his family and knew Paradise did too—but the thought of having their own place to start a new life together was an amazing thing.
His mother poked her head out the open door. “The governor texted. She’s sending her aide over tomorrow to arrange another visit with her grandson and the press.”
Paradise lifted her head. “That’s great news! We’d better prepare for another surge in visitors after the media gets here again.”
“I need to hire a few more people. Another employee or two for the gift shop and maybe more tour guides.” Jenna ducked back inside.
“It’s so great to hear the optimism in her voice,” Paradise said. “You have both been under so much pressure lately. It’s hard to believe things are on the upswing here.” She fell silent. “Today was... interesting.”
“How do you feel about what you learned?”
“Shocked. The thought that Mom would leave Dad and take me with her doesn’t sound like her. She was so much about family.” Paradise took a step back. “If she would do something like that, she must have loved Ben very much.”
“Want to take a walk?”
She nodded. “Stretching my legs might let me absorb everything we’ve learned. What if that PI is still alive? We might solve all of this very quickly.”
Blake didn’t want to burst her bubble, but he had an uneasy feeling it wouldn’t be that simple. He took her hand, and they went down the steps into the thick grass. It was time to mow again. The list of things to do seemed never-ending, but he loved the continual activity.
Right after sunset was his favorite time of day. The air smelled sweet and fresh, and the darkness softened the edges, hiding the maintenance that needed to be done on some of the buildings. One thing at a time. They were getting there. The bills were paid, and they had enough money to tackle more urgent projects.
He spotted Evan strolling the tree line and nodded toward him. They reached the side of the building and an engine growled its way angrily into the parking lot. Tires squealed as the driver stomped on the brake and brought the vehicle to a halt. “Someone sounds upset,” Blake said. “Maybe you should go inside.”
“It’s probably Creed. Evan mentioned he saw him in town. I was expecting him to come here the minute he got back.”
Blake paused and exhaled. “You’re probably right.” He stepped ahead of her into the parking lot and spotted the detective.
Greene’s face was set and angry under his sandy hair, and his hands were fisted at his sides. Still in his uniform, he stomped toward them and stopped three feet away under a glow from the security light. “I want my lemur.”
Blake stood ready for a sudden move from Creed. “King Julien was a danger to people and was transferred to our care, Deputy. He’s adjusting nicely. You can come by and check on him tomorrow if you like. He’s sleeping now.”
