“I eat fine, Ma.”
“You need more Midwest beef and potatoes, not all those salads and seafood.” She led him inside. “The girls should be here soon.”
The house seldom changed. Family photos covered every surface. Charles’s badge rested in a shadow box on the mantel, and their father’s folded American flag lay in a triangular case beside it.
Blue set his bag down and looked at the mantel. She never moved a thing.
“Come into the kitchen with me,” Rhonda said. “A neighbor gave me baklava, but I can’t eat it. You have some.”
“I don’t think I could?—”
“I’d hate to tell her you didn’t like it.” She scooped several large pieces onto a plate for him.
He nibbled one piece. “Very tasty.”
His mother pulled a container from the refrigerator. “At least you’ll eat well while you’re here.”
Blue shook his head. “I still have to pass a physical.”
The front door banged, and a woman’s voice called out, “Ma, is Blue here? A strange car is out front.”
“Guilty,” Blue said, escaping the kitchen and the baklava. Nothing against baklava, of course. Only the force feeding of it after he’d just had lunch on the flight. “Is that you, Sadie?”
“Who else?”
When he saw her, he opened his arms for a hug.
Sadie was the oldest, sharp and direct, a social worker who managed her cases and her brood of four boys with brisk efficiency. Next was Elyse, a sweet kindergarten teacher, but no less determined when she wanted to make a point.
Sadie pulled back and sized him up. “Just look at you. Tall, dark and handsome. At least one of us took after Pops. And now you’re a big star.”
“Aw, go on,” he said, waving off her comment. “I’m not even a little star. It was just an interview to make the department and the island look good.”
“And how’s the girlfriend? Still the diner girl, is it?”
“Her name is Jo, and she’s the owner.”
Sadie snapped her fingers. “Oh, right. Jo. I don’t know why I can’t remember that name. It’s so common.”
The door banged behind him again.
Elyse bustled in with her purse and a bag of groceries, setting them on the table. “Welcome back. Seems like it’s only been a minute since you were here last.”
Even though Sadie made out like she couldn’t remember Jo’s name, she wasn’t letting go of the subject. “So, are you two still together?”
Blue had been waiting for this. “That’s complicated.”
Sadie looked up. “Why is it always complicated with you? Either you’re with her, or you’re not.”
“Sounds like Ella,” Blue muttered to himself.
“Who’s Ella?” Sadie demanded.
“A friend.”
“A friend on the island,” Sadie said, exchanging a look with Elyse. “Our brother has a whole life out there he doesn’t tell us about.”
“You’ve visited,” he said.
