Page 166 of Key West Homecoming

“I’m sorry. That sounded like an interrogation.”

Maeve smiled. “You’ve been spending too much time with Rachel.”

“I think I’m projecting.”

“About whether Key West suits an executive from Chicago?”

Emma nodded. “Something like that.”

Although even as she said it, she knew the question had changed. A week ago, she had been asking whether she could stay. Now she was trying to understand what staying might look like.

Patrick leaned forward.

“Can I give you my theory?”

“I have a feeling you’re going to anyway.”

“I like her,” Patrick said to Jake.

“So do I.”

Emma looked at Jake, but he was smiling.

Patrick pointed his beer toward the island in the distance.

“There comes a point when you stop asking whether you belong here. Key West just works its way into your life. You make friends. You get favorite places. Somebody knows your coffee order. Before long, leaving feels stranger than staying.”

Emma thought about Margarita Max’s and the stool Lloyd moved two inches for her. She thought about Leah knowing when she wanted to talk and Tess arguing whenever Emma tried to pay for something.

She thought about the cottage.

Then she thought about Jake.

“So what you’re saying is the island slowly traps you.”

Patrick grinned. “Exactly.”

“Like a vine around a fence.”

“That’s much prettier than the way I usually explain it.”

“And eventually I’m stuck here.”

“With the rest of us.”

Emma clinked her bottle against his. “I’ll take my chances.”

Maeve had been listening with a smile.

“You know he’s going to repeat that speech every time he sees you now.”

“I gathered that.”

Patrick opened another beer and looked toward the water.

“You two swimming?”

“I didn’t bring a suit.”