Page 170 of Key West Homecoming

Emma leaned back on her hands.

She had spent most of her adult life believing that if she thought long enough, planned carefully enough and gathered enough information, she could make the right decision before taking the first step.

Nothing about Key West had worked that way.

Maybe that was part of why she loved it.

Later, Maeve started the engine and turned the boat toward home. Patrick took the wheel after a few minutes, and Maeve came aft to sit with Emma and Jake.

“Come out with us again,” she said. “Next time, Jake, you’re getting in the water.”

“Was I very uncooperative?”

“Extremely.”

“I was having an important conversation.”

Emma looked at him. “About what?”

Jake glanced at Patrick.

“Wood.”

Patrick coughed into his hand.

Emma narrowed her eyes. “That sounded convincing.”

Jake smiled. “It was mostly wood.”

Emma let it go, although she made a note to ask him later.

They returned to the marina in the late afternoon. The pelican was still on its piling.

Patrick brought No Worries alongside the dock and tied off with the ease of someone who had done it a thousand times.

“Thank you,” Emma said when they stepped onto the dock. “This was a wonderful day.”

Maeve hugged her.

Jake shook Patrick’s hand.

“We had a great time,” he said.

Patrick hugged Emma next.

“Remember what I told you. Stay too long and it’ll be too late. You’ll be stuck here with the rest of us.”

Emma smiled.

“I’ll risk it.”

This time, she didn’t have to think before saying it.

Jake drove her back to the cottage.

Emma rested her head against the window and watched the mangroves pass. Her hair was stiff with salt, and her shoulders felt warm from the sun.

She was tired in the best possible way.