Page 29 of Key West Homecoming

Especially when she wasn’t sure she deserved it yet.

She heard Jake moving through the cottage. The floorboards creaked beneath his footsteps.

Emma knew those sounds too.

In her mind she was twelve years old again, lying in the back bedroom with a book while her grandmother moved around the kitchen. She could almost hear Gloria humming to herself.

Then Jake’s footsteps came closer and the screen door opened.

He held a plain white envelope.

“There you go.”

Emma took it from him.

“Thank you.”

She pulled out the letter.

It was two pages long. She read the first page quickly, then slowed down and read it again.

The language sounded official without saying much. The cottage was under contract. Closing was scheduled. The new owners intended to keep the current tenant in place.

Jake had been told there was nothing he needed to do.

Emma read the signature at the bottom. She didn’t recognize the name. There was a phone number beneath it.

She thought about what Maeve had said.

The letter mattered.

Emma folded it carefully and returned it to the envelope.

“Emma.”

She looked up.

Jake was watching her.

“I have no idea what’s going on.”

“I know.”

“I’ve lived here for three years. I pay my rent. I take care of the place. Then I get a letter telling me it’s being sold, and the next thing I know you’re standing in my yard asking questions.”

Emma felt a small pull of guilt.

He was right. Jake hadn’t done anything except rent a house. Whatever Arthur had done had reached into Jake’s life without his knowing it.

“I wish I could tell you more.”

“So do I.”

She looked down at the envelope in her hands.

“I will.”

Jake nodded.