Page 30 of Key West Homecoming

“I believe you.”

Emma looked at him. “You do?”

“I gave you the letter.”

That was true.

“You also told me yesterday not to call the number,” he said. “I didn’t.”

“Why not?”

Jake shrugged. “You seemed pretty sure about it.”

Emma smiled.

“So apparently I’m already trusting you.”

“I won’t make you regret it.”

“I’d appreciate that.”

She slipped the envelope into her bag.

“I’ll have it back before dinner.”

Jake walked her to the steps.

Emma started down, then stopped. There was something she’d been wondering since yesterday.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Depends.”

“What did you do before you came to Key West?”

Jake paused.

“I was a paramedic.”

Emma hadn’t expected that.

“Where?”

“Miami.”

“How long?”

“Seven years.”

A paramedic.

Emma looked at him differently after that. Maybe it explained something she’d already noticed. Jake was watchful, but he wasn’t nervous. Even yesterday, when she’d appeared without warning and started asking questions about the house he lived in, he’d stayed calm.

Seven years was a long time to do that kind of work and then walk away.

“Why’d you stop?”

Jake looked toward the garden.