Page 114
Noah waved in acknowledgment, his cheeks flushed with the cool air and exertion. Kelsey felt a familiar swell of emotion watching him. He looked so carefree, so unburdened. The darkness that had lingered after Jennifer’s attack had finally begun to recede.
“Any news from Jason?” Amy asked, her voice dropping slightly though Noah was well out of earshot.
Mac’s expression tightened almost imperceptibly. “His lawyers called yesterday. They’re still handling the legal fallout, but he wanted to check on Noah.”
“And to apologize for the hundredth time,” Kelsey added, reaching for Mac’s hand and giving it a gentle squeeze.
The weeks following Jennifer’s arrest had revealed a disturbing picture. Jason had been genuinely horrified by his wife’s actions, completely unaware of her deteriorating mental state. Her fixation on Noah had apparently developed over months, fueled by delusions and paranoia that she’d carefully hidden from her husband.
“It’s not exactly his fault,” Kelsey continued, “but I still can’t quite separate him from it all.”
“The Prescott family has issues that go back generations,” Mac said quietly. “Jason included. But I believe him when he says he never imagined Jennifer would…”
“The doctors say she may never be well enough to stand trial,” Kelsey remarked, setting her sketch aside. “Severe delusional disorder, exacerbated by untreated psychosis.”
“It’s sad,” Amy said, her tone sympathetic. “To be so lost in your own mind.”
They fell silent for a moment. The only sounds were the distant barking of the dogs and the gentle rustling of leaves overhead. Kelsey looked up at the sprawling oak that shaded their sitting area. Its leaves were just beginning their transformation from deep green to burnished copper.
“On a much lighter note,” Amy said, clearly eager to shift the conversation, “I’ve scheduled the first trial workshop for next month. Just a small watercolor class, eight students. If it goes well, we can start planning a real calendar for spring.”
“With my new work schedule, I can actually help,” Kelsey said, still marveling at how quickly things had fallen into place once she’d decided to cut back her hours. The new nurse practitioner had been eager to relocate to the island and had brought with her a wealth of experience and an enthusiasm for community health care that matched Kelsey’s own.
“The MacCormack-York Center for Arts and Wellness,” Mac mused, testing the name they’d been considering. “Has a certain ring to it.”
“You’re just pleased your name comes first alphabetically,” Amy teased.
“Guilty as charged,” Mac admitted with a grin.
Kelsey watched him, still sometimes caught off guard by the easy happiness that now seemed to radiate from the man who had once been so determined to keep the world at arm’s length. Since his return and since that terrifying night at Widow’s Point, Mac had embraced their life together with a wholehearted enthusiasm that still took her breath away.
He caught her watching him and winked, which sent a pleasant flutter through her chest. Later, after Noah was asleep, they would have the house to themselves. The thought alone warmed her more effectively than the cardigan or the wine.
“You two are disgustingly cute,” Amy observed dryly. “I’d be nauseated if I weren’t so happy for you.”
“We try,” Mac said, unabashed.
A sudden commotion from the far side of the lawn drew their attention. Noah was running toward them and yelling, Pilot and Ollie barking excitedly behind him.
“Mom! Mac!” he called, slightly out of breath as he reached them. “You have to come see what Ollie dug up!”
“Probably a squirrel’s buried treasure,” Mac suggested, setting his wine glass on the small table between the chairs.
“No, it’s bones,” Noah insisted, his expression serious. “Like, a lot of bones.”
Kelsey exchanged a glance with Mac. “Probably a fox or raccoon that died over the winter,” she said gently. “Remember when we found those bird bones at the beach? Nature recycles everything.”
“This is different,” Noah persisted, genuine distress evident in his voice. He grabbed Kelsey’s hand and tugged insistently. “Please come look. It’s… I think it’s important.”
His tone, the barely concealed note of alarm in it, made Kelsey set aside her wine and stand immediately. Mac followed suit, concern replacing the relaxed contentment of moments before.
“Where are they, buddy?” Mac asked, his hand coming to rest protectively on Noah’s shoulder.
“By the stone wall, near those bushes with the red leaves,” Noah pointed toward the far edge of the property, where a centuries-old stone wall marked the boundary between the mansion grounds and the thick woods beyond.
Amy rose as well, curiosity overcoming her initial reluctance. “Lead the way!”
They followed Noah across the lawn, while the boy glanced back repeatedly to ensure they were still coming. The dogs raced ahead, clearly excited by the renewed attention to their discovery.
