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Holly could feel it—the secret, whatever he was holding on to—struggling to break free. “What’s wrong?”

“I told Sheriff Saxon I came back to the office to fix what I’d done.”

“Uh-huh.” She stroked his hair, preparing for the worst.

“But I didn’t do it because I wanted to be a junior deputy. Well, not only for that.”

“Then, why did you?”

“Because Charlie said she wouldn’t be my friend anymore if I didn’t.”

Ah. Holly’s heart swelled again, this time for whatever wind had blown Paige and Charlie Cooper to Butterfly Harbor.

“She said what I was doing to Sheriff Saxon was wrong. And that if I was really her friend, I wouldn’t have made her wait outside and watch to make sure we weren’t caught.”

“She’s right.” She pulled him closer, tucked his head under her chin. “Friends don’t ask friends to do things they know are wrong.”

“But I thought she understood. I wanted Sheriff Saxon to go away. I thought friends were supposed to do whatever you wanted them to.”

It was on the tip of her tongue to ask if he’d ever do something Charlie wanted even if he knew it was wrong, but the inquiry didn’t feel like a safe one to make at this point. They had some gray areas to work through when it came to right and wrong.

“I didn’t believe her when she said she wouldn’t talk to me again.” Simon wiped his eyes and sniffed. “But she hasn’t. Not one word. She’s not my friend anymore, Mom. I miss her.”

Holly missed the little girl, too. “I know you do. But you know what?”

“What?”

“I bet Charlie would be your friend again if you apologized and told her she was right, and you did as she asked and tried to fix what you did.”

“You think?” There was that wonder again, as if she’d given him a magical potion to fix what ailed him. Sometimes Simon made her feel like a superhero.

“I do think. How about first thing in the morning, we go down to the diner and you and I will talk to Paige and Charlie? You can tell them what you told me and we’ll see what happens.”

“But what if she doesn’t want to be my friend anymore?”

“I suppose it’s possible.” But given what Paige had been telling Holly about how miserable Charlie had been, she doubted it. “You won’t know unless you try. Owning up to our mistakes, to our misgivings about people, is what makes us better people.” A lesson she’d had to learn the hard way. That and forgiveness. “You like Sheriff Saxon now, right?”

Simon shrugged. “I guess.”

He more than guessed. She’d seen that flash of hero worship in her son’s eyes even as a danger sign flashed in her mind. Opening herself up to Luke was one thing. Having her son begin to depend on him...there was a Grand Canyon–size difference.

“And if Sheriff Saxon can forgive you for what you did, likely there’s a good chance Charlie will, too.”

Simon went quiet for a while, and Holly felt herself relax enough to finally doze off.

“I’m really sorry, Mom,” Simon whispered.

“I know you are. Tomorrow’s a new day. Let’s try to make it a better one, okay?”

“Yeah, okay.” He dropped off to sleep and a few minutes later, bathed in the soft glow of her grandmother’s stained-glass lamp, Holly followed.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“DON’T YOU WISH we could be kids again sometimes?” Paige leaned her chin in her hand and looked misty-eyed at Charlie and Simon huddled in their usual corner. “You’d never know they spent the past couple of days not speaking to one another.”

“We must grow into the concept of holding grudges,” Holly said. Simon had awakened grumpy, but Holly had known he was nervous about talking to Charlie, and to Paige, who had accepted his apology with as much enthusiasm as her daughter had. “Sorry my son tried to turn your daughter into a delinquent.”

Paige rolled her eyes. “Yeah, ’cause Charlie’s all innocence. Remind me to tell you about our last visit to Pizza Palooza. We’ve been banned.”

Holly could well imagine. “Well, she was the voice of reason in this instance. Taught Simon a lesson he’s not going to forget anytime soon. Good afternoon, Sheriff.”

Holly straightened as Luke walked in, a stack of papers in one hand, a relaxed smile on his handsome face. “Hello, ladies. Hey, Holly, I was hoping you might be willing to pass some of these out.” He set the papers on the counter.

“You’re putting out the call on the youth center already?” The fluorescent pink Community Help Wanted flyer would definitely catch eyes. She was ready to hop on board. It was the least she could do given Luke had put her father in charge of the project.

“The sooner people know I want to establish a safe zone for their kids, the better,” Luke said.

“Sounds great.” Paige read over Holly’s shoulder. “Let me know if I can do anything to help.”

“Thanks. I’m actually on my way over there to post a sign-up sheet for any of the kids and teens interested in being members.”

“How about that,” Paige said as Holly hugged the flyers against her chest. “Holly was about to take a break before the lunch rush. I bet you could do with some fresh air.”

Holly’s face went flame hot.

“Happy to have the company.” Luke didn’t give any indication he’d noticed Paige’s matchmaking intentions. “Your dad’s making the rounds to some friends’ stores, including Harvey’s Hardware. He’s determined to get whatever repair materials we need donated so we can wait and go to the mayor for bigger items. We’re hoping to get everything we need by next weekend.”

“Dad has plenty of favors to call in. And, um, sure.” She nodded, feeling that antsy dance she hadn’t felt since her first date with Gray. But this wasn’t a date. “A walk sounds great.” She reached behind her and pinched Paige hard on the arm.

Paige jumped but her grin widened.

“Can we come, too?” Simon ran over with Charlie bringing up the rear, her crooked pigtails giving that quirky, cute personality of hers a boost.

“Sure.” Luke pulled open the door and waved them outside. “It’ll give me and Simon a chance to discuss his sentence for his misdeeds.”

Simon grumbled something as he trudged ahead, but Charlie stopped in front of Luke, peering up at him with a glimmer of uncertainty on her face. “I should be sentenced, too.”

Luke’s brows shot up. “You should?”

“I helped Simon.”

“Yeah, but you didn’t want to,” Simon proclaimed in her defense. “She only went along because I told her she had to.”

“But I still did it,” Charlie insisted. “We’re a team, remember? If Simon’s in trouble, then so am I.”

Luke nodded and Holly had to glance away, only to have her gaze stop on Paige, who looked proud enough to burst.

“Aah. Would this make you the C in the SC Brigade?” Luke asked.

Simon’s eyes went wide, the sparkling gray colliding with the neon green of his shirt. “You know about that?”

“Ozzy’s pretty good on the computer,” Luke said. “He found where you hid that information in the virus email.”

“I told you not to sign your work.” Charlie knocked her shoulder against Simon’s.

“You know what?” Luke pulled a muddied plastic butterfly out of his pocket. “I think I found something of yours.” He held it out to Charlie, who gasped and plucked it out of his hand, holding it against her chest.

“Oh, thank you!” She beamed up at him. “I thought it was gone forever. Mom, look! Sheriff Luke found my butterfly!”

“I see,” Paige said, and mouthed a silent thank-you to Luke.

“Come on, Simon. Race you to the community center!” She dived out the door past Simon, who followed behind like a loyal puppy dog.

“Sometimes I love that little girl so much it hurts,” Paige whispered, flicking a tear off her cheek. “Dole out whatever punishment you see fit,” she told Luke. “She can handle anything.”

“Like most of the women in this town,” Luke said.

* * *

“I’VE BEEN MEANING to ask how things are over at your place.”

The uncertainty in Holly’s voice broke through the barrier Luke spent years building around his past. “It’s a place to sleep.” Last night had been the first time in weeks he’d slept longer than a few hours, dropping deeply and quickly once the situation with Simon had resolved itself. Or maybe his internal clock was finally catching up, giving his brain a chance to turn off. Whatever the reason, Luke hadn’t felt this clearheaded in ages.

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