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Despite my ambivalence, I never tired of the view and the crisp ocean air in my lungs. I watched my island loom ahead, a splinter of peace and excitement piercing me. I savored it, knowing it wouldn’t last long. When the captain announced arrival, I returned to Corinne to wait while the ramp lowered from the dock to permit cars to disembark the ferry. Several minutes later, I followed the vehicle before me down to the main parking hold and up onto the island. The familiar wooden welcome sign hung above us, wrapped in orange and purple lights to wink at all visitors for Halloween. It wouldn’t be long before they’d update them with red and green.
I followed the gentle curve of the road left because there was nowhere else to go. The ferry terminal was located on the south tip of the island and everything the community offered waited a little further northeast, as dubious as those offerings might be.
Dense foliage pushed in from both sides to tamp out the waning daylight earlier than the weatherman reported. I flipped on my headlights, knowing inky darkness would soon coat the island. Fatigue from ten hours of driving pushed me to just want to get to the house already. I could picture settling in the warmth of Gram’s kitchen with hot chocolate, or maybe an Irish coffee, before scooting off to my childhood bedroom to prepare for the mix of joy and mild horror I’d experience in the morning.
The sudden splash of blue and red behind me made me touch my brakes on instinct, my stomach sinking when I glimpsed the speedometer. Thirty-two. In a twenty-five. They were probably lying in wait for visitors looking for quiet while forgetting to ease off the accelerator.
Welcome home, Klahanie.
Less than four miles to the farm and I had to get snagged by one of, likely, two cops on the island. I wasn’t even sure who those cops were anymore. According to Gram, Bob Bekins retired and his deputy, Charlene Hays, prom queen of our class totaling a whopping twenty-four students, had moved back east somewhere.
With a sigh that vibrated to my toes, I flipped on the hazard lights and looked for a safe place to stop. A couple of hundred feet down the road, I pulled into the top of what I remembered to be the Ramirez driveway. If I needed to run screaming, the big, plaid-clad ex-linebacker with creased and kind eyes would be the one to go to. As a little kid, I’d heard he’d bench-pressed a cow. As an adult, I doubted it, but he still seemed a safe bet.
I turned off the engine, aware I was being silly, also very aware my city was rearing its head. In fairness, a girl can never be too careful.Evenon a quiet island where nothing really happened.
A figure with a flashlight strolled up toward the driver’s side window, just as a frown pulled at my face. The sway to this guy’s gait seemed familiar. He leaned down to peer in at me and all official sternness melted away, leaving friendly, with a touch of goofball. Everything inside me relaxed.
“Is that you, Klahanie Bishop?” Jay Patterson grinned huge from his long, narrow face. “I heard you were coming home.”
I rolled down the window, genuine pleasure and curiosity shoving aside extreme fatigue. “Hey, Jay! What the heck are you doing playing like local law?”
“Life sometimes puts you in odd places, Hanes.”
“Yeah? Is there a story in there somewhere?” I ignored the Hanes crack, having always hated the old nickname.
“Eh. I was a cop in L.A. for about eight years, started burning out, and decided to come home to visit Mom, before she moved to Florida, I mean. That was right around the time Bob was getting set to retire and, well…” He shrugged his shoulders. “Besides, Hannah, my wife, was tired of worrying all the time.”
“Understandable.” I couldn’t imagine being a cop’s wife myself, but more power to her. “How long have you been together?”
“A little over five years. She and Josh are my world.” He flashed an even larger grin that threatened to swallow his entire head.
“Josh?”
“Our baby boy. Well, he’d get mad if he heard that. He’s almost four.”
“Holy crap, that’s awesome!” Out of nowhere, a tinge of melancholy flicked at my heart. A little surprised, I shoved it aside. “So, I guess you’re not bored after L.A? When was the last time anything happened around here?” As far as I could remember, there’d only been the time one of the wealthier college kids came back on summer break with a substantial supply of weed from the mainland. We’d all benefited from his generosity. Mark Reyes was considered a god by the senior class, but the sheriff was none too pleased.
“Other than you speeding?”
I cringed just a little.
He grinned without comment before it slipped away. “Honestly? It’s quiet, sure, but I’ve learned to appreciate it. I guess almost ten years away made all the difference. Especially, after some of the stuff I saw down there. Nah, it’s better here.”
“You the only one pulling cop duties these days?”
“More or less. Town wants to hire a deputy, but is going about it like a snail and sloth race.” He shrugged. “Maybe this coming spring.”
I nodded. “Anyone else back, or has our generation all found fame and fortune elsewhere?”
“Most are gone, but a handful have come home. Maybe we’ll be able to count you in the boomerang bunch soon.” He waggled his brows.
“Boomerang bunch, huh?” I laughed. “Seriously. I’m here to help out Gram until she’s back on the tractor, then I’m out of here.”
He continued as if I hadn’t responded, naming a lot of names I recognized and little tidbits about their lives on the island. Warm memories and a couple of questionable ones cascaded over me. I had to acknowledge the flicker of homecoming, knowing it would be gone soon.
“Anyway…” He pulled out his citation book, and I snapped back from my lapse, and goggled at him in astonishment. My shocked expression was enough to incite his laughter again. “Just kidding, Klahanie. I’m not gonna welcome you back with a speeding ticket. Not this time, at least. Just remember all the critters and how dark it gets around here, so no more lead in the foot. Got me?”
“Well, yes, sir, of course, officer.” I grinned at him, and saluted.
