THREE
W
illow sat down on the edge of the bed.It still had the same antique aqua chenille spread on it.“Wait, back up.How in the hell did that happen?”They’d been unlikely friends when they’d met as teens, but Rafe had been a holy terror back then.
Mae laughed.“Guess that military camp his parents sent him to worked after all.”
Willow shook her head, trying to imagine it.She knew he’d been a cop in Seattle for a long time.But the sheriff of Skeleton Island?“People here elected him?”They must not have known about his hellion past here.The locals were notoriously wary of outsiders taking jobs from those who already lived here.
“By an overwhelming majority.”
Willow hid a smile.“I see.And might that have been partly due to your influence?”
Mae stopped folding a sweater and gave her an astonished look.“What a thing to say.As if I could influence that many people’s votes.”
“You have more pull on this island than anyone else I know.”
Mae sniffed and returned to organizing Willow’s things.“He was the best candidate for the job by far.He has a great background working with the Seattle PD, and even if he’s not a local, he’s familiar with and cares about the island.That carried a lot of weight with the locals.Plus, him being an outsider means he’s more likely to be impartial and not let local politics affect his decisions.”
“I don’t know what to say.I’m stunned.”She hadn’t seen him since?—
She blocked the train of thought before it could continue.“Well, that’s some strong tea, Mae.”
“Isn’t it?I saw him in town earlier.Told him you were arriving today.”
Willow groaned.She’d been hoping to have her arrival stay quiet for at least a few days until she could get settled.
“What?You didn’t think word would get out as soon as you got off the ferry?”
“Yeah.You’re right.”This was a tight-knit community.People knew each other, noticed things.That was part of the magic.
“Course I am.Hand me that sweater.I’m putting all your fall and winter things in the bottom two drawers.You can swap them out with the lighter things I’ve got in the top ones at the end of summer.Make things easier to rotate between seasons.”
“Perfect.”
“When’s the rest of your stuff coming?”
“Hopefully next Monday.”The movers were currently driving the truck across the country from New York.“Okay, other than that stunning revelation about our new sheriff, any other surprises I should know about?”
“Yes, there’s one more thing I thought I should tell you.”
“All right.I’m bracing myself.”
Mae kept her back to her as she worked.“Tripp moved back to the island a while ago too.”
