“I don’t want to leave,” Frank said. “Tommy’s finally settled here. He has friends, school, and activities he enjoys. But his safety has to come first.”
Isabel was quiet for a moment. “And what about you? What do you want?”
The question caught Frank off guard. “I want this to be over,” he said finally. “I want Tommy to have a normal life without looking over his shoulder. I want—” He hesitated, then met her eyes. “I want to see where this thing between us might go without Sterling Industries or the court case hanging over our heads.”
A soft smile touched Isabel’s lips. “I want that too.”
He stepped forward to kiss her, but the back door flew open, and Tommy bounded in. A smiling Pastor John followed him.
“Isabel!” Tommy said excitedly. “Did you see my boat? It goes super-fast now that Pastor John has fixed the propeller!”
“I saw it from the window,” Isabel said, seamlessly shifting her attention to Tommy. “It looks amazing. Are you hungry? I brought sandwiches for everyone.”
Frank caught Pastor John’s eye while Tommy told them about his exciting morning. John nodded slightly, confirming that he hadn’t told Tommy what was going on. They’d agreed that Tommy didn’t need to know all the details about the FBI’s involvement, just that a friend of Frank’s would be visiting to help with some legal matters.
As Isabel listened to Tommy, Frank was even more determined to make sure she was involved in any decisions they had to make—especially when they could impact her life.
Marcus was right about that much, at least. Isabel had become too important to be left out of the equation.
When they gathered around the table for lunch, Frank allowed himself to feel a glimmer of hope. Perhaps, with the FBI’s help and the evidence Marcus was gathering, he could finally put Sterling Industries behind him and focus on the future.
CHAPTER 23
Isabel stood back to admire the bookstore’s newly arranged children’s corner. Despite being tired from working well into the evening, she was excited by what they’d created. The reading nook looked magical with its cushioned window seat, colorful throw pillows, and hanging fairy lights. Tommy would love it.
“What do you think?” Isabel asked, turning to Kathleen and Lynda. “Too whimsical?”
Kathleen shook her head, adjusting one of the star-shaped pillows. “It’s exactly what I imagined when you described it.”
“The children in Sapphire Bay won’t know what hit them,” Lynda agreed, stepping back to admire their handiwork. “I can already picture story hour happening here.”
Isabel smiled, imagining the space filled with children, their faces rapt as they listened to tales of adventure and wonder. After a week of intensive work, her bookstore was nearly ready for its grand reopening. New shelving had been installed along the back wall, fresh paint brightened the previously dim corners, and colorful displays showcased the best books in the store.
“I still can’t believe how much we’ve done,” Kathleen said, glancing at her watch. “And on a Friday night, no less. We should probably call it a day soon.”
“Not until you tell us what you think of the mock-up of the store’s sign.” Isabel took a large envelope from behind the counter. “The designer dropped it off this afternoon.”
Carefully, she slid a copy of the new storefront sign onto the counter. The words “Bookstore on the Bay” were printed in elegant navy blue lettering, with a small silhouette of a rowboat beneath them. Underneath, in smaller text, it read, “Established 1964 as Henderson’s Books.”
“It’s gorgeous,” Kathleen said as she traced the design with her fingertip. “The perfect blend of honoring the past and embracing change.”
“Mrs. Henderson will love it,” Lynda said, peering over Isabel’s shoulder. “She was worried her family’s legacy would be forgotten.”
Isabel carefully returned the rendering to its envelope. “Speaking of new beginnings, how was your first afternoon at the animal shelter, Lynda? We’ve been so busy I haven’t had a chance to ask.”
Lynda’s face lit up. “It was wonderful! Dr. Reynolds—Matt—is passionate about what he does. The shelter mainly deals with domestic animals, but they occasionally get wildlife cases too. Yesterday, they were treating a young eagle with a broken wing.”
“That sounds right up your alley.” Kathleen picked up an empty coffee cup from their earlier break.
Lynda nodded. “And Matt’s completely open to me splitting my time between the shelter and the bookstore.”
Isabel caught the excitement in her friend’s voice. “That’s great, but if the animal shelter offers you a paid position, don’t worry about helping me.”
“I’ll let you know if that happens,” Lynda said with a smile. “But right now, I have the best of both worlds.”
Isabel smiled at her friend. “Although the pay at the bookstore isn’t as impressive as what you’ve earned as a vet.”
“But the company is excellent,” Kathleen chimed in. She paused, head tilting slightly. “Speaking of company, someone’s at the door.”
