Kathleen frowned. “Does this have anything to do with the man in the suit? The one who was at the diner?”
“It does,” Frank admitted. “But I’d rather not go into details right now, especially with Tommy here.”
Lynda patted his arm. “You don’t have to explain. Just know that we’re here if you need anything. All of us.”
“I’ll second that,” Kathleen told him. “We’re only a phone call away.”
Isabel felt a surge of gratitude for her friends’ support.
Frank sent them a relieved smile. “Thank you,” he said simply. “That means more than you know.”
When William and Tommy returned from their exploration, Tommy was chattering abouthow the secret room would make a perfect hideout in one of his adventure stories.
“You’ve thought of everything,” William told to Isabel. “You must be looking forward to reopening the store.”
“I’m more nervous than excited,” Isabel told him. “I just hope people come and enjoy themselves. You’re welcome to join us.”
William nodded. “I’ll see what’s happening tomorrow, but thanks for the invite.” His gaze swept the store once more. “Frank mentioned you’ve put a lot of work into the remodel. It shows.”
The way he studied the store had an assessing quality, which told Isabel he was thinking about security concerns as much as the look of everything. It suddenly hit her just how much Frank and Tommy’s lives would be changing.
“We should probably head home,” Frank said, checking his watch. “We have a few things we need to do before Tommy goes to bed.”
“But we just got here,” Tommy protested. “Can I show Isabel my new book before we go? I left it in the truck.”
“You can show her tomorrow,” Frank promised. He turned to Isabel. “We aren’t going anywhere in a hurry.”
Frank’s words seemed to carry additional meaning as his eyes met Isabel’s. Whatever William’s assessment mightbe, whatever decisions lay ahead, Frank wasn’t planning to disappear from her life without warning.
After they said their goodbyes, William waited beside Isabel. “I know you’ll be busy tomorrow. But I’d appreciate a few minutes of your time to discuss some logistical matters.”
“Of course,” Isabel agreed. “Come and see me at the bookstore at three o’clock. We’ll be closed by then.”
William nodded once, then followed Frank and Tommy outside. Through the window, Isabel watched them climb into Frank’s truck, William taking the passenger seat while Tommy buckled himself into the back. They could have been any friends heading home, but they weren’t.
“Well,” Lynda said when they were alone again, “that explains a few things.”
“Not enough,” Kathleen responded, concern evident in her voice. “What kind of trouble is Frank in that requires police protection?”
Isabel turned away from the window. “I can’t tell you,” she said apologetically. “It’s not my story to tell.”
“But you’re involved in what’s happening,” Lynda told her.
Isabel thought about the past few days—finding Tommy in the hunting blind, staying at Frank’s house, and discovering the envelope of surveillance photos.
Isabel nodded. “Yes, I’m involved.”
Kathleen studied her face for a long moment. “Are you sure that’s what you want? After everything with James, do you want to step back into that kind of stress?”
The similarities had occurred to Isabel as well, but this was different. She wasn’t a young bride anymore, living in constant worry for her husband’s safety. She was a woman who’d built a life, lost it, and found the courage to begin again.
“I’m sure about Frank and Tommy,” she said simply. “Whatever comes with that, we’ll handle it together.”
Lynda and Kathleen exchanged a look that contained equal parts of concern and understanding.
“Well then,” Lynda said finally, “I guess we’d better have one last look around to make sure the bookstore’s ready for tomorrow.”
Isabel was grateful for her friends’ acceptance. She thought about Frank and Tommy as they unpacked a box of books they’d missed. They needed to live somewhere where they couldn’t be harmed. And with all its quaint charm and breathtaking scenery, Sapphire Bay might not be the place for them.
