“What do you think?” Denise asked, watching her closely.
“I think...” Isabel paused, suddenly aware of how significant this moment felt. Buying a house and a bookstore was a huge commitment. It meant putting down roots, building a life here that would continue regardless of what happened with Frankand Tommy, regardless of the danger still lurking from Sterling Industries.
The thought of Frank made her glance toward the window, half-expecting to see an FBI agent watching the house. “I think I’d like to make an offer,” Isabel said firmly. “The asking price seems fair, given the condition and location.”
Denise brightened. “Wonderful! Let’s go back to my office and draw up the paperwork. The owners are motivated to sell, so I think we can move quickly.”
As they walked through the house one last time, Isabel imagined how her furniture would look in each room. She’d spend Sunday mornings reading in the sunroom and evenings by the fire. And despite her best efforts to be practical, she could picture Frank in these spaces too—his tall frame leaning against the kitchen counter as they talked, Tommy sprawled on the floor with books spread around him.
Outside, the sunshine warmed her face as Denise locked the door behind them. The street was quiet, lined with mature trees just coming into full leaf. A few houses down, a woman planted flowers in her front garden. And across the street, a child’s bicycle leaned against a fence.
It was an ordinary neighborhood in an ordinary town—exactly what Isabel had been looking for when she’d come to Sapphire Bay.
Denise unlocked her car, and they headed back to her office.
Halfway there, Isabel’s phone buzzed with a text from Lynda:How’s the house? Should I start packing your things?
Isabel smiled, typing back:Making an offer. It’s perfect.
Another text came through:!!!!! Pictures??
Later,Isabel replied:Meeting with the realtor now.
At the real estate office, the process moved with surprising efficiency. Denise prepared the offer, Isabel signed thepaperwork, and Isabel’s bid was submitted to the sellers within an hour.
“They’re on vacation at the moment, but I’ll call them right away,” Denise assured her. “With any luck, we’ll have an answer for you by tomorrow.”
“That would be wonderful,” Isabel said, gathering her purse. “Thank you for making time to show me the house today.”
“My pleasure,” Denise replied with a warm smile. “It’s always nice to match the right person with the right home.”
As Isabel walked back toward the bookstore, her steps felt lighter than they had in days. The worry about Frank and Tommy hadn’t disappeared, but alongside it now ran a thread of hope, of purpose.
When she arrived at the bookstore, Lynda was arranging a new window display of summer reading recommendations.
“Well?” Lynda demanded the moment Isabel walked through the door. “Tell me everything.”
Isabel hung her jacket on the coat rack behind the counter, unable to keep the smile from her face. “It’s charming. Old but well-maintained, with a sunroom that has built-in bookshelves and the most perfect light.”
“It sounds like it was made for you,” Lynda said, abandoning the display to come listen. “When will you know if they’ve accepted your offer?”
“Hopefully tomorrow. Denise thinks they’re eager to sell.”
Lynda studied her friend’s face. “You seem settled. More than I’ve seen you since we got here.”
“I am,” Isabel told her friend. “Being part of this community feels right, Lynda. Like all the pieces are falling into place, even with everything that’s happening.”
“Have you thought about what you’ll do if Frank doesn’t come back?” Lynda asked gently.
The question sent a pang through Isabel’s chest, but she met her friend’s gaze. “If that happens, I’ll be okay. I’ll be sad because I care about him, but moving to Sapphire Bay was for me. The bookstore and the house are part of the life I’m building for myself.”
Lynda squeezed her arm. “That’s my Isabel. Though, for what it’s worth, I think Frank will move heaven and earth to get back to you.”
Isabel hoped she was right. “We’ll see. In the meantime, there’s a display to finish and inventory to check.”
As they worked through the afternoon, customers came and went, many asking about the rumors of gunshots at Frank’s house. Isabel deflected these questions as gently as possible, sharing only that Frank and Tommy had gone away for a while on family business.
It wasn’t until she was closing up for the day that her phone rang with that now-familiar unknown number. Her heart leaped as she answered.
