Isabel’s throat tightened with emotion. “You will be,” she said firmly. “Maybe not today, but soon.”
“The trial starts in twelve days,” Frank told her. “If all goes well, it shouldn’t last more than a couple of weeks.”
“A month,” Isabel calculated. “Not so very long.”
“An eternity,” Frank countered, his voice rough with feeling.
Before Isabel could respond, she heard a child’s voice in the background—Tommy, asking something she couldn’t quite understand.
“I should go,” Frank said reluctantly. “Tommy’s up and hungry. Just... be careful, Isabel. Please.”
“I will,” she promised. “You too.”
After they hung up, Isabel sat with her cooling coffee, watching the mist rise off the trees. The peaceful scene felt at odds with Frank’s warning. Somewhere out there, Dave Winters was planning his next move, possibly targeting her to get to Frank.
The thought should have terrified her. Instead, a surprising calm settled over her. Fear was a luxury she couldn’t afford—not when she had a bookstore to run, a house to buy, and a life tobuild. Not when Frank and Tommy were counting on her to be here when they returned.
Kathleen’s footsteps sounded in the hallway, and Isabel straightened, pushing her worries aside.
“You’re up early,” Kathleen said, yawning as she entered the kitchen. “Everything okay?”
Isabel hesitated, then decided Kathleen deserved to know the potential danger. As she explained Frank’s call, her friend’s expression grew serious.
“That settles it,” Kathleen declared when Isabel finished. “I’m coming to the bookstore with you today. No arguments.”
“What about your café?” Isabel asked.
“I have wonderful staff. They’ll be okay on their own,” Kathleen told her. “Besides, your safety is more important than muffins and lattes.”
Isabel was grateful for her friend’s protectiveness. “The sellers accepted my offer on the house. I’m signing the paperwork at noon.”
“That’s wonderful!” Kathleen exclaimed. “We’ll go together. And then I’m taking you to lunch to celebrate.”
After they’d made more plans, Isabel stood up, ready to get dressed for the day ahead. She had a house to buy, a bookstore to run, and a life to live—regardless of who might be watching.
CHAPTER 40
Isabel stood in the empty sunroom of her new house. The closing had gone smoothly—just a flurry of signatures and congratulations from Denise. Now the house on Maple Street was officially hers.
She ran her fingers along the built-in bookshelves, imagining them filled with her treasures. Some of her books were still in boxes at Kathleen’s house. Others were being shipped from Portland, but soon they’d find their home here.
“I’ll need more books,” she murmured to herself, smiling at the thought. A bookstore owner could never have too many books.
The sound of a car door slamming outside drew her attention. Through the windows, she saw Lynda’s SUV parked in the driveway. Her friend stepped out of the driver’s side of the vehicle, holding a paper bag and what looked suspiciously like a bottle of champagne. Isabel made her way to the front door, opening it before Lynda could knock.
“Surprise!” Lynda called, holding up her offerings. “I brought housewarming essentials. Champagne and takeout from Bernie’s.”
“You’re fabulous,” Isabel said, ushering her inside. “I just realized I don’t have a single dish or utensil yet.”
“That’s what friends are for,” Lynda replied, following Isabel through the empty house. “I even remembered paper plates and plastic forks. Nothing but the finest dining experience for Maple Street’s newest resident.”
They settled in the sunroom, sitting cross-legged on the floor with their impromptu picnic spread between them. Lynda poured champagne into paper cups while Isabel unpacked sandwiches and fries from Bernie’s.
“To new beginnings,” Lynda said, raising her cup. “And to the bravest woman I know.”
Isabel tapped her cup against Lynda’s. “I don’t feel brave. Just... determined.”
“That’s a kind of bravery,” Lynda pointed out. “Especially considering everything with Frank and Tommy.”
