Twilight at Blueberry Barrens

  She took a bite, then set down her spoon and looked at the sheriff. “What did you find out?”

  The dark circles under Danny’s eyes and his wrinkled uniform told of a long work night. He scooped the last of his lobster bisque from the bowl, then sighed. “Ayuh, that hit the spot. The last time I ate was noon yesterday.”

  She reached across the table and patted his big, freckled hand. “Sorry I’m being so impatient, Danny. Eat up. I appreciate all you’ve done.”

  His smile didn’t reach his eyes. “It was a close call. I thought I’d lost you, Katie girl. My old ticker couldn’t have taken it.” His gaze swiveled toward Drake. “Boston PD arrested Rod Sisson this morning. Buckler spilled his guts all night long, and we also found the evidence on that hard drive in his car. He intercepted the shipment from your uncle. Heath found out his own partner was working with the Brogan group and demanded Sisson turn himself in. Sisson had taken over two million dollars from the group, and he’d helped plant information about Wang. Sisson wasn’t about to go to jail, so he decided to kill Heath and Melissa instead. That only cost him a couple hundred thousand.”

  “Heath thought a lot of him.” Drake’s words came out hard and choked. “Even though he had to hate Wang, he always put justice first. Wang has done plenty over the years, but he didn’t commit the murder he was charged with.”

  Kate’s chest squeezed and her eyes blurred. “Those poor girls are orphaned just because of greed. It’s horrible.” She leaned her head against Drake’s shoulder, and he hugged her, then brushed a kiss across her forehead. “What about Kissner?”

  Danny gave a heavy sigh. “I thought a lot of that boy. He was my star deputy. I saw him taking my place someday. To my mind, he was my career son. It’s pretty painful to realize I was such a poor judge of character. When he came in yesterday morning and I told him what we were planning, he got real quiet. I thought he was just focused on protecting you. I was wrong. I’m really sorry, Katie girl.” He gave her an awkward hug.

  “It’s not your fault, Danny. I trusted him completely. I’m sorry this happened, that he felt so rejected that he did this.”

  Beside her, Drake tensed. “Let’s not forget the man tried to kill me. All this feeling sorry for him is a little out of line.”

  “Ayuh, and we’re looking for evidence in the Peece murder at Jonas’s place. I’m sure we’ll find it.”

  She raised her head. “He’s an evil man.” She brushed a kiss across Drake’s chin. “You could be dead right now. I’m so thankful you’re not.” Her voice broke, and she swallowed down the lump forming.

  Those long minutes when she’d thought Drake was dead had been the worst of her life. They still hadn’t talked about the future, and she was waiting to hear him say he was going back to Boston with the girls. What if he asked her to go with him? Could she leave this place of safety and strike out in a new life that held so much that was unknown? Could she leave her sister?

  She’d rather have Drake decide to stay here in Maine, but was that even fair to him? He had a successful business. He thrived on challenge. There would be a lot of opportunity for the girls in Boston too. How could she be selfish enough to want it all her way?

  There wasn’t a good answer, and she knew she would have to talk this all out with Claire. Her sister always helped bring clarity to her life. How could she bear to move away from that?

  THIRTY-EIGHT

  Claire sat on the closed toilet lid and stared at the faint line on the pink stick. Pregnant. Part of her wanted to dance, and the other part wondered how she’d break the news to Kate. While she knew her sister would be thrilled for her, that joy would be bittersweet when Kate so desperately wanted children. And after the events of yesterday, this news might be another blow.

  She washed her hands and opened the bathroom door. Luke whistled in the kitchen as he made coffee, and a smile curved her lips as she headed that direction. He’d be thrilled at the news.

  Her heart always gave a kick when she saw him. Dressed in his uniform, he was a handsome sight in their beautiful new kitchen. The odor of coffee filled the air, unappealing this morning, and he flipped pancakes on the stove.

  His smile emerged when he saw her. “I was giving you five more minutes, then I was going to come pull you out of bed. I have some news we need to talk about.”

  “So do I.” She wasn’t about to let him upstage this momentous occasion. Nothing he had to say would be as big as this. She held out the pregnancy test. “See what you think.”

  His brow furrowed and he blinked. “What is it?”

  Of course, he likely had no idea what this even was. “It’s a pregnancy test, silly. We’re going to be parents!” She flung her arms around his neck.

  He went still, then whooped and picked her up, spinning her around the kitchen until she was laughing and breathless. When he set her on her feet, the room was still whirling around her, and she grabbed hold of his shirt to steady herself.

  He pressed a kiss on her lips. “A baby. I can’t believe it. When?”

  “I’m only about two weeks late. With everything going on, I hadn’t even noticed until this morning.” She pressed her hand to her tummy. “I felt a little queasy and suddenly thought of it.”

  “So a spring baby.” His expression sobered a bit. “Um, like I said, I have some news too. I wasn’t sure how to tell you.”

  Her stomach roiled, and she went to sit down. “Could you get me a cracker first?”

  With a worried glance her way, he reached into the cupboard and pulled out a sleeve of soda crackers. “Want some peanut butter with them?”

  Did she? She examined the way she felt and shook her head. “Just crackers for now.” She bit off a piece of the cracker he handed her and waited for the salty flavor to quell the nausea. “So what’s up?” She wasn’t too worried. It wasn’t like he was about to get fired or anything. Then something in his expression made her stop and inhale. “Is it bad?”

  “I think it’s good, but I wanted to see what you thought.” He pulled out a chair and sat across the table from her. “We’ve got an offer for the cranberry farm. A good offer. Dad wants to take it.”

  It seemed a clear decision to her. “Then take it. It will relieve you of the burden of it all. I know it’s been in your family for a long time, but your heart is really with the Coast Guard. And with the baby coming, not having that extra work will give you more time to spend with me and our new little ensign.”

  His grin spread across his face. “A baby. I’m still shocked.”

  “Me too.” She couldn’t wait to go shopping. And to tell her mom. Kate would get drafted into helping her pick out a layette and fix the nursery once she got over the shock. She realized Luke’s grin had faded. “What is it? You don’t seem all that excited. You don’t want to sell?”

  “It’s not that.” He chewed on his bottom lip, then reached across the table to take her hand. “I know we just finished this house, but I’ve been asked to transfer to Washington State. When I first heard about it, I planned to ask for an extension of my duty station here because of the farm, but, well, now that it won’t be a concern, I’d be free to take it. If you’re willing to move, that is. And maybe the baby changes everything.”

  She opened her mouth, then closed it again. The baby would be far from Kate, who would make a terrific second mother to the little one. Her mom lived in Boston, close enough for frequent visits with her new grandbaby. And there was Luke’s dad as well. On the surface the right answer should have been no, she wanted him to try to get out of the assignment. But looking into his earnest brown eyes, she didn’t have the heart to throw water on his enthusiasm. He loved the Coast Guard. This could be a great opportunity for him. Her mother had enough money to fly to Washington whenever she pleased, plus Claire had her plane and could always make frequent flights back.

  She took another bite of cracker. “I’ll go if that’s what you want. I can be happy wherever you are.”

  His eyes lit up. “You
’re the best wife ever.” He squeezed her fingers. “When can we tell people about the baby?”

  “Not for a little while. We want to make sure everyone is okay. I’ll tell Kate, of course.”

  “Of course. I hope she’ll be happy.”

  “She will be.” But Claire dreaded the telling, just a little.

  * * *

  “Out enjoying this gorgeous day?” Kate mounted the wide steps leading up to Claire’s porch. Jackson bounded up after her and went to lay his head on Claire’s lap. The afternoon sun was hot on Kate’s bare arms, and she dropped into the swing beside her sister out of the glare. A plate of soda crackers and cheese sat on the table beside the swing, and Claire’s skin looked a little green. “Are you feeling okay? Yesterday was pretty traumatic. I feel like I’ve been through a war.”

  “A little tummy upset.” Claire reached over and grabbed the plate. “Want one?”

  “Okay.” Kate took a cracker and a slice of cheese and munched on it. “I needed to bounce some things off my Yoda today. You’re like the wise older sister.”

  Claire gave her a slight punch in the ribs. “Say that with a smile.” She fed a cracker to the dog, who settled on the floor to eat it.

  Kate grinned. Every problem felt surmountable today. Nothing could mar her mood after yesterday’s frightful events. Drake was alive. Claire was alive. She was alive. It all could have gone very differently.

  Claire dusted the crumbs from her fingers. “So what’s on your mind?”

  “The summer is nearly over. Drake will be going back to Boston.”

  Claire’s finely shaped brows rose. “I thought he was thinking about traveling back and forth for a while with the idea of eventually living here permanently.”

  Kate gave a kick to get the swing moving. “Let’s be realistic. That’s not going to work. The girls need him every day, not just on the occasional weekend. And I love him. I want to be with him every moment I can. A long-distance relationship like that will never last for long.”

  Claire stopped the movement of the swing with her foot. “So what do you want to do?”

  “What if I went with him? I don’t think he’ll ask me because he knows I love my home here. He’ll try to make the sacrifice for me, but I don’t think that’s right. The girls will have a lot of opportunity in Boston. I’ve seen him sketching out drone ideas on scrap paper. It’s part of who he is, not just what he does. He’d never be happy for long if he gave it up. He’d say he would, but I don’t think it would last.”

  Something like relief lit Claire’s blue eyes. “You always said you’d never leave here. I think it’s about time you spread your wings and flew off to an adventure. You know what this means? You’re finally beginning to see people can love you for yourself. You don’t have to cling to the old life for fear of not fitting into the new one. You’ve discovered confidence in who you are and what you can offer to those you love.” Claire grabbed her in a tight, fierce hug. “I’m proud of you.”

  Kate hugged her back and inhaled the aroma of her expensive cologne. They were so different yet so alike. Her eyes stung, and she blinked against the tears. Losing Claire was her biggest fear, but they could stay close with video calls and visits. Claire was a pilot. She could fly to Boston every week if she wanted to. And she would want to. Kate knew Claire loved her just as fiercely back.

  She pulled away and dabbed at her eyes. “Look what you’ve made me do. You’ll come see me all the time, right? It’s nothing for you to fly to Boston.”

  Claire hesitated and a bit of color crept up her neck. “I have some news of my own to tell you. Two bits actually. Let me tell you the most important first. I’m pregnant.” Her gaze locked with Kate’s and held a bit of fear.

  A slight pang struck Kate, but joy quickly washed it away. “I’m going to be an aunt!” She grabbed her sister again and hugged her. “I’m so happy.” She released her and studied her reserved expression. “That’s why you seemed a little scared to tell me. You thought I’d change my mind about going. I admit it gave me pause, but I can still see the baby all the time. You’ll fly to Boston to see your mom and me. I’ll get to babysit.” She realized Claire’s smile hadn’t returned. “What is it?”

  “There’s more.” Claire wet her lips and twisted her hands in her lap. “All that talk about being ready to fly to a new adventure? That was a pep talk for me too. Luke is getting transferred to Washington State.”

  Kate gasped and her arms fell away from her sister. “No.” She shook her head. “No, no! I can’t lose you, Claire! You’ll be all the way across the country. I’ll go too. You can get a house with a nanny suite, and I’ll help you take care of the baby.” Tears sprang to her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. She felt as though she couldn’t catch her breath. It was one thing to be a few hours from Claire, but it was something else altogether to be clear across the country from her. Not now when they’d just found each other after all these years.

  Claire took her by the shoulders and gave her a slight shake. “You love Drake. You’re ready for this, Kate. We’re ready for it. Families survive separation like this all the time. Nothing can tear apart the bond we have. You’ll always be part of me, and I’ll be part of you. Can’t you sense God’s plan in this? We were getting too dependent on one another and weren’t listening for what God wanted us to do. This is healthy.”

  Kate’s tears fell faster. “You’re right. I know you’re right. But it hurts.” She embraced her sister again and their tears mingled. She jumped to her feet. “I-I have to go right now.”

  Claire bolted to her feet as Kate ran for her yellow Bug. “Wait, let’s talk about this.”

  “I’ll call you later.” She needed to process this. Jackson leaped into the car with her and she drove off, not daring to look behind her.

  THIRTY-NINE

  By the time Kate reached the turnoff onto Highway 1, the tears had stopped flowing. A sense of rightness settled over her. She was leaving Downeast Maine herself, so how could she expect Claire’s life to stop and never change? Change was good. Last week’s sermon about how adversity helps people grow was a good example. God would go with them both.

  She slowed the car when she reached Machias. A crowd was gathered around the sheriff’s office and jail, and she slowed even more, then slammed on her brakes when she recognized her uncle standing in cuffs beside the sheriff.

  She parked at the curb, ran the windows down partway, and leaped out. “Stay,” she told her dog.

  Using her elbows and determination, she fought her way through the throng crowding the steps to the brick building. “Danny!”

  The sheriff turned and saw her, then motioned for his deputies to part the crowd to let her through. “I was going to call you as soon as I had him in a cell.”

  Her gaze went past him to Uncle Paul, who looked older and more shrunken than the last time she’d seen him. Had he been eating? Defiance was in the slant of his mouth and the depths of his eyes.

  She looked back to the sheriff. “Can I talk to him for a minute?”

  “Ayuh, but only for a few minutes. I want to get him processed.”

  “Where’d you find him?”

  “A Coast Guard cutter hauled him aboard. He was trying to swim from Folly Shoals to the peninsula.”

  She gasped. “That’s three miles in the cold water.”

  “Only Paul would be so cocky.” He told one of the deputies to put Paul into the backseat of the sheriff’s car, then let Kate slide into the front seat where she could talk to him in private through the bars.

  She closed the door behind her and turned to face her uncle. For a long moment they stared at one another as if waiting for the other to speak. She finally cleared her throat. “Everyone thought you were out of the country.”

  He still wore camo clothing, but it looked stained and ragged, as if he hadn’t changed it in the weeks since she’d seen him. Though he was only in his midforties, he looked older somehow.

  He held her gaze. “I saw t
hat guy watching you. I couldn’t leave once I knew he was up to no good.” His lip curled. “A deputy ought to uphold the law. I knew something bad was coming down, and you were walking around with your head in the clouds, oblivious to everything around you, the way you always do.”

  Her cheeks heated. “You risked being captured for me?”

  “You’re my blood. Your mama would want me to take care of you.”

  “Is that why you killed Jonas first?”

  He shrugged. “I didn’t want to risk him getting away and coming after you later.”

  “Have you talked to Mother?” He and her mom were in separate prisons.

  He shook his head. “Tried to call her once, but she was in detention.” He yawned. “Looks like I’m going back to the clink. At least I’ll get three squares and have a bed to sleep in. Been hunkering down in the woods all this time.”

  “Why did you steal from Claire?” The question had been burning in her mind ever since she’d found out what he’d done.

  His eyes went flat. “I didn’t want her to ever get to feeling safe.”

  “She’s your niece too. Part of me, Uncle Paul. She did nothing wrong.”

  He settled against the seat back. “She’ll try to keep me from being paroled when the time comes. I wanted to put a little fear into her so maybe she’d think twice about testifying against me.”

  “Claire’s a really good person. She never meant to hurt anyone. And she’s going to have a baby. You’ll be a great-uncle.”

  His expression didn’t change. “Not my blood. She belongs to Dellamare and always will. She’s not like you, Kate. You grew up here. You belong to the woods and ocean. This is your place and always will be.”

  “I’m leaving,” she blurted out. “I’m going to go with Drake.”