As much as he dearly loved his sisters-in-law and his family, right now he was grateful to be away from Sam. The man was a bit touchy when it came to his wife and until she delivered safely, Sam was going to be a complete basket case.
“How is Dad? Is he taking it easy?”
Donovan laughed. “Mom and Rusty are driving him insane. He’s called over here at least twice a day, begging for one of us to go rescue him. They won’t let him eat what he wants to eat. They won’t let him work for more than a few hours at the hardware store.”
Garrett grinned at the image of his burly father being bullied by the women in the family. That was the way it usually went. Marlene Kelly was ruthless when she put her mind to something. She kept her husband and all six of her sons on a straight line and it was pointless to resist.
Ever since his dad’s heart attack months before, she’d kept him on a tight leash and ruled with an iron fist.
“What about Beavis and Butthead? They still off on some supersecret mission for Uncle Sam?”
“Uh, about them.”
A prickle of alarm shot up Garrett’s spine. His youngest brothers were still active military, and he worried about them constantly. “Uh-oh. What’s up?”
“Nothing bad,” Donovan hurried to say. “Joe called Sam yesterday. Said he and Nathan weren’t re-upping and wanted to know if they could work for KGI.”
“Well, duh,” Garrett said with a snort. Relief lessened the pressure in his chest. Not that KGI was a cakewalk. They handled their fair share of dangerous assignments, but he’d much prefer to have all his brothers right in front of him where he could watch their backs.
“Yeah, that’s what Sam said. They’re bugging out again in a week. Joe didn’t say where, which bothers me. He usually at least has a location for me. Tells me it isn’t good. But when this tour’s up, they both want to come home.”
“Ma will be beside herself,” Garrett said dryly.
Donovan chuckled. “All her chicks in one spot for more than a week or so? That hasn’t happened since Sam was a senior in high school. She’ll drive us all insane.”
“It’ll be nice.”
“Yeah,” Donovan agreed. “It will be.”
“Okay enough chitchat. I gotta go. I have a date with the couch,” Garrett said. “Kiss the sisters-in-law for me.”
“I’m flipping you the bird right now,” Donovan grumbled.
Garrett grinned and tossed the sat phone onto the coffee table. The rain still beat the roof and flashes of lightning went off outside the windows like strobe lights. The rumble of thunder acted like a sedative, luring him into the promise of a nice long sleep.
He yawned. He should probably go to bed. But that would require moving.
CHAPTER 10
THE next morning, Sarah stood on her porch and stared over the debris-ridden beach and watched frothy waves foam onto the shore. Palm leaves, tree branches and an assortment of driftwood sprawled across the sand, remnants of last night’s storm.
The skies were clear this morning and a light breeze lifted her hair and blew over her face as she stood gazing over the water. She was trying to work up the nerve to go back into town. Alone. Without asking for Garrett’s help.
During the night as she lay listening to the wind and rain, she’d decided she wanted to do something to repay his kindness and understanding. He’d cooked her dinner and he’d retrieved her books, not to mention gave her chocolate and wine. That deserved something in her mind, and she was through being a ninny around him.
If she was going to spend all this time laying low, she was at least going to enjoy herself.
Now she just had to conquer her fear of returning to town alone and she’d be set. She took a deep breath and stepped onto the sand. Meat and beer were obviously the way to Garrett’s heart, but she was going to throw in something sweet as well.
She lugged her laptop bag over her shoulder and started at a fast clip down the beach before she changed her mind. While she was in town, she’d check her email and send Marcus reassurance so he didn’t get edgy and come after her. Surely he realized the necessity for them to stay as far away from one another as possible.
As long as she kept quiet and away from Boston, everything would be fine. She’d never risk running into Stanley Cross again. Allen was gone—a fact she couldn’t bring herself to feel any regret over. Just that Marcus had been the one to do the deed. She should have left Boston a long time ago, but she’d stayed locked in her apartment, terrified to go out. Terrified to live.
Well, that was over. It was time to regain control of her life. Even if it was here on this island. It wasn’t as if she wasn’t used to being uprooted and having to adjust all over again. She’d spent her life moving and adjusting.
She hit the café first. Enjoyed a cup of coffee while she checked her email. Her heart sped up when she saw a new one from Marcus.
Let me know you’re okay.
She typed a quick response assuring him she was fine. She even made her response a little wordier than she had in previous emails. She made it sound like she was taking an extended vacation. And maybe she was. Who was to say she wasn’t?
After packing up her laptop, she drained the rest of her coffee and headed toward the market. Remembering Garrett’s tastes, she chose a small brisket, large baking potatoes and all the fixings. She preferred salad with meat courses but Garrett obviously didn’t waste stomach space on lighter fare like lettuce and tomatoes.