Page 7 of Unexpected Entanglement

Though having the striped markings of a tiger, Felix was smaller and much tamer than the other two barn cats—Charles and Naomi—who roamed around this side of the property. The farm side had its own set of barn cats territorial to their hunting ground.

“As long as he acts like a house cat, he’ll never get the respect of the other cats,” Kieran pointed out.

“Then maybe you should just stay with me, buddy. But you can’t come with me right now. Go,” Rowan said to the purring cat and put him back on the ground.

Returning her focus to her brother and their conversation, she heaved a deep sigh as they reached her truck. “I hope our sister will respond soon.”

“She’s not our sister. We don’t even know her.” Kieran crossed his arms across his chest and glared at her.

While Kieran had made his feelings about Rae obvious, in all honesty, Rowan wasn’t sure how she felt about having a long-lost sister. When her father had suddenly died, she’d been too distraught to even digest her father’s confession. But since then, she’d managed to dig around about Rae Allen, the daughter her father had abandoned. From what she’d learned, Rae had done pretty well for herself.

“Do you really think she hasn’t gotten the letters yet?” Her brother huffed. “Maybe she did and is just ignoring them.”

“Maybe.” Rowan gave him a look. “I’d imagine it’d be a shocking letter to receive. I mean, Dad left her. Put yourself in her shoes. How would you feel if you were her?”

“I don’t care,” Kieran said stubbornly. “She tarnished our dad in our eyes.”

Rowan shook her head with a sad acceptance as she opened her truck’s door. “No, Kieran. Dad did that all by himself.”

Kieran couldn’t negate her statement because he knew she was right. Instead, he completely ignored it and changed the subject altogether.

“Can you tell your boyfriend to stop texting me?” he said grumpily.

Rowan paused in the middle of shutting the door and frowned at Kieran. “Who?”

“Richard! He barely acknowledged me as your brother while you were together. Now, he’s trying to worm his way back to you through me?” He scoffed.

“Just block him. That’s what I did.”

“You can do that?” Kieran fished his phone from his back pocket and looked at it like a time machine.

Rowan gestured for him to hand her the phone, looked through his texts, and found the one-sided text chain from Richard. She briefly read the messages and felt a punch of anxiety in her gut. She quickly tapped on the screen.

“Here. You tap on this and choose ‘block number.’” She showed Kieran. “You won’t get any messages or calls from him unless he uses a different number.”

“Thanks.” Kieran put away his phone and closed the truck door for her. “Tell Richard to back off.”

His voice softened when he said, “Unless you change your mind about being here full time for Bright Head and all.”

“No way. I’m here for good, Kieran.” Rowan fixed a determined gaze at her brother through the open truck window. “This is where I belong.”

three

Vinalhaven Ferry Service, Vinalhaven Island, Maine

Chris Sullens drove off the ferry that had taken him from Rockland on the mainland and followed his fellow travelers down a concrete path leading to a tiny terminal. He noticed a rocky cove and a patch of pine woods to his left, but beyond that, he only saw the curve of a two-lane road leading to town.

The ferry ride to Vinalhaven island lasted a little over an hour. It was a beautiful ride on a gorgeous day like today. The water was calm, and the slight wind on the open water brought the cool temperature down a bit, but the sun felt heavenly.

When they approached the island, the sight of the lobstering fleet peppering Carver’s harbor gave him a promise of an idyllic New England summer island retreat. However, he wasn’t impressed once he was on land and mainly met with asphalt and gravel.

Vinalhaven is definitely not Martha’s Vineyard, Chris thought critically. But his hotelier-scouting instinct warned him that there was more potential to be uncovered on this island. The ferry terminal wasn’t one to write about, but one just had to turn their gaze on the cove and rocky water’s edge to admit that it was beautiful here.

The few locals coming off the ferry got into their rides and drove away. Others—day-trippers or summer visitors—had a ride set up or started on foot into town. The ferry could only accommodate a few vehicles, and his motorbike didn’t take that much room.

He followed slowly behind a few cars and passed some tourists walking into town. He kept his eyes peeled and his mind opened. It wasn’t rare for him to explore a humble prospective location; it was his job to recognize the promises a place could offer. With that in mind, he absorbed everything he saw.

A short line of people in front of a red food truck parked in a small strip mall parking lot grabbed his attention. Curious, he turned into the lot and parked his bike. He was somewhat hungry, so he approached the small crowd and joined the line. With a nod of appreciation, he studied the menu etched on a chalkboard on the side of the still-closed truck. Creative sandwiches, burgers, and lobster rolls were in the offering, and the aroma wafting from the truck’s vent made his stomach rumble.

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