Page 144 of Homecoming

After dinnerat a local pizza restaurant, Renata invited everyone back to her house for a drink and dessert since it was still early.

Kara ended up with Ellery’s daughter, Annabelle, on her lap. She snuggled the little girl, breathing in the sweet scent of her hair, thankful that Ellery’s kids hadn’t treated her like a stranger after so many years away. The time Kara had spent with them on FaceTime had paid off with a warm reception from the children.

Pete sat next to them on the sofa. “It’s so great to see you, K. We’ve missed you around here.” He had the burly build that came from years of tending traps and hauling lobsters. His brown hair was streaked with blond from the summer, and his golden-brown eyes were filled with warmth and affection. He and Ellery had been together since high school, and he’d also been one of Kara’s closest friends.

“I’ve missed you guys. It’s nice to be with you all again.”

“I like your hubby. I wasn’t sure what to expect with the fancy reputation, but he’s good people.”

Kara gazed at Dan, talking to Doug and Myles in the kitchen. “Yes, he is.”

“I shouldn’t have doubted you,” he said with a warm smile.

“Haha. I got lucky, and I know it.”

“It wasn’t luck. You deserved it.” He lowered his voice to add, “Never thought much of what’s-his-name.”

“Why didn’t you say so then?”

“Would you have wanted to hear it?”

“Probably not,” she conceded.

“Never expected him to turn out to be such an AH, though.”

“I know what that stands for,” Annabelle said.

“Button that lip, missy,” her dad said. “She loves all the naughty words.”

“And where does she hear these naughty words?” Ellery asked as she joined them.

“I can’t imagine,” Pete said with a wink for his daughter.

“It’s you, Daddy. Mommy says you need your mouth washed out with soap.”

Kara snorted with laughter at the face Pete made.

“That’s gross,” Pete said as Annabelle giggled.

“I’ve tried it,” Ellery said. “Doesn’t work.”

“I love you guys,” Kara said, suddenly tearful. “So, so much, and I promise it won’t be long before you see me again.”

“About that,” Ellery said tentatively. “I feel bad about what I said the other day. Travel works two ways, and you’re not so far away that we couldn’t come see you, too. I’m sorry if I made you feel guilty. I don’t blame you at all for staying gone when you left.”

“Thank you for saying that, but I don’t want you to feel bad about what you said. Being here again has made me see that running away from everyone I love because of what two people did wasn’t the right thing to do.”

“You did what you had to at the time,” Ellery said. “No one should hold that against you, least of all us.”

Jessie sat on the floor by Ellery. “What she said. We felt awful about the other day, and I hope she told you how sorry we are.”

“Please don’t be. As I said to her, I’ve learned that it makes no sense to stay away from everyone else I love because of what those two did. Other than my brothers being charged with murder and all that, it’s been nice to be home.”

Renata and the other guys ended up seated on pillows next to Jessie.

“We want to come visit this island of yours,” Ellery said. “Maybe next summer?”

“We’d love that. Even though it’s crowded with tourists, that’s the time to come. It’s very quiet the rest of the year.”

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