Page 23 of Homecoming

“How many people live there year-round?”

“About seven hundred, but that swells to thousands in the summer. The ferries come full of cars and people almost hourly every day for months. Not to mention the people who come by boat and plane. The islanders breathe a collective sigh of relief around this time of year, when school starts up again and things return to off-season normal.” Speaking of Gansett made Kara miss being there, and she’d only been gone a day.

“You really love it there, huh?”

“I do. It’s become home to both of us.”

“Are you going to LA this winter?”

“That’s the plan. Dan likes to spend some time in his office out there, even though he’s cut way back on his innocence project work. He still supports the team working on the project and likes to get some face time with them.”

“What do you do while he’s working?”

“I relax a bit after the insanity of the summer. It’s nice to take a break.”

“You’re lucky you can afford to.”

“And I know it. Believe me.”

“I need my Dan Torrington to come along with his millions. If he’s handsome, too, that’d be nice.”

Kara laughed through a twinge of discomfort as Renata reminded her of the economic disparity between them since Kara had married Dan—and all his millions.

“Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“It’s fine. No big deal.”

“It must be nice, though, to not have to worry about money anymore,” Renata said as she studied the café’s menu.

“Is everything okay, Ren?”

“Yeah, it’s great. My rent’s going up, my roommate’s moving out and my boss is a pain in my ass. Other than that, all good.”

“I thought Kath was working out well as a roommate.”

“She was until the landlord notified us that he needs another thousand a month. She can’t swing it, so she found something cheaper. She’s not on the lease, which leaves me stuck with figuring out what to do.”

“I’m sorry. That’s got to be so stressful.”

“It is, especially since I want to quit my job and tell Myles the ass pain to go eff himself with all his sweet gestures as he tries to get me to date him when I absolutely do not want to.”

She worked as the general manager of a lobster wholesaler, now run by the son of the owner. Myles had been a thorn in her side since his dad retired three years ago.

“What’s he done now?”

“It would take me all day to tell you the many ways that man annoys me.”

“Is he still hot and single?”

“Unfortunately, yes on both fronts. I keep hoping he’ll get a girlfriend and a life away from work, so I won’t have to spend all day every day with him being nice to me.”

“How do you stand it?”

“Shut up! I’m being serious.”

Kara laughed. “I know. Have you looked around for something else?”

“I’m always looking, but it’s hard to find something that would match the salary and benefits I have now. He keeps giving me raises because I think he suspects I want to quit.”

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