Page 39 of Light of Day
“No, it just decided to come out after I asked it really nicely.” She had the Carmichael family’s blue-blue eyes, along with Carrie’s frizzy blond hair and tendency toward chubbiness, and altogether was an adorable cherub of a child. Not that he was biased.
Carrie and Heather were busy hugging each other in greeting.
“I heard you were back on the island,” said Carrie, smiling, as she drew back. “You’re always big news, you know.”
Heather laughed. “Like I always say, only believe half of it. And look at Izzy. So grown up!”
“Isn’t she?” Carrie turned to Izzy. “Izzy, remember that Christmas card that played that funny music you liked? Heather sent us that.”
Izzy clapped her hands and sang the tune off-key, the one she’d sung over and over last winter. Luke hadn’t realized that Heather had sent that card. It touched him in an unexpected way.
Luke nuzzled his nose against his daughter’s forehead, which always made her giggle. “How about we get some ice cream tomorrow, before you brush your teeth?”
“Okay. Mommy, can I have hot cocoa?”
“No, you cannot,” Carrie said with a laugh as Luke handed over their daughter. Izzy wriggled out of her grasp and ran back inside, giggling hysterically.
“Thanks,” Luke told her. “I just needed a moment with her.”
“I totally get it.” Carrie tucked her hands in the front pocket of her hoodie. “Just text me tomorrow when you’ll be here for ice cream. Earlier is better. And Heather, come by anytime if you want to catch up. It’s been a minute.”
Once they were underway again, the band around his heart sufficiently eased, Luke said, “Izzy loved that card, she slept with it under her pillow, even at my place.”
“Aw, that’s so cute. She’s a doll. I’m happy she liked that goofy card. You know, Carrie and I used to be really good friends, before our lives went completely different directions.”
“Speaks well of you. Carrie’s picky about her friends.”
Her eyes caught his, with a shine of moonlight, and something rippled between them. “Maybe after we find Gabby I will drop by and catch up with Carrie. I’ll see if she spills any secrets about Constable Carmichael.”
“She wouldn’t dare. We’re in a good place right now, and neither of us wants to mess it up.”
“Was it tough at first? I’m sure it’s extra-hard when kids are involved.”
“It was bad. Really bad, right up until our first counseling session. I’m not proud of everything I did, and I know she isn’t either.” He wasn’t sure why he was telling Heather all this. Maybe it was that musical Christmas card. Izzy had played it over and over until its battery finally ran out. Carrie had told him it was from an old friend, but he hadn’t made the connection to Heather.
“What happened at your first counseling session?” Heather asked curiously.
“The therapist asked if we wanted help separating or staying together, and we both answered ‘separating,’ in sync, as if we’d practiced. We went from there with the goal of wanting things to be smooth for Izzy’s sake. Real learning curve, that’s for sure.”
“Well, Izzy seems like a very happy child. I think you both did something right.”
He slowed down, looking for the Highgroves’ house. The lampposts were few and far between on this road, with plenty of distance between each house. The Highgroves were a family of freewheeling artists, one of whom had a trust fund. That was how they’d managed to purchase one of the nicest properties on the west side…and then proceeded to fill it with chickens and goats and compost bins.
Relations with their neighbors were mixed.
In fact, hadn’t he just fielded a call from Amelia Burnhauser next door? It seemed like months ago at this point. That was how off the rails his life had gotten.
The Highgroves were having a Scrabble night slash smokefest—he sniffed weed as soon as Lily opened the door, her Scrabble tiles in hand. “Can you see any words in here?” she asked him by way of greeting.
“Uh…maybe ‘rake’? Is Andy here?”
“How did I not see that?” She moved the tile holder closer, then farther away. “My glasses. Where are my glasses? I believe the Borrowers took them again.”
“Most likely,” he agreed, because why not? “Andy?” He prompted her.
“He’ll be back soon. You want to come in and wait for him?”
“That’s okay. Thanks, Lily.”
