private investigator, he often went in to work on weekends, especially if he had a backlog of cases.
Roy set the newspaper aside. Linnette was living in North Dakota, working as a waitress, and claimed to be loving it. Or perhaps it was more accurate to say that what she loved was the town of Buffalo Valley. He’d sided with his daughter when she’d announced she was leaving Cedar Cove, although personally he hadn’t been in favor of it. However, as he’d told Corrie, it was Linnette’s life and Linnette’s decision. After the failure of her relationship with Cal Washburn, she’d been heartbroken and humiliated. She wanted out; Roy didn’t blame her. He hurt for her.
“She told me Thanksgiving with Pete and his family was very nice,” Corrie said, coming all the way into the living room now.
His wife’s face was flushed from the kitchen’s warmth and her hair was disheveled from running floury hands through it. Corrie had put on a few pound over the years—but then who hadn’t? To him, she was more beautiful at fifty-six than she’d ever been.
“Roy McAfee, why are you looking at me like that?” Corrie demanded.
“I was just thinking I’m married to a gorgeous woman.”
“Oh, honestly!” She rolled her eyes. “Don’t you want to hear about Linnette?”
“Anything new with her?” He couldn’t imagine there would be. They’d talked a couple of days before Thanksgiving, as well as on Thanksgiving itself. Linnette had spent the day with Pete Somebody, a farmer she’d met. From the sound of it, he was a decent, hardworking young man. It was a bit soon for anything serious between them, but he trusted Linnette’s judgment and wanted her to be happy. He just wished she’d found that happiness a little closer to home.
“She’s been working with Hassie Knight.”
“The old woman who owns the pharmacy in Buffalo Valley?” he asked. It was hard to keep them straight, all the people Linnette mentioned in her phone calls. Generally, she spoke to Corrie and then his wife relayed the information to him.
“That’s the one.”
“Working on what?”
“Getting a medical clinic up and running,” Corrie said excitedly.
This was news, and Roy couldn’t believe she was just telling him now. He’d been home for a couple of hours. “Hey! That’s great.”
“Buffalo Valley is growing and they need a clinic. Hassie claims it’s divine providence that brought Linnette to their town.”
He nodded, pleased that Linnette would be using her education. She’d worked hard to become a physician assistant and it’d be a shame to see all that effort go to waste. Roy had said she’d eventually go back to medicine, and he’d called it right.
“She’s thrilled about this opportunity. You might give her a call later.”
“I might,” he agreed, although it was always Corrie who did the phoning.
Roy had never been comfortable expressing emotion or, for that matter, being on the receiving end. Nevertheless, he loved his wife and his children, all three of them. They made him proud. Even Mack …
There was a knock at the door, but before Corrie could open it, their son stepped into the house. A blast of cold air came in with him.
“Whatever you’re cooking smells great,” he said appreciatively, rubbing his bare hands.
Corrie cradled his face and kissed him loudly on the cheek.
“That was the right thing to say,” Roy told him with a grin. “Not that it isn’t true,” he added swiftly.
Mack guffawed. “Good save, Dad.”
Roy lifted his hand in acknowledgment but didn’t get up. He’d injured his back years before and as a result had taken early retirement from his job with the Seattle police. His back still caused him pain, which he did his best to ignore. Some days he succeeded at that better than others. This was one of his less successful days.
Mack pulled out the ottoman and sat down near his father. “I stopped by the Cedar Cove fire station this afternoon.”
Roy straightened. This was what he’d been waiting to hear. He wanted to ask if Mack had been chosen for the position, but was patient enough to let him make his own announcement.
“Good grief, Mack,” Corrie cried. “Don’t keep us in suspense!”
“The captain said there’s a letter waiting for me in Seattle.”
“Oh.”
Corrie’s obvious disappointment echoed Roy’s. He’d hoped a job in Cedar Cove would bring him and Mack closer. They’d come a long way in the last two years but, as Roy was the first to admit, they still had a long way to go.
“Why the sad looks?” Mack asked. “My application’s been accepted! Effective December fifteenth, I’ll be working for the Cedar Cove Fire Department.”
Corrie covered her mouth with both hands and shrieked with delight.
“Congratulations, son,” Roy said. Leaning forward, he slapped Mack on the shoulder. Despite his more temperate response, he was no less elated than his wife.
Corrie’s eyes gleamed. “Of course you’ll stay with us until you find a place to rent.”
“Actually, no.”
“No?” Corrie frowned. “But … we’re your family. Where else would you live?”
“The thing is, I’ve found a place.”
“So soon?”
“Yes, and it works out great. Would you believe I’ll be living in Linnette’s old apartment? Will Jefferson’s subleting it, and I’m assuming his lease.”
“You?”
“Where’s Will going?” Roy asked. “He’s barely moved in. You mean to say he’s moving out already?”
“He purchased the Harbor Street Gallery.”
That was old news. Big news when it happened, because it had looked as if the gallery was about to close its doors for good. No one wanted that. The entire community had breathed a collective sigh of relief when Will Jefferson decided to buy it.
“Yes, we know about Will taking over the gallery,” Corrie said. “He’s not leaving town, is he? After all this, it would be a shame if he turned over the management to someone else.”
“Nothing like that,” Mack explained. “Apparently the gallery has a small apartment that’s been used for storage during the past few years. Will couldn’t see any reason to pay rent when he already has a place he could live.”
“I didn’t know the gallery had an apartment.”
“Me, neither,” Roy said. “It’s got a second story, though, so it doesn’t really surprise me.”
