I gave her a mock salute. “Yes, ma’am.” I checked my watch. “Just in time to hit up The Burger Barn.”

She groaned. “Your addiction to that place is starting to get concerning.”

“They have the best cheeseburgers in the islands. Trust me, I’ve done my research.”

“You’re going to give yourself heart disease if you exist on burgers alone.”

I pushed to my feet, tucking the folder under my arm. “I like to live dangerously, Callie.” She simply shook her head and waved me out of her office.

5

Kenna

I groaned as I rolled to my back, a crick in my neck making itself known. My alarm sounded, and as I reached to shut it off, I knocked my cup of water to the floor. Muttering a curse, I felt for the alarm button and finally shut it off. I simply lay there for a moment, the warmth and coziness of my bed beckoning me to stay just a little bit longer.

There was a knock on my front door. I glanced at the clock. It was before seven a.m. Maybe Caelyn had stopped by to bring me to breakfast with the kids. I swung out of bed, grabbing my robe and pulling it on as I headed for the door. Opening it, I froze.

Harriet’s nurse, Natalie, stood there wringing her hands, her eyes rimmed in red. My heart seized in my chest, halting then starting back up but at double the speed. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m so sorry, Kenna. Harriet passed.”

Blood roared in my ears, a pounding that deafened everything around me. “No. I—I just saw her last night. She’s only sleeping.”

Natalie grabbed my arms as if to hold me up. “I’m so sorry. She’s gone. Went in her sleep. And when I checked on her this morning, it was too late.”

The world seemed to fade and flicker around me. Everything dulled, the edges blurring. I couldn’t smell the sea or hear the next words that came out of Natalie’s mouth. I couldn’t see the view as Natalie guided me towards the main house. But the feel of her arm wrapped around me jolted me from the mire.

I wouldn’t fall apart. I pictured every brutal piece of pain being stuffed down, beneath my carefully constructed walls. I swallowed hard as I worked to smooth out my features. “What do you need me to do?”

Natalie blinked up at me, shock evident on her face. “I, uh, are you all right?”

“I’ll be fine. Have Fire and Rescue been called?” They handled all medical emergencies on the island, and I assumed they would be called for a death, as well.

“I have…why don’t you sit down?”