“I always wanted to live on the water,” I say to him, surprised that I’m confessing this for the first time out loud. “When Joey and I were looking for a house, I said I wanted to be close to the ocean, and he scoffed. Said we couldn’t afford it, and even if we could, a house exposed to the elements and salt water would require too much maintenance. Of course, I didn’t know that he had a whole slew of money hidden away.

“I feel more alive when the sea is in view than I do at any other time in my life. It’s like it fuels my soul somehow, you know? It rejuvenates me. And I can picture myself with a little vegetable garden so I can grow food to put in my recipes. Of course, there’s a dog sleeping in the sunshine, and maybe a swing set in the yard.”

I swallow hard and then take a shaky breath.

“I’ve never told anyone that before. I’d stopped daydreaming about those things.”

“I think you should start again, Mary Margaret,” Cam says and wraps his arm around my shoulders. “I like that particular daydream.”

“I do, too.” God, have I ever felt so content? So at ease? I don’t think I’ve trusted anyone the way I do Cam. I know that I could open my soul to him, the way I just did, and I would be safe.

And that’s more than love.

That’s everything.

“Cam, are you about ready?” I call up the stairs at his house. Our flight leaves in four hours, and with a ferry ride ahead of us, we need to get a move on. But there’s no answer. “Cam?”

I could have sworn I just heard him up there.

I climb the stairs and check his bedroom, but it’s empty. I swing around to his office, but he’s not in there, either. He was just here, though, because his computer is on, and his email lights the screen.

“Cam?”

I turn to leave, but then a single word on the computer screen catches my eye.

Lemon.

I know, deep in my heart, that I have no business looking at this email, but before I can talk myself out of it, I take a step closer.

I need you back on the Lemon case. New information has come to light that I know you can dig deeper on. Similar to five years ago in the Caymans. Call me.

-R

“Sorry, I had to go grab a bag—” Cam’s voice trails off when he sees me looking at the computer screen. His eyes narrow. “Maggie.”

“Don’t you dare Maggie me.” I prop my hands on my hips. “Tell me this isn’t about my late husband.”

“It must not have gone to sleep when I told it to.”