Chapter 33
Bea’s viewing would draw much of Pelican Harbor, so Paradise had come with the family as soon as the doors opened. Even so,
ten people lined up ahead of them. Isaac clung to her hand while Blake corralled Levi.
Abby had come with Quinn, and Drew stood in the line with them. Quinn’s eyes glistened with tears. She’d had Bea as a teacher
at church for years. She was only a year older than Paradise had been when she lost her parents, and she well remembered that
state between childhood and her teen years when she’d struggled with grief on her own. Quinn had her mother though, and she’d
be fine.
Paradise caught sight of Abby’s red-rimmed eyes. Maybe there was more to Quinn’s grief besides the death of a beloved teacher.
Paradise passed Isaac’s hand to Jenna and mouthed that she needed to move back for a minute, then made her way to Abby. “You
okay?”
Tears escaped and rolled down Abby’s face.
She took Paradise’s hand and drew her to a quiet corner out of the line.
“I told Quinn about her dad’s remarriage.
She was devastated and thinks she won’t get to see him much.
The bad thing is, I think she’s right. She’s not even invited to the wedding.
They’re flying to Jamaica and getting married there without any guests.
Not even his daughter. He’s such a slimeball. ”
Paradise squeezed her hand. “I’m so sorry, Abbs.”
She waved off Paradise’s sympathy. “I’m fine. I’m glad to be rid of his cheating, contemptuous behavior, but it’s hard to
watch Quinn’s pain. It makes me wonder if I should break off whatever is happening with Drew. I don’t want to go through anything
like this ever again.”
“Drew isn’t like Jason. He was cheated on once too. You can trust him.”
Abby gulped back a sob. “He was? He said he’d been hurt, but I haven’t heard the details.”
“I’m sure he’ll tell you about it. I think being a detective has made him even more perceptive and empathetic. He’s seen the
worst of human behavior and yet he still fights for justice. My brother is a pretty awesome person.”
“So’s his sister.” Abby hugged her. “We’d better get back in line.”
They rejoined their group, and Paradise nudged her when she spotted Drew with his arm around Quinn talking to her. Quinn had
her gaze fixed on his face, and her tears had stopped.
“Told you,” Paradise whispered.
Blake took her hand. “I think that’s Bea’s daughter at the casket.”
“She has two. The other one might be talking with other visitors.” They stepped to the casket and took Bea’s daughter’s hand.
“You look so much like your mother. She was a wonderful woman.”
The woman’s gaze lingered on Paradise’s hair. “You’re the new vet, the one investigating my dad.”
“Well, not really. Your dad had nothing to do with the murders. At least we were able to assure your mom of his innocence.”
Tears welled in the woman’s eyes. “I can’t believe she’s gone. The police have no leads as to who did it or why. Do you know?”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t. Your mom hadn’t told us anything that would make someone come after her.”
The woman swiped at her eyes. “Our attorney, Scott Foster, has something for you. He told me to have you call.”
“I—I don’t understand.”
“Neither do I, but he said if you came by that I should tell you Mom left something for you.” Her attention went over Paradise’s
shoulder to Jenna, and she smiled. Dismissed, Paradise and Blake moved past, taking a moment to linger over pictures of Bea’s
family.
“I think Bea’s daughter didn’t want to talk to us,” Blake said.
“I can’t blame her. Someone shot her mother, and it could be related to our investigation. She could have been holding something
back that she isn’t telling us.”
They walked outside into the drowsy hum of bees hovering over the flowers flanking the path from the street to the church.
“We could take a walk while we’re waiting for everyone.” Blake pointed out a line of storefronts. “There’s an architect in
that office. I think he has samples of his work in the windows.”
They walked across the street to the building painted hunter green. Rogers and Shaw Architects. She lingered over the pictures
of homes the firm had designed. In the center of the big pane of glass was the home of her dreams. A single story so similar
to what she’d found that she caught her breath.
“See something you like?” Blake’s breath stirred her hair, and he pressed a kiss on her temple.
“Doesn’t this look like that one I found online?” She traced the floor plan with her finger. “Even the rooms are the same.”
“I think you’re right.” He glanced at the hours.
“They’re closed now, but we can make an appointment and come back.
I’ve heard good things about this firm. People say they work with your budget and guide you on ways to build most economically while getting the house you really want. They work with good contractors.”
It seemed impossible that just a few months after she came back to Nova Cambridge she’d be hand in hand with the man she’d
always loved. She had a beautiful engagement ring on her left hand and the promise of a life together with a larger family
than she’d ever hoped for. And probably more to come.
If they could track down the shadowy figures who still threatened their happiness, they could make real plans for the future.
The Gator jolted over the ruts in the back field. After they’d gone to Bea’s funeral today, the promise of new starts had
lured them out for a walk. The late-afternoon air held the fragrance of newly mown hay from the Dillard Ranch field to the
right and the rich aroma of upturned dirt in the planted field on the other side.
Blake pointed out the trees ahead. “There’s our promised land. It’s really pretty from this direction too.”
Paradise turned a delighted smile his way. “I love calling it that!”
They both fell silent as the sun dipped to just over the treetops and washed the area with golden light. Blake could see them
sitting on a back deck or patio watching the animals move across their land in the distance while the sun painted colors in
the sky. “We’ll be able to sit out here and smell God’s green earth in the evenings. It’s pretty perfect, babe.”
At the back edge of the property, they got out of the Gator. “This area back here is beautiful too, but I still think the top of the knoll will give us a great view all around. Let’s walk up that way and see what we think.”
Paradise reached back to the Gator’s floor. “What’s this?”
He turned back toward her voice to see her holding up a mini tablet in a navy case. “Open it and see if it comes on. Maybe
it belongs to one of the employees.”
She flipped open the cover and the screen to the small iPad came on asking for a password. “There’s a picture of the governor
and Angela as the background. I told her she could use the Gator to get back to the parking lot when they were here. She must
have forgotten it.”
“We have to go to Pelican Harbor tomorrow to see the attorney. We could drop it off if we knew where she lives.”
“An address is on the back.” She held it up for him to see. “Wait, this has Governor George’s address on it. Maybe it’s hers
and Angela had picked it up for her. This must be a second residence. Maybe we can catch her at home tomorrow. I think there’s
something hinky about the governor’s relationship with Ben. I’m not sure if Governor George should be on our radar as a suspect,
but I can’t rule it out either. It’s strange she warned us off Bear and Percy. Angela did too when I chatted with her alone.”
He glanced at the tablet. “The address is in Fairhope. Our appointment with Foster isn’t until one. There’s time to do both.”
He slipped his arm around her waist. “We could go alone first thing in the morning and swing past the Dillard Ranch to get
Drew on the way to Pelican Harbor. I love your brother, but I wouldn’t mind three hours alone with you.”
“I think he was planning to return the evidence kit.”
“Perfect. We can reconvene here at the house for lunch before heading to the attorney’s office.”
The vegetation was higher back here and he went first, tramping it down for her so the weeds didn’t scratch those gorgeous
legs, bare from mid-thigh down, in the shorts she wore. “There are wild azaleas back here too.” He pointed out the pink bushes
on the slope. “Whoa, Paradise, there’s a well here.” He gestured to the pipes sticking out of the ground. “If it’s still in
working order, that will save us some money.”
He stomped the weeds down a bit. “There are remnants of an old building here, maybe a cabin.”
Paradise threw her arms around him. “I love this property so much, Blake. Almost as much as I love you.”
His pulse rocketed and he pulled her close. Her lips were soft and inviting, and his surroundings vanished as he kissed her.
He pulled back and palmed her cheek. “I’m a lucky man. How long do we have to wait for the wedding?”
Her amber eyes were alight with amusement. “Six weeks. Not that I’m counting or anything.”
He groaned. “An eternity. But you’re worth the wait.” He stepped back and turned her around to see the view back toward The
Sanctuary from their vantage point. “We’ll have the best view in the state.”
She took in the landscape silently, and he glanced over to see tears slipping down her cheeks. “Babe, what’s wrong?”
“I never thought I’d have this, Blake. You, your family, my brother, and now this perfect spot for a home that we get to design together.
I can see Isaac and Levi playing in a tree house you build right there.
” She pointed out a massive oak with the perfect Y-shape to anchor a platform.
“Our kids will grow up here, their roots going deep into the land we all love so much. Someday our grandkids will come to spend the night and experience the same connection to God through this place that we’ve found.
I can see us all piling in the van for church and gathering here for Sunday dinners. It’s a dream come true, Blake.”
She turned toward him again and laid her head against his chest. He buried his nose in the sweet scent of her hair and held
her close, too overcome to speak. The future she saw rolled out in images in his head, and thankfulness to God overcame him.
“God always knew the plans he had for us, but we sure couldn’t see them in the rough times.”
Blake pulled her away from his chest so he could see her face. “There will be more tough times, babe. Our whole lives those
times will come. But let’s hold on to this certainty that God has us, that his plan will work for our good because we love
him and want his will.”
“I’m going to do that.”
He turned back to the expansive fields and rolling hills in his view. The Sanctuary was a bucolic scene out of a postcard
from here, and they were privileged to care for what had been entrusted to them.
He exhaled. “I guess we’d better be getting back. It’s nearly six, and Mom was going to have pizza delivered about then.”
They walked back down the slope to the Gator. The ride back was just as bumpy, and he took his time, enjoying these last few
minutes with her shoulder brushing his and her loving smiles directed his way. They got too little time together, but in six
weeks she’d be in his arms at night, and they’d begin building that new life together.