Chapter 16
SIXTEEN
A
fter showing Bronwyn to her room and giving her a quick tour, Willow put Rufus into the backyard and walked over to Mae’s with Bronwyn.
“Wow, she’s quite the gardener. And she likes color,” Bronwyn remarked when they reached the wooden gate at the foot of Mae’s front garden. A weathered brick path led from inside it up to the house.
“She’s a colorful person.”
Mae’s three little rescue mutts let out a chorus of excited yips and barks as they climbed the front steps. “It’s open. Come on through,” Mae called out from the back.
They took off their shoes inside the front door, and Willow led the way through to the bright, cheery kitchen while the dogs trotted after them, sniffing at their ankles curiously.
“I thought we’d eat out here,” Mae said from the other side of the open French door that led out onto her back patio as she set a platter down.
A giant rainbow patio umbrella shaded the round wooden table in the center of the back garden, painted a bright, cheerful yellow. All the wooden chairs around it were painted a different color.
“Bronwyn, iced tea okay? It’s homemade.”
“Lovely, thank you, it’s been forever since I had the good stuff. The iced tea in the UK is awful. I mean tragic.”
“Looks gorgeous, Mae,” Willow said, taking the chair across from her friend. “What are we having?”
“Peach caprese salad, fresh butter rolls, and blueberry crisp for dessert.”
Bronwyn eyed the lunch spread in astonishment. “This looks amazing.”
Mae’s smile was full of warmth. “It’s from the heart. Hope you like it.”
They enjoyed a leisurely lunch over laughs and great conversation while fat, fuzzy bees hummed in the flowers and colorful little Anna’s hummingbirds zipped around to sip from the various feeders Mae had hanging around the garden.
“It’s like a private paradise back here,” Bronwyn said, clearing the table over Mae’s protests. “You sit right here and relax. We’ll handle the dishes.”
“She’s right,” Willow said. “You work way too hard all the time. Let us help.”
Mae didn’t like it, but she reluctantly gave in. After cleaning up, they had another glass of iced tea in the back garden. Before Willow knew it, the sun was sinking toward the horizon, painting the forest behind the houses in a rosy gold.
“Wow, time flies. Thanks for everything, Mae, but I need to go feed Rufus his dinner.”
“Of course.” Mae hugged them both goodbye. “You know you’re welcome here anytime. Hope you visit again real soon, Bronwyn.”
“Oh, I plan to. Between you, Willow, and the new sheriff, I have plenty of incentive to come back.”
Mae’s eyebrows rose, clear interest gleaming in her eyes. “The sheriff, huh? Now that is interesting.”
Willow snickered and guided her friend through the front garden gate. “Might want to be careful mentioning Rafe to her. Mae’s a known matchmaker around here.”
“Doesn’t surprise me in the least. She’s so welcoming, and the pride flag out front tells me she’s inclusive,” Bronwyn said as they walked down the road.
“Big time. Her grandson was gay.”
“Was?”
She nodded, a familiar ache forming in her chest. “Carson was murdered here on the island four years ago.”
“Oh my God, seriously?”
“Yes. Hate crime.” She hated thinking about it. Carson had been the kindest, sweetest person ever. For him to die like that, alone and terrified...it made her sick.
“Jesus. How old was he?”
“Twenty-seven. It was awful. Almost broke Mae. She raised him from the age of fourteen.”
“Why, what happened to his parents?”
“They kicked him out when they found out he was gay.”
“Oh, man...”
“Yeah. Mae basically saved him. Gave him the unconditional love he needed, though I don’t think he ever got over losing his parents that way.”
“No, how could he?” Bronwyn’s voice held a hard edge. “Parents are supposed to love you no matter what.”
In theory, yes. “He was an amazing human. Kind and funny and talented. Rafe, Peyton, Tripp and I were all friends with him, hung out whenever we came to visit. But he and Tripp were best friends.”
“What happened to him?”
“A bad news asshole tourist had a hate on for him. Stalked him for a few weeks before it happened. The former sheriff didn’t take the threat seriously.
Then the attacker followed Carson when he left a bar in town one night.
Carson could handle himself. He’d trained in martial arts, but it didn’t save him from the knife attack, and he was alone.
The killer stabbed him to death.” Slashed him to hell and left him to bleed out on the side of the alley.
Bronwyn made a horrified sound and shook her head. “So freaking horrible. Did they catch the asshole?”
“Yeah. He pled guilty and got a reduced sentence.” Bitterness dripped from each word. “Then they let him out earlier this year for good behavior.”
“No,” Bronwyn breathed.
“I know. It’s beyond messed up. Anyway, that’s why Mae flies the flag.
For Carson, and anyone else in the queer community so they know they have a safe place here.
That sign above her door is her mantra. She’s known across the island for her hospitality and kindness, constantly takes in people in need no matter what their race, creed, or sexual orientation is.
I’m actually surprised she didn’t have anyone else there today. ”
Bronwyn looked back at the house over her shoulder. “Man, I really want to go back there and hug her.”
“You can hug her tomorrow. I’m sure we’ll see her again before you leave.” Their feet crunched over the gravel along the shoulder of the street.
“So, Tripp’s been through a lot too,” Bronwyn said.
“Yes.” Losing Carson like that, and not being home to protect him. “We all came back for the funeral. Petyon too. That was the last time we were all together.” And two years later, they’d lost him as well.
“I’m glad you moved here,” Bronwyn said. “You’ve got a circle of good people here who care about you. Maybe you can all help each other heal more.”
“Maybe.” She’d like that. They could all stand to heal more. “What do you think about a chair painting party on the porch tomorrow morning? We’ll invite Mae over. I’ll make us tea or coffee and some muffins or something.”
“That sounds amazing,” she said with her usual enthusiasm. “And that way I can leave a little piece of me behind for you to remember me by.”
“Like I would ever forget you?” She slung an arm across her friend’s shoulders and gave her a squeeze, earning a grin.
“I wouldn’t let you anyway.”
Rufus barked in the backyard the moment they hit the end of her driveway and didn’t stop until Willow let him out of the side gate. He ducked his head slightly in recognition, ears lowering, his tail going like crazy. “Hi, buddy. Wanna go for a walk?”
Bronwyn peered past her into the yard. “Whoa, looks like he’s been busy on patrol back here.”
Willow groaned at the track of destroyed grass he’d already worn away all around the inside perimeter of the fence line.
It had been so dry lately, the dead grass hadn’t stood a chance.
“I know, he’s obsessed with guarding the yard.
Squirrels are his mortal enemy. He’ll stand on his hind legs with his front paws on the fence, like he’s frustrated that he can’t see what’s happening on the other side. ”
“If he was an outside dog before and left to roam around the neighborhood at will, that makes sense. Maybe you could put a chain link section in, so he can see the road?”
Ugh, that would look so awful. But having a lookout spot or two might relieve his anxiety and frustration a little. Maybe something like...
“I think I’ve got an idea.” And she knew just who to call to make it happen.