Chapter 14

"Welcome!" Meadow McAllister cried. She wore a lime turban and orange caftan with pink splashes of color. Her feet were bare.

"I forgot how much I love these people," Caleb whispered. "Meadow," he said louder, "it's so wonderful to visit your home again. Look at you, you haven't aged a day."

"And your aura, Caleb. It's glowing." Meadow took his cheeks in her hands while she looked into his eyes. "Such happiness I feel inside you."

"You remember my little sister, Phoebe, don't you, Meadow?" Caleb said with his cheeks still being squished.

Phoebe stepped up beside him, and Meadow released him to do the same to her. She then looked into Phoebe's eyes for long, awkward minutes.

"Now, sweet girl, I can see you've had some trauma in your life, but you're home now, and we'll cleanse that aura for you. I have a tonic that will do nicely. And of course I remember you, because you and my Blue Jay are friends."

"Let Phoebe go, Mom. We don't want to scare our guest of honor away before she enters the house," Blue Jay said, coming to stand beside her mom.

"Well now, you go on and show Phoebe the cottage, Blue Jay, because I can see she needs to live there, right beside us. We will help her heal. I'll get Caleb some elderberry wine. It's going to be a wonderful book club. I can just feel the energy."

"Oh goody, I love elderberry wine," Caleb said with total sincerity, even though he'd spent his life drinking fine wine in swanky restaurants. "Take a video of the cottage," he added, shooting Phoebe a look before following Meadow into the house.

Had Meadow been guessing about the trauma she thought I'd suffered, or had Blue told her?

"The wine is actually quite nice, but you don't want too much of it," Blue said, leading the way to a path between the house and the cottage. She had bare feet, and she was wearing a flowing skirt and a tank top. Her hair was loose. She looked every inch the flower child she vowed she wasn't.

"Blue, have you told anyone about New York?"

"Of course not. I wouldn't without your permission," her friend said. "Mom is really insightful about that kind of thing, even if we don't want to believe her."

Phoebe relaxed. She didn't want that part of her life following her here. Her father and Caleb knew, of course, but no one else.

"The others are arriving soon, so let's get the viewing over so we can drink and eat spanakopita pinwheels."

"Oooh, I remember those. They were good," Phoebe said.

The cottage was bathed in early evening sun as they reached it. Painted a more subtle shade of yellow, the front door was white, as was the trim. Nestled in trees, with its own drive, Phoebe had been here a few times over the years and loved the quaintness of the place.

"Those boards need replacing." Blue pointed to some worn and broken ones around the base. "Dad's getting them done tomorrow, so you'll be sweet to move in two days from now, if you want it," Blue said, opening the door. "You go in and wander. If you're living here, you need to get the feel of the place, see if the vibe suits."

"You say things like that and then that you don't understand your parents," Phoebe said. "You have their values, Blue Jay McAllister, even if you try to tell me otherwise."

"The hell you say?" Blue said. "Now walk about the place and work out shit, then come back and drink a mojito, which is my specialty, as you know. My mom will have reduced your brother to his knees by then with elderberry wine, so we can torment him, and he won't have the strength to fight back."

"I'm in for that, and it will be like old times in New York."

Blue wandered back to the main house, and Phoebe let herself into the cottage. The quiet settled around her like a gentle blanket. Her father wasn't a loud man, but Caleb was. At the moment, she was writing in her room. Here, she'd have the space and solitude to do it anywhere she liked.

Walking down the hall, she entered the living area. Small and compact, the space had been repainted white, but there were splashes of color, which you'd expect from a McAllister residence. The orange feature wall was hideous, and Phoebe wondered if they'd let her repaint it.

Late afternoon light filtered in through windows, and she saw an overgrown flower bed and plenty of trees. Phoebe would like to try her hand at gardening but had never really had the chance. Perhaps she could do that here with the green-fingered McAllisters next door.

Two bedrooms, a small kitchen, living, dining, it had everything she'd need, but most importantly, it had privacy. When she finished teaching, this would be perfect.

Pulling out her phone, she made a video like Caleb requested and then headed back outside. Circling the cottage, she inspected the gardens and took a few pictures. Phoebe thought they'd go well on her social media, which was all part of being an author these days. People wanted to know about you as well as your books.

When she was done, she headed back to the main house, ready for her mojito.

The sound of voices greeted her as she entered the McAllister home. More color was inside, and in frames, pictures that Phoebe guessed the children had done years ago.

She found a group of about ten people on the deck outside, most of whom she knew, ranging from her father's age to hers.

"Give that woman a drink," Cill demanded. "Phoebe is the teacher on duty at the school dance soon while our feral children cut loose!"

"Can I get this autographed by you, Phoebe? Being the chief of police in this town, I think that means I should go first."

The man who approached her was Asher Dans. He wasn't as tall as his nephews. He was, however, built like them. He'd come home to help his sister raise her five children when her husband had unexpectedly died and stayed to take up the position of chief of police.

Phoebe had always respected him hugely for what he'd done and the hand he'd played in raising his niece and nephews. Her father always said that if you needed anything in this town, Asher Dans was the man to go to. He was well respected and loved, and he could be tough when required.

He'd never married or had a family of his own and stuck by his blood when they needed him. She thought that a few other people in this world could learn a thing or two from Chief Asher Dans about morals and honor.

"Nice to see you again, Phoebe." He kissed her cheek.

"You too, Chief."

He then held out a book that she saw was one of hers. Phoebe signed it, To Chief Dans, happy reading, Phoebe.

They talked, ate, and drank, and for all it was an odd collection of people, it worked. But then this was Lyntacky, and they thrived on odd.

Phoebe was questioned on her writing process, and as the elderberry wine and mojitos flowed, the voices got louder. The current book of choice the club was reading Phoebe had already read. It was a romantic comedy selected by Ms. Jonas, the vet.

"I didn't like the male lead until about fifty pages in, when I realized he was in fact hiding his true self because of past trauma," Klaus Becker said.

"Psst."

"You're standing right next to me, Nina," Phoebe said. She was one of those effortlessly beautiful women who could wear anything. Like Cill, they'd been friends before Phoebe left Lyntacky.

"The psst was so you knew that what I'm going to say was in secret," Nina whispered loudly. Clearly her tolerance for elderberry wine was not as good as some others in the room, as her eyes were glassy.

Phoebe looked to where Caleb was seated next to Meadow and Hamish McAllister, both wearing matching caftans. He turned as if sensing her and crossed his eyes .

"They're corrupting him on the reasons he should spend less money on disposable things and look at mending his clothes rather than tossing them out. He's having an extensive grilling on his recycling capabilities also," Blue said, moving to her other side.

"Good. It's about time someone sorted his expensive spending habits," Phoebe said. "Now what do you want to tell me that I can't tell anyone else?"

Nina grabbed Phoebe's arm and urged her back three steps. Blue followed them and leaned in to hear what Nina was saying.

"I think our law enforcement boss dog has a thing for the animal whisperer."

"What?" Blue frowned.

"Oh, for pity's sake, Blue. Use your eyes, girl. Vet and Chief," Nina hissed softly.

Phoebe and Blue turned but were wrenched back.

"Don't look!"

"You just told me to," Blue protested.

"But don't make it obvious," Nina hissed.

"Right, not obvious, like the three of us whispering, do you mean?" Blue said.

Phoebe looked out the side of her eye at the vet and chief of police. Their heads were close together, bodies leaning into each other.

"Oooh, you could be right, Nina. Definite chemistry," Blue said.

"I agree there is something there, but first, why are we whispering about it, and second, why is this a big deal? They're consenting adults with respectable careers. Surely they're allowed to date if they want," Phoebe said.

"You have to know why this is a big deal, surely?" Blue said.

Phoebe shook her head, coming up with nothing .

"He's a Duke. They can't hook up with anyone without the rest of them pitching a fit and checking out everything from shoe size to family connections," Blue said.

"You're not serious? Surely they've grown out of that by now," Phoebe protested.

"Next time you're with Zoe, ask her what it was like with JD before they got their shit together," Nina said. "All I'm saying is watch this space."

"That's just a brother-sister thing, and totally different. He's their uncle, so I wouldn't think they'd be like that with him. If I even look at a man and Caleb hears about it, he wants every detail down to the man's favorite food."

"My brothers can be like that, and we don't even see each other that much," Blue added.

"Now, Phoebe. Would you like to read a passage from your book?" Klaus Becker asked loudly, drawing them back to the group. In one hand, he held a wedge of beetroot and chocolate cake, which Phoebe had to admit tasted amazing.

"Oh… ah, I don't think?—"

"She'd love to," Caleb said, raising his fourth glass of elderberry wine to her. "My sister has the voice of an angel."

She sent him a look that suggested retribution was coming his way sooner rather than later.

"I have the page marked, dear," Grandma Hyland said. Phoebe was surprised to see she was still alive, as she'd been old when Phoebe left to study. In her hand was the latest book in her series. The glossy cover had the title The Fennel Bay Felonies on the front.

Two hands nudged her in the back, sending her forward.

"Place the stool in the center, Hamish, so we can all hear," Tripp Lyntacky, the mayor, said .

He wore a pink silk shirt with tassels and black trousers. On his feet were pink socks. The man was all style.

Seeing no way out, Phoebe glared at Caleb and then Nina and Blue, who both raised their thumbs in encouragement while nodding excessively.

Sitting, she opened the book and read the passage, which was in fact three pages long. Applause broke out when she'd finished.

"Now who has questions for my wonderfully talented sister?" Caleb asked.

Phoebe mouthed the words, "You'll get yours."

"How do you do your research on the murders and crime scenes in your books, Phoebe?" Chief Dans asked. "I'm hoping it's not firsthand experience."

"What font do you write in? I've heard some authors are superstitious about this kind of thing," Hamish McAllister asked.

"There is no sex in your books, do you think that will change?" Meadow asked.

"This town," Phoebe muttered two hours later as finally they were back in her car heading home. It had been Blue who put a stop to question time by asking loudly who wanted a nice soothing cup of passionflower and valerian tea before they went home. It hadn't been easy extracting Caleb, who Meadow and Hamish had been coaching about making big decisions in his life. It was, they said, important to consider the positions and movements of celestial bodies, such as planets and stars, as they can influence human affairs and natural phenomena. Who knew?

Some questions, like the chief's, she'd enjoyed answering, especially as he'd offered his help if Phoebe needed any facts about law enforcement.

"I particularly liked Meadow's question about why there was not more sex in your books, as it's a natural extension of the emotion and love we feel for our partners," Caleb said, reclining his seat so he was now horizontal.

"It's a ten-minute drive. You can't sit upright for that long?"

"My head hurts."

"The elderberry wine will get you every time," Phoebe said. "And good job. You set me up to read, you bastard."

"You loved it, and besides, you should be proud of what you've achieved."

"I am. I just don't have to read out loud to a group of crazy Lyntacky locals to prove that."

"Sure you do."

She shot Caleb a look, but his eyes were now closed.

Phoebe's mind went back to the chief and the vet, and she wondered what Brody would think about his uncle having a woman in his life… not that he hadn't before. She'd just never heard his name linked to anyone seriously, but then, as she'd lived away for so many years, she didn't know everything. Further to that was why should she care what Brody thought? He was nothing more than an acquaintance now.

A really hot, sexy one.