Page 98 of Welker

Tom had made some bad choices, but…hadn’t most people?

Moira’s decision-making hadn’t always been the best. Holding herself aloof from having friends was one of the things she now regretted. She was beyond thankful, every day, for Jory out in California, who’d somehow slipped under her barriers, teaching her what a normal male in her life could look like, She also felt blessed to be part of Downeast SWAT, where she’d found a group who refused to give up on her.

And then there was Welker…

How could she even put into words what that man meant? She looked at him now, poised in the doorway, and mouthed, “I love you”.

Welker’s body relaxed and his face grew soft. “I love you, too,” he answered quietly. “You okay?”

Moira nodded, and Welker turned and walked away.

Moira’s eyes grew moist.

That’s what made her man so very special. He trusted her to make her own decisions, to rise or fall on her own judgment, and that meant everything to Moira.

“I’m trying hard, now, Moira.” Her father was still talking. “I really am. I’m righting a few wrongs with several people. I’m opening myself up to knowing I was an asshole, and I’m hoping there’s a place—even if it’s a very small spot—in your life for your repentant old man.”

Moira wasn’t going to be able to forgive him that easily, but she was willing to try, especially because Tom Bliss was now behaving outside of everything she’d ever known about him, and he’d been the first to reach out.

“I think,” she told him honestly, “it’ll be a work-in-progress, but it’s not out of the question that we might be able to find and salvage something.”

A sigh of relief sounded over the line. “That’s all I can ask for, Moira. Thank you.” His tone was sincere, and Moira new she’d done the right thing.

Two minutes later, after a few parting platitudes, Moira hung up, and stretched. It was time to find Welker. Stalk him perhaps, and take him by surprise.

The surgeon, earlier in the day, had given Moira the all clear, and it had been far too long.

She was ready to get naked with her man again.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Moira couldn’t remember ever feeling so content.

She snuggled further into Welker’s chest as she sat on his lap in the big Adirondak chair on the Sothard’s enormous back deck. She was thoroughly enjoying the party that Margaret, Mrs. Sothard, and Bette Vestore had cooked up to celebrate her recovery. And when she said cooked, she meant cooked. The three women, with the help of Sabira, had outdone themselves in the food department, and although they hadn’t let a pouting Moira help, they told her she could participate, food-wise, in as many future get-togethers as she wanted.

And she wanted. She’d make the time, even if she had to juggle things around.

Moira had been back at work for a week now under Pickenstahl’s supervision. The man had been named temporary sheriff until an election could be held to determine a permanent one. But to tell the truth, he actually hadn’t been that much of a prick. He was pretty nearly behaving himself; judiciously weighing his censure of everyone “under” him, including her. Moira assumed that was partially due to what she had been through at the hands of Gladstone and the MC, but mostly—she figured—it was because he’d seen where the deposed sheriff’s arrogance had gotten him, and wanted to avoid those pitfalls until the title was officially his.

Either way, it was nice to go to work and be comfortable for a change, even if the reprieve was temporary.

Which was another thing…

Her comfort level at work.

Moira had, over the past ten years, doubted that she’d ever feel as close to her colleagues in the sheriff’s department as she did to her SWAT team, but those intrepid officers were now determined to prove her wrong. First, they’d thrown a welcome-back, donut breakfast for her upon her return, and had then vowed to include her in all their after-work plans from now on, whether she liked it or not. It was a huge change, and Moira knew it was mostly due to the amendments she’d made; stripping down the barbed-wire with which she’d previously surrounded herself. It was an eye-opener to realize that the isolation she’d suffered had all been on her.

Her new approaches, thanks to Welker? Smile more. Engage with people. Remain open to everything.

She looked around the vast yard, now, seeing those co-workers all here, mingling and laughing with her SWAT team. Yeah. She’d been dead wrong. They were all a really good bunch.

It was amazing, but there had to be nearly a hundred people present, if Moira’s counting skills were on point, and they were all here for her.

Even a few of the Sothard’s military sons were enjoying the festivities, having been able to get leave for the party. Mason and Kyle had clearly put pressure on their sibs to join the end-of-summer blowout.

The chief of police in Orono, Chief Ildavorg who’d recovered from his gallbladder surgery, along with his wife and son were also on premise enjoying the festivities, as well as a handful of people from Texas who’d helped SWAT so much over the past year.

Hayden and Boone would be sorely missed after becoming such dear friends, but they were set to depart right after the party wrapped up, along with their buddies from home, Crash and Adeline, Quint and Corrie.

---