Page 40 of The House Beyond the Dunes

She chuckles. “That’s the way it is this far from the city.”

I’m used to the constant light from office buildings, navy yards, cars, streetlamps, and twenty-four-hour drugstores. “Thanks for letting me return to the house. I’ll be out of here as soon as the tide recedes.”

She glances toward the roaring waves rolling to within feet of us. “That may or may not happen today. There’s more rain on the way, and the cattle guard is flooded.”

Another night in the house shrouded in cold darkness and restless energy. “Are you sure I can’t get out?”

“Yep.”

“Right.”

“Stay as long as you need. There’s no rush.”

“Thanks.”

“Are you doing okay?” She meets my gaze.

“Bruised and banged up, but nothing that won’t heal.” My neck isn’t broken, and my skull isn’t shattered. “How about you?”

“Don’t worry about me.” She regards me for a beat. “You know the fall isn’t your fault, right?”

Why would she feel the need to say that? “I know. Are people saying otherwise?”

“People gossip.”

It’s not people I’m worried about but Detective Becker. If he’s fishing for a crime, he might scoop up enough to mold into a case. “I suppose I can’t stop the gossip.”

“If it’s worth anything, Kyle would hate anyone talking badly about you. He really liked you. When he called and said he was bringing a guest, I could hear the joy in his voice.”

I’m glad I made him happy, even for a few weeks. “Thank you for saying that.”

Devon brushes a damp curl from her face. “I imagine this is the last place you want to be right now. I’d have brought your things to you.”

“I appreciate it. But I needed to be here. The fall didn’t seem real until I walked back through the front door.”

“TV doctors call it closure, right?”

“I suppose.” Nothing feels closed. In fact, it feels wide open, even more uncertain.

Her chest inflates with a deep inhale, and her eyes seem to look deep within me. “Do you have everything you need?”

My stomach clenches at the idea of staying here another night. “I have more than enough. Thank you.”

“Kyle was always particular about his must-haves. But he was always like that when we were growing up.”

“You’ve known him a long time?”

She grins. “Since we were little kids. We both grew up around here.”

That’s new information. Why didn’t I know that? Seems like Kyle would have mentioned that fact at some point over the last few weeks. “He always claimed the Norfolk and Virginia Beach area was home base.”

Devon’s eyes narrow. “I know he said that, but this is where it all started.”

“I’m sure he’d have told me sooner or later.” The lie slips out easily. “What was he like as a kid?”

“Terrific.” She beams when she talks about him. “Smarter than all of us put together. Kind of our leader.”

My sadness, grief, or whatever you want to call it, feels paltry. My three-week relationship with Kyle doesn’t compare to Devon’s thirty-plus years of history with him. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

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