Page 96 of Her Wild Coast Promise

“Of course,” he answers. No hesitation. Just confidence and trust. I breathe this in and send him a note of gratitude through the phone lines. Later, I’ll be sure to tell him how solid his support makes me feel. If I did so now, he’d really start worrying.

“Thanks, brother.” We end the call and I refocus on driving.

Cora exhales a slow breath. “Tomorrow I should be feeling better.”

I cover her hand with mine. “We’ll see, okay?”

“I’m glad you won that debate fair and square,” she says.

I give her a look. “What other way would I win?”

Her eyelids are heavy and her face has turned soft, like she’s drowsy. “Hmm?”

Maybe it’s the medication, but my curiosity is firing. “You said you’re glad I won fair and square.”

“Absolutely.” She yawns.

I turn into my neighborhood, keeping my eyes on the road but my ears perked for more.

“Oh, Rosie’s with your neighbors. She hasn’t been herself lately. I think she misses you. She doesn’t want to leave the house.”

Now I’m convinced Cora’s loopy from whatever they gave her at the hospital. “I’m glad you set that up.”

While I navigate to my driveway, I make a mental note to call the Robsons and ask them to bring Rosie over later.

After driving carefully up my driveway to avoid any dips or bumps, I pull into the garage. Cora’s eyes flutter open when I hurry around to her side.

“I can walk,” she protests when I lift her up.

I shut the door with my heel and start toward the house. “I know you can, but I’m taking care of you, and that means getting a ride.”

She wraps an arm around me and sighs. “Okay.”

Inside the house, I carry her to my bedroom and set her down.

“Can I shower?” she asks, wrinkling her nose. “I smell like the hospital.”

“Of course.” I reach out my hands and pull her gently to her feet, then lead her into the bathroom. “Need my help?”

Her smile is genuine, but sad. “Could you get my PJs from my room?”

“On it,” I say and hurry back down the hall. It’s weird to not have Rosie bounding up the stairs with me, eager to assist. I think about what Cora said, that Rosie hasn’t wanted to leave the house. That can’t be right. Rosie loves our runs and car rides.

Inside Cora’s room, I go to the dresser next to the window. I grab a set of matching PJs. On the way back down the hall, the view out of Cora’s office window momentarily blinds me thanks to a beam of golden light setting behind the distant mountains. I wish Cora was up here to see it, but by the time I got her up her here, the sun will have disappeared. As I move past the door frame, something on Cora’s desk catches my attention. I step closer, then stare at the picture and the ring on the man’s finger.

My God.

When I reach for my phone to call Brian and Hunter, something in the yard below catches my eye. Something that shouldn’t be there.

Several loose ends come together at once, and I start running.

Please let me get there in time. Please, please, please.

Down the steps as fast as I can go.

“Cora!” I yell as I’m rounding the banister.

From deep in my bathroom, her reply sounds so calm.

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