Page 76 of All Along The Watchtower

The front door opened before we’d even managed to climb out of the car. Keeley made a beeline for me, and I hunkered down and braced myself for my pup’s enthusiastic greeting.

“Hey, baby girl. Who’s a good puppy? Have you been a good girl?”

She barked as if to say, “Duh.”

Peyton was right behind her, and as soon as I straightened, she pulled me into a big hug. It was the first contact she’d initiated. After a moment of shocked immobilization, I squeezed her back.

“Thanks for loaning me your dad.”

She gave me a funny look at that. Maybe because she hadn’t quite reached a point where she thought of Ford as her dad?

Mama Flo came next, wrapping me in a floral-scented hug. “How’s Ed?”

“Still in a medically induced coma for another week or two, but we’re past the initial crisis period, and the doctors say he’s responding well. They’re more confident in a positive prognosis for recovery.” I was really anxious about leaving him alone at the hospital, but I needed to check on the Brewhouse and make plans for a longer-term absence, if necessary.

Mimi brought up the rear, smelling of her usual blend of baking and art supplies. “That’s good to hear, sugar.” She gave me a hearty squeeze, then pulled back to study my face. She stared long enough that I wanted to fidget.

At last, she nodded in apparent satisfaction. “I’m glad y’all fixed things.”

In my periphery, I saw Peyton elbow Ford. “I told you apologizing would make a difference.”

My mouth fell open. Was I wearing a freaking sign? Did I have some kind of invisible tattoo across my forehead? With a vague sense of panic, I looked at Ford. He just offered a sheepish shrug.

Calm your tits, Cartwright. “Fixing things” does not inherently mean “jumped each other’s bones.” She just means she can tell we’re friends again.

Apparently not in need of my input, Mimi just wrapped an arm around me and began hustling me into the house. “Come on inside, baby. I’ve got a batch of cookies I made just this morning and a fresh pot of coffee.”

It was ten o’clock in the morning. I didn’t exactly need cookies. But that didn’t stop me from asking, “Peanut butter?”

“I know they’re you’re favorite.”

They were, and damn if that didn’t make my eyes sting with emotion as I got led into the house. Ford moved close enough to press a hand to my lower back, a silent show of support as we all got settled around the table in the kitchen nook with the aforementioned coffee and cookies.

“Have the doctors indicated how long Ed’s recovery might take?” Mimi asked.

I clutched one of the hand-thrown mugs between my palms, soaking up the warmth. “Not yet. There are too many factors they don’t know. It’ll depend on what kind of shape he’s in when he wakes up. But his doctor is more optimistic now than when he came in, so that feels like a win.”

“Absolutely,” Mama Flo declared. “Of course, we’ll help however we can.”

“I appreciate that. Truly.” Because they weren’t obligated to help. No one was, really.

“I’ve been working on our project this week.”

I blinked at Peyton. “Project?”

“The treasure hunt,” she reminded me. “I gathered up all his notes from the Brewhouse the night he… well, when he went to the hospital. I didn’t want anything to happen to them, and I figured he’d want something to talk about during his recovery.”

Sweet, thoughtful kid. It took me a minute to get past the thickness in my throat. “Thanks. He’ll love that.”

Beneath the table, Ford settled a hand on my knee and squeezed. The touch grounded me.

“I think we could both do with a little distraction. Any news on the investigation?”

Mama Flo shook her head. “Not really. The police haven’t been able to determine whether the break-in at O’Connell’s offices and the attack on Lindsay Messina had anything to do with Galef or not.”

I set my mug down with a clatter. “Lindsay was attacked? When? Is she okay?”

“She’s fine,” Mimi assured me. “A little bump on the head. Mild concussion. It happened last week, the night before you left the island. Somebody broke in and searched the office. She apparently forgot something at work and surprised whoever it was.”

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