Page 138 of Fire Island
Timothy is in custody on the Coast Guard boat. Thorin is...
Sleepin’ with the fishes.
I chuckle a laugh into Em’s chest.
A throat clears behind me, and I turn back to find Cal.
“I’m taking her home, Em. The police can come take our statements or whatever tomorrow.”
“I’ll call it in. The crew will secure the hut.” He slaps Cal on the shoulder and gives Reese a nod as he walks back toward the small inflatable powerboat he made shore with. “Be checking in tomorrow. Iris won’t let me come alone.”
Cal waves him off, and Reese picks his way along the rocky ledge toward Firefly. Taking my hand, Cal leads me back toward the boat. Once over the jagged, slippery rocks, I step up Firefly, never more grateful for her waiting here for us than now.
“Watch your step, baby girl,” Cal says, guiding me into the boat.
Reese leans on the doorframe to the cabin, his arms crossed as he watches us board. Of course he does. Apparently, the McCrearys’ comfort zone is leaning against a doorframe. His eyebrow raises with the name Cal uses for me. “We’re going to need to change that name.”
Cal looks at his son. “Would you prefer mom?”
I freeze, laughter flying upward and crashing into my pursed lips.
“Urgh, no... Whatever.” He rolls off the doorframe and drops onto the bench seat.
“Not one syllable, remember?” Cal warns.
“Fine, whatever.”
“Then, my son,” Cal says, ruffling his hair as he walks past and to the console. “I’ll call my wife whatever the hell I choose to.”
My wife.
My focus alternates between father and son. Reese slouches in the chair, acting more like a moody teenager than the young twentysomething he is.
Good lord, the McCreary words are sinking their hooks in early.
I smile at the two of them.
Never before have I been so exhausted and so damn happy all in the length of one heartbeat.
The lighthouse comes into view mere minutes later.
Home.
Although, to be fair, Callum is my home. And he always will be.
He was willing to die for me.
From the day I stepped foot on this island, my grumpy, stoic, kindhearted lighthouse keeper’s been taking care of me. Livvy sent me here to heal. I didn’t only do that, I came full circle. I reconnected my heart and soul in the most magnificent reunion ever.
Through a sunset in a dead-engine floating boat, through a storm, through hunting and gathering, through a festival, through losing us to retrograde amnesia, through rerouting my career, through people coming back from the dead...
Now, after the rise and fall of the one thing, the one man, who haunted me for years, I am free.
Happy.
Free.
Home.
