Page 105 of To Catch a Thief

“The oak can’t be saved?” Carolina asked.

“No.” Sorrow darkened Bess’s face. “It’s over a hundred years old. I hope Savannah didn’t lose too many.”

Daniel pulled out a chain saw. Kaden came around from the courtyard with another one. Daniel, Kaden and Sage huddled together.

“Let’s do this.” Daniel yanked the chain saw cord.

Kaden did the same. The saws coughed and caught. Tipping down safety glasses, the two men carved branches off the fallen tree.

Sage rejoined her. “They’ll cut off branches and we’ll pile them there.” He pointed to the sidewalk.

“Got it.”

Carolina tugged away smaller branches and added them to the growing pile. Neighbors joined them, talking about water leaking through windows and roofs. Another chain saw fired up.

If the damage was this bad here, what had happened on Tybee? Carolina chewed her lip, worried her mother had lost everything.

“What’s wrong?” Sage asked as they waited for Kaden to cut a waist-thick branch into manageable pieces.

“I hate not knowing what happened to Mamá’s house.”

“As soon as the roads are open, we’ll head down.”

“But you have to work, don’t you?”

“Office is closed.” He shook off his work gloves and cupped her face. “But even if it wasn’t, this is more important. You’re more important.”

Her heart pounded. She wanted to believe him. But what if he just couldn’t let go of what he deemed to be her mistakes? “Sage, we’ve had this conversation.”

“I was wrong.” He stepped so close she could feel the heat of his thighs. “I screwed up. You’re so honorable, more honorable than me on my high horse.”

“What are you saying?” She covered her trembling lips with her hand.

“You’re showing me what true honor is.” He waved around the street. “Here you are helping people when you could be inside with your mother.”

“That wouldn’t be right. Abby’s letting me stay for free. She’s done so much for me already.”

“She fired you. And you’re helping her. You’re helping all the Fitzgeralds.” He pulled her into a hug and whispered, “I can’t imagine my life without you. I can’t imagine not seeing your smile each day. I can’t let you go. So I’m going to fight for you. I love you.”

What? “I—”

“Hey, lovebirds,” Kaden called above the buzzing chain saws. “Got branches that need moving.”

* * *

CAROLINA BROKE FREE of Sage’s embrace and away from his gaze. She hurried around the massive branch and snatched up logs. Did he mean it? Did Sage really think she was living an honorable life?

Her goal was to survive. She never thought of honor. She thought of helping others, and right now that meant her sisters.

Thank goodness she couldn’t dwell on Sage’s words as they hauled, pulled and cleared half the street within an hour.

They took a break, sitting on the porch. Abby brought out water and lemonade. “How’s it going?”

“It’s so sad,” Carolina said. “All these beautiful trees.”

“It could have been worse.” Abby sighed. “Landfall was north of us. The rain wasn’t too heavy and it was only a tropical storm when it passed over.”

“Have they said anything about Tybee?” she asked.

“I haven’t heard.” Abby shook her head. “I checked on your mother. She’s doing fine.”

“Thanks.” She was amazed a Fitzgerald could treat her mother so kindly.

Bess sat next to Abby on the step. “How’s the courtyard cleanup going?”

“Nigel, Gray and I swept the paths,” Abby said. “We dumped everything next to your compost pile, but it’s a huge mound.”

Bess nodded. “I’ll deal with it.”

Sage sat next to Carolina, their legs touching.

Her body leaned into his. She wanted to believe what he’d said. Wanted to trust that he wouldn’t slash at her the way he’d done before and accuse her of having no honor.

But she couldn’t live waiting for the next shoe to drop. She had too many other worries.

“How often do you go through this?” Sage rested his arm behind Carolina.

She wasn’t strong enough to pull away from his comforting cocoon.

“We’ve been lucky,” Abby said. “Hurricanes don’t hit often.”

Kaden slammed back a glass of lemonade. “Back to work.”

“Thanks, Abby,” Carolina said.

“You’re welcome.” She called out, “Lunch in an hour.”

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