Page 101 of Sheltered By Love

Epilogue

Three weeks later…

Felicity

As we walk toward The Outrigger Nicki looks at me. “Are you sad about losing Riley’s contract?”

I’m a little distracted as I answer. After three weeks of calm, today seems like a storm has been forecast and I’m not sure I’m ready for it.

“I was. But I’m happy to keep my business small. I’m not sure I’m ready for the big time anyway. Too much publicity,” I say.

Zane’s fingers lace with mine as if giving me courage. “Sure, you want to work with Thelma? Not sure if I can compete with all the guys in the books you two read,” he says.

We both laugh, and I send him a look that reassures him he’s better than anything I could find between the pages of a book.

Nicki spots a couple of her friends, and it still makes a surge of warmth flow through me as they smile and wave in my direction.

The crowd is larger than I expected. My hands are shaking and I’m so nervous, only politeness has kept me from refusing to attend the gathering outside Jax’s restaurant.

A makeshift podium has been erected in the parking lot.

Everyone I’ve met over the past three weeks who’s offered me a kind word, or a scathing comment about the media, is in attendance.

Among them are Noah, his mom, his surly father, the owner of the Bed and Breakfast, Maggie from the pet shop, and most importantly to me, Viola is here, seated, and with a cigarette already in her hand.

Blueskin Bay has no Mayor, but it has a town committee so the chairman, a short balding man with stubby hands, has everyone’s full attention as he speaks about the restoration of the boating club’s roof and the cost of storm damage.

We’re right on time, but as Zane and I arrive way too many eyes turn my way.

I let go of Zane’s hand, only to find pressure applied to the small of my back. “Steady,” he says quietly.

Heart pounding painfully, and palms starting to sweat, I’m regretting showing up at what is my first public event since the disastrous auction night.

As the chairman winds up, a splattering of applause gives me a warning I can no longer back out of this.

Garrett Reid thanks the chairman and doesn’t waste any time. “Thanks for coming out folks, I know we’re all busy so I’ll keep this brief.”

He clears his throat and looks around at the faces gathered. “First an update on the break-ins. Thanks to a joint operation with the FBI, six people have been arrested in connection with the break-ins not just here but in Carey’s Creek and Turtle Bay,” he says.

The crowd whoops and cheers as Garrett continues, “I want to thank my team for the countless hours they put in on this case. But I also need to thank Levi, Jaxson, Zane, and Blueskin Bay’s new librarian Felicity Michaels,” he says.

My cheeks blaze to life as everyone raises a cheer and starts clapping.

“Ms. Michaels not only subdued one of the burglars, but she also gave up her home and somehow managed not only to save my brother’s life but to make him a little less unbearable,” he says.

Everyone but Zane laughs, though there’s a half smile on his face as Garrett beckons me to him.

My feet refuse to move, I’m rooted into the sand, but Zane’s firm push and Viola’s cry of ‘Come on girl!’ somehow get me moving.

Even though I knew it was coming, I’m still disbelieving when Garrett looks across at me.

“On behalf of The Blueskin Bay Police Force, the wider Blueskin Bay area, and its residents, I want to offer our heartfelt thanks to the Bay’s newest permanent resident, Felicity Michaels,” Garrett says.

The applause is so loud I flinch as Garrett shakes my sweaty hand and slaps me on the back. “Can you say something?” he says in my ear.

This was the part I was dreading. I’m not good at public speaking at the best of times, but I promised I would, so I accept the framed certificate and look out at the crowd.

“Um, I’m not really sure what to say, I came here hoping for anonymity but what I got was the opposite,” I squeak out.

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