Page 72 of Sheltered By Love

Chapter Twelve

Felicity

As I step outside, the aftermath of the winds is visible everywhere down the street.

In my front yard, the hedge is twisted, the letterbox looks askew, and garbage is scattered all over.

I don’t have time to start the clean-up now, so I pick my way past it all, so I can make it to the Outrigger on time.

As I pick my way out of Ocean Grove, there’s an odd mixture of debris thrown over the roads and sidewalks.

Aside from broken branches and in some instances, trees, sand, silt, and a mixture of construction materials, a fishing net, and a few stray lobster crates are strewn all over the roads.

A lot of the stores are open, but some are closed still. One has a small tree piercing the front window, making me wonder how the Outrigger has fared.

I’m interrupted in my thoughts when a thin woman with unnaturally red hair, probably another victim of Nicki’s salon, spots me from across the street and holds up a hand in greeting.

“It’s Felicity, isn’t it? I’m May. Noah’s momma.”

I smile, and as nice as it is to meet her officially I hope she doesn’t hold me up too long.

Riley Jones doesn’t seem like the type of person who likes to be kept waiting.

“How are you? How is Noah?”

Her lips tug upward. “He’s in the library reading love, so he’s happy as a clam at high tide. How about you? The wind’s always tough the first few times you experience them,” she says.

I grimace. “It was awful. I thought I was going mad.”

She chuckles. “I’m sure Zane would have done his best to keep you sane.”

My stomach tightens. “Um, sorry?”

She pats my arm and gives me a conspiratorial look. “Word spreads fast around here. Plenty of single men in Blueskin Bay, but not a lot of women. Especially not women as pretty as you are.”

I blush and seem to lose the ability to speak.

“Of course, now you’ve been seen with one of the Reid boys, no one would dare.”

I swallow, my curiosity overcoming my embarrassment. “Zane’s that well respected?”

“Ha! Respected. Feared. Take your pick. But if any other local man thinks you’re Zane’s, they’ll stay well clear.”

Inwardly I cringe at that. I’m not Zane’s. Not one bit. But at least this odd arrangement seems to have unexpected benefits.

May carries on and gives me a wistful smile. “Of course, my sons don’t pay Zane or any of the Reid men much heed. Not for a long time now.”

That’s news to me. As far as I knew Noah was her only son. But there’s so much I don’t know about the Bay and the people who live in it.

“Oh, I didn’t know you had more boys?”

Her eyes drift across the street as if searching for something, or someone. “They’re all grown and out at sea. But one day…”

There’s something in the way her shoulders droop and her voice tightens that makes me wonder why she’s so sad, but I lose my chance when a familiar voice interrupts our conversation. “There you are!”

I spin around just as Nicki lets out a half shriek as she throws her arms around me. “You’re okay. I was worried about you.”

I let her squeeze me to an inch of my life, before asking her a question I’ve been dreading. “I’m okay. How’s Viola?”

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