Page 8 of Island Homecoming

“Well with a little luck,” Nina patted her mother’s hand, “the sharks got the lot of them and no one will bother us.”

“Then why keep that boat and all the drugs under lock and key? They’re expecting trouble,” Roxy grumbled.

“Chief Caldwell knows what he’s doing,” Nash said, echoing his dad’s earlier support. “He works hard to keep the island clean. We need to trust him.”

“Nash is right,” Nina said before steering the conversation in a more upbeat direction. By the time they’d finished with dessert—Nash’s favorite coconut cake—his mother’s normal cheer had returned.

“Are you worried about crime increasing on the island?” Nina asked as he drove her back to her place. She lived in the apartment above her shop on Central.

“Not particularly,” he replied. “We have a good security setup at the nursery.”

“Nothing at your house?”

He shook his head. “You worried about me?”

“A little,” she admitted. “Tourism is on the rise. More visitors are great for the economy but it does mean more potential for trouble.”

“Have there been problems in town?”

“No.” Her fingers laced in her lap. “The Chamber of Commerce suggested we upgrade our security systems. Add a neighborhood watch kind of thing. All voluntary, but…”

“You don’t like change any more than Mom,” he interjected.

“That’s not entirely true,” she protested. “I can adapt. I just really like what the island stands for.”

“It’s a good community,” Nash agreed. “And good security doesn’t take anything away from that.”

Nina sighed. “We’ve just been so sheltered. I like sheltered.”

Nash chuckled. “Not a bad thing. I guess we’re the generation to make sure the island stays that way.”

“Good point. Are you headed straight home?”

“Probably not.” He was feeling restless. Maybe it was the drug seizure or thinking of cops in general. Randy’s dock wasn’t far from the nursery. “I may swing by the nursery and put in some time.”

“Can I join you?”

The comment set off warning bells. “What’s going on, Nina?”

“Nothing,” she insisted. “I’m mulling some ideas for the new contract. It might be smart to incorporate more greenery and a nature-scape approach at the Hargrave place. I want my clients to feel like the florals are unique and on brand for each site.”

“Not a problem for you,” he assured her. She had too much creativity.

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

Instead of heading toward the town center, he turned toward the nursery. “Let’s go see what inspires you.”

“Thanks, Nash. You’re the best.” She grinned.

“You always say that when you get your way.”

“Maybe,” she allowed. “Want me to say it more often?”

Nash shook his head. He had the best sister on the planet. Besides, if she was hanging close to him, it would be easier for her to open up about whatever was really on her mind.

Chapter 3

Jesswalkedoutofthe Brookwell Island police station and across the parking lot, not happy at all with the gun and the lock box she was carrying in addition to a tote with her new uniform shirts. Better than being stuck in a holding cell in Georgia, yet not how she’d wanted to spend her time off.

---