All Is Bright Read Free Page B

men weren’t exactly breaking down her door. It would be a dream come true to have a real family and a loving husband who was always a constant companion.
    Delilah zipped the dress back up. Standing at the window, she saw a familiar truck coming toward the inn. “It’s the sheriff.”
    Elin joined her. “He probably has more questions about what happened yesterday. I’ll get out of here and let you talk to him. I asked Marc to look into it with his FBI resources as well, and he said he would if Tom needs anything from him.”
    Delilah followed her to the entry where Elin put on her coat. The doorbell rang as Delilah reached for the knob, and her pulse kicked when she looked up into the sheriff’s kind brown eyes. “Hi, Tom.”
    His gaze went to Elin and back again. “Hope I’m not disturbing you.”
    â€œNot at all. Elin is just leaving. Come on in.”
    Elin greeted him, then headed for her car while he brought the scent of the sea and cool air into the foyer with him. Delilah closed the door. He would want to take up where they left off last night. Where could she take him to talk? Guests were in the living room, and the staff was continuing to prepare dinner so the kitchen was out.
    â€œYou mind walking along the beach? I know it’s a little nippy today, but we have a full house inside.”
    He shrugged. “Born and raised on this island. A little December wind won’t put my nose out of joint.”
    She pulled on her coat and tugged a knit cap down over her ears before stepping out to the porch. The expansive space looked out on the coastline, and she never tired of watching the sea. What was she even going to say to Tom? She’d worked hard to keep her secrets out of island talk, but she couldn’t hide any longer.
    She said nothing as she led the way out toward the water. Gulls swooped and squawked overhead, and the outgoing tide had deposited kelp and shells on the sand. The cool breeze tugged at her hat.
    She stooped and picked up a rock, then flung it into the whitecaps. “I suppose you want to know why I ran off like that last night.”
    â€œIt’d be a good start. I won’t judge you for anything, Delilah. Nothing you could say would shock me. This is something from your past, isn’t it?”
    A boulder formed in her throat, and she nodded. “I’d hoped it wasn’t, but I think so.” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “I was so young and stupid. My parents died when I was ten, and I was in one Maine foster home after another. I met Pete when I was eighteen, and all I really wanted to do was to get out from under the worst of the homes I’d been in. I knew Pete had a drug problem, but I thought I could help him.”
    Her laugh was harsh and forced in her ears. “Stupid, I know. I was with him for five years before he got picked up for selling heroin. I testified against him, and he went to prison. I knew he or his cronies would want revenge, so I took off and landed here.”
    â€œSo you think he’s out of prison now and trying to kill you in retaliation?”
    â€œI don’t know what else it could be.” The thought of seeing Pete again filled her with terror. He’d changed after he got hooked on heroin, and she’d felt his fist on more than one occasion.
    Tom’s hand came down on her forearm, and he turned her around to face him. “I’ll see what I can find out about his whereabouts. Don’t you worry though, Delilah. I’ll keep you safe.”
    With Tom’s stalwart form beside her, she felt safe and protected. She searched his gaze and nodded. “You’re a good man, Tom.”
    Something sparked between them, but she spun away so she wouldn’t have to identify it.

T HREE
    T OM ’ S OFFICE WAS AS FAMILIAR AS HIS FAVORITE N IKES . I T held a battered desk and a metal filing cabinet, both overflowing with stacks of paper. He knew