Antonio’s hand rested on Serena’s shoulder. “Are you talking about Senator Wellsley? The one who died in a plane crash?”
Christine nodded again. “I was terrified. Jim knew there was a traitor in his organization, and I had no choice but to leave. Then the trial happened and your life turned upside down. Isaac, bless his heart, knew a couple of people who worked for the FBI, so I knew when you went into witness protection. I’ve kept my eye on you as best I could from a distance, baby.”
“How’d you know to contact me?” Antonio threw the question out, and Christine leaned back in her chair, smoothing a hand along her tailored skirt. She was dressed like a modern professional woman, with a tailored suit, narrow pencil skirt and black pumps. She might have walked straight out of any office and nobody would have thought about it twice.
“My…friend, Isaac. Did I mentioned he has a few friends in the FBI? He said there was an increased push on to find Sharon, especially since Jim was getting his case appealed. There seemed to be a lot of activity in the Austin office, searching for her. I have a few contacts of my own, friends who work in the intelligence community, in a not-so-visible fashion. So we kept our attention on Austin. Heard about you being assigned the case.”
“Seems like a lot of coincidences, so again, why me?”
“You piqued my interest when you visited Jonathan Drury’s house. The little piss-ant might be a good lawyer, but he’s not the smartest cookie in the jar. When you started sniffing around him, I knew something happened. I—took a gamble when I called you. My sources said you were reliable. He did mention you have quite a colorful family. I think the Boudreaus impressed him.”
“You trusted me with the evidence. Why?”
“Because when I asked, you were honest with me. Reluctant, but honest when I asked about my daughter. I needed somebody I could trust. My gut told me you’d do the right thing.”
Serena leaned forward, inhaling the subtle scent of her mother’s perfume. It was the same one she’d worn when Serena was little, and it evoked memories of happier times when she was young. “What happens now? Where will you go?”
“I’ll have to stick around, be available to the feds for a while. After? I don’t know. I hope you’ll want to see me.” Her words trailed off, more a question than a statement.
“Of course I want to see you. You’re my mom.” Serena put her arms around her mother, hugged her, and sighed when her mother wrapped her arms around Serena, squeezing her back. “You can come to Shiloh Springs. It’s a lovely town, and I know there are some people who’ll want to meet you.”
“More Boudreaus?” her mother quipped.
Serena laughed before replying. “Oh, yeah, more Boudreaus.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
EPILOGUE
Brody leaned against the wooden pole of the pergola, and watched the assembled group around him. The weather was beautiful, the sun shining down on the happy couple. The family had invited practically the whole town to celebrate Rafe and Tessa’s engagement. He wasn’t surprised Rafe popped the question. His brother had been head-over-heels over the redheaded schoolteacher from the moment she’d moved to Shiloh Springs. Theirs had been more or less a whirlwind courtship, fraught with danger and intrigue, but true love prevailed in the end. His big brother was getting the happily ever after he deserved.
His mind wandered back to his job, where it seemed to be most of the time anymore. The fire department was down a couple of men, one with a broken right leg and right arm, and another from a concussion. He needed every able-bodied man, because somebody was intentionally starting fires around Shiloh Springs. So far, things had been contained, though after the last one, he suspected arson. No one had been injured in the first blaze, though a few of the buildings had major property damage. If it continued, he’d have to call in an arson investigator from either Austin or Dallas, because so far he hadn’t been able to piece together the few clues he had to point to a suspect. But he wasn’t giving up. He knew he needed to move fast, get a handle on things before somebody ended up hurt—or worse—in the blazes being set.
He shook himself free from thoughts of work and straightened, watching Rafe and Tessa, Rafe’s arm around Tessa’s waist. Now wasn’t the time to dwell on work. This was a party, festivities for the happy couple, with dancing, food and family. The food part was over, and now the party was ramping up. A local band played country music in the background. A few couples filled the center of the wooden deck, swaying to the music. Rafe and Tessa, Dad and Momma, even the Fergusons were out on the dance floor, though they barely moved, simply holding each other in their arms. Off to the side, he watched Antonio tug Serena into his arms, her face alight with laughter.
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen his brother so happy. He’d taken the long road to get there, and it had been a bumpy trip, but like Rafe and Tessa, they’d made it out to the other side. Antonio was moving back home, which made his dad and momma happier than he’d seen them in a long time.
“Rafe and Tessa, they’re so happy, they practically glow.”
Brody slid his arm around his little sister’s shoulders. Nica had arrived that afternoon, making it home from college. She’d claimed she couldn’t believe her brother was getting engaged, and wanted to see for herself before
