“Whatever you need to know or understand about Declan,” Colleen said, “this is the group to ask.”
She held Colleen’s gaze, as warm as any of them in the room. “You’ve all noticed that he’s changed.”
There was a chorus of agreement.
“Do you think it’s a lasting change?” she whispered. “It was a long twenty years. And this has been a short week or so. I’m scared. I’m an…attacher.”
“So true,” Molly agreed. “She almost wouldn’t give Danny back.”
“I don’t want to get hurt.”
For a moment, no one said a word. Then Gramma Finnie stepped closer and joined the small group in the center of the room.
“Lass, what you are is a nurturer. Pure and simple. You have a magical touch with animals and…” Gramma smiled. “Declan Mahoney. The person you need to trust is yourself and your glorious healing power.”
“Oh.” Evie put her hand to her chest. “Thank you, Gramma.”
Yiayia took a step closer, the blue dress in her arms. “Everyone in this room will tell you Declan’s heart is gold. You know that.”
She nodded. “Pure gold.”
“And real gold is tested, refined, and purified by fire,” Yiayia said. “Believe me when I say people can and do change after they’ve been through the worst of times. But sometimes it takes some intervention. And I don’t mean us. It’s you.”
“That’s so sweet, Yiayia.”
The older woman looked skyward. “I’ve made Finnie blunt, and she’s made me sweet. Kind of.”
As they all laughed, Colleen took Evie’s hands. “I can tell you this, honey. Joe always thought our son would marry you. And he—and I—very much liked that idea.”
Evie bit her lip as if that could stop the tears from welling. It didn’t, so she reached out and hugged Colleen, breaking contact only at the sound of the doorbell chime.
“That’s Nellie and company,” she said, reluctantly letting go.
“So I guess we can all back off this poor woman.” Ella threw an arm around Evie. “Hold off the Historical Society long enough for us to pick our dresses.”
“I’ll mow down anyone who tries to take my periwinkle silk,” Yiayia announced, clutching her dress.
Feeling light and loved, Evie started out, but Sadie snagged her arm. “Um, I meant to warn you about something.”
Was one woman in this room going to try to talk her out of a relationship with Declan? “Yes?”
“I’m speaking in my official capacity as the co-chief of staff and de facto mayor,” Sadie said. “The Historical Society petitioned the town council to reinstate the Founder’s Day parade.” She inched closer. “With you and Max in the lead convertible. So, please say yes when they ask you.”
Evie let out a soft laugh of surrender. “How could I say no?” She looked past Sadie to the room full of women. “To any of you?”
The cheer echoed in the hall and followed her all the way down the stairs.
* * *
“Declan! I didn’t think you’d be here today.” Owen Winkler’s booming voice reached into Declan’s office and made him swear silently. He wanted to get in and out, with one goal—to return the complete set of investigation files and put the matter to bed.
“Yep, I’m here. Do you need anything, Chief?”
Without being asked, the big man took a chair, cringing as he sat. “New knees.”
“Spoken like a true former linebacker.” Declan stuffed the last of the files into the brown cardboard box. “Plus, I think you can buy those now.”
Chief chuckled. “I might have to.” He pointed to the box. “Gloriana House?”
Nodding, Declan dropped into his desk chair, because conversations with this man were never brief or casual. “Yes, sir.”
“I saw you signed them out.” His ebony eyes slid over Declan’s face. “What brought that on?”
“If you don’t know that I’ve been hanging out with Evie Hewitt and spending time at her house, then you would be the last person in Bitter Bark to have heard the news.”
He laughed and pointed a meaty finger. “Just checkin’ to see if you’d be real with me, Mahoney.”
“Always, Chief.”
His smile faded a little as he rubbed a hand over his shiny dome. “What’d you find out?”
“Nothing,” he said. “Case is closed, as it should be after an investigation that thorough.”
Owen leaned back, crossing his arms. “I’m sorry I never met your dad, Declan.”
“So am I. You’d have liked each other.”
“I certainly like his sons,” he said. “If they tell me anything about the man, my guess is he was wise, kind, and a skilled firefighter.”
Declan nodded his thanks. “He was all that and more.”
Chief leaned forward and tapped the box. “I’ve heard he wasn’t one to make mistakes on the job.”
The comment reached down and twisted Declan’s gut. Forget the lighter fluid. Not knowing what had caused his dad to make a decision that cost him his life was what really unsettled him. He’d get over it—he had to—but it was like a low-grade hum of discomfort now.
“But as we all know, it only takes one mistake,” Declan replied. “And you can never know what’s going to happen in a fire.”
Chief nodded, as if he knew Declan needed to make the statement.
“You know what might help you?”
He didn’t know he needed help, but leveled his gaze at his boss. “Six more personnel reports on your desk by tomorrow?”
Chief gave a hearty laugh. “Well, other than that, of course. You should talk to some of the men who were there.”
“I have, the ones that are still around. Dad’s partner on that fire is also gone, as you know.”
“But there are others. Have you reviewed the list to see who’s still in town, or who you could call?”
No, and he didn’t want to. He’d made a promise. “I haven’t.”
“I can get a list for you.”
“That’s all right, Chief, I—”
“It could help you.”
Again, he honestly didn’t need help. “It’s fine.”
“No, it’s not fine. You’re doubting your
