Page 23

23

LENNY

My parents, Calvin, and Eloise all sat at a table I spotted as I walked up. The smell of the clambake filled the air, mixing with the salt of the nearby sea. My stomach growled just thinking about it.

A flash stunned me for a second, and I blinked away the brightness from my eyes, realizing a Briarport Chronicle journalist was snapping photos of everyone entering the event.

I gave a smile to the journalist, and they nodded back.

Where was Stone?

We agreed to meet at the festival, but I didn’t see him anywhere. He promised to come, which meant he’d be there. There wasn’t a single doubt in my mind.

I walked over to join my family—the last time we’d been together was the dinner I’d run off from.

“Lenore,” my mother called. “Eloise was just telling us some of the names they’re considering for the baby.”

My sister-in-law smiled warmly at me, one of her hands resting on her tiny bump.

A tiny sting of sadness brushed against my heart, the feeling of having that same bump only a distant memory, but I was also overjoyed for her.

“Lenore is on that list, right?” I joked.

Laugh through the pain.

It was the only way I would survive. Push through, make the best of the situation. I didn’t deserve to continue to live in misery.

My brother laughed while Eloise punched him lovingly in the arm before giving me a gentle smile.

“I think Lenore would make a fantastic middle name,” she said and raised her brows toward my brother.

He scowled back at first, but eventually, her gave her a smile, which I knew meant she’d won that battle.

We talked and caught up on the past few weeks as people filtered in. Volunteers cooked, and some came by with bowls of melted butter to prepare for the clambake itself.

A movement caught my eye, and I spotted Stone walking nearby. I raised my hand and waved to him, catching his eye.

He reciprocated the wave and walked over quickly. By the time he made it over, I knew something was off.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, catching his nervous glances.

His gaze was avoidant, but no one else seemed to notice.

“It’s nothing,” he said, but I could tell it was a lot more than nothing.

I knew my family was within hearing range, so I dropped it. Grey had already made it abundantly clear he was not to include me in any more of the investigation, but to share and risk my family overhearing was even worse.

I gave him a smile, trying to signal I understood, that we could talk later. He grabbed my hand under the table in response.

For a while, my mother went on with baby questions, needing to know every last detail. I felt a bit bad for Eloise by the fourth or fifth round of interrogations. That was no small feat, getting through them all.

“I just don’t know where I’m supposed to learn this stuff,” Calvin complained. “There is far too much to remember.”

“You’ll get the hang of it faster than you’d think,” Stone said.

My head turned quickly toward him, surprised by the comment. I didn’t know he had any interest in babies, and my stomach started to turn, overthinking the comment.

Seeing the confused looks from the others, Stone chuckled warmly.“I have a younger sister,” he said to my parents. “I’ve been helping since she was a baby, so I guess I know a little bit about what it’s like to raise a newborn.”

I let out a sigh of relief, squashing the thoughts cruelly forming in my mind and only making me anxious.

“Then I’ll be coming to you with a million questions,” Calvin teased.

A smile grew across my face, and my heart warmed watching them. He fit right in with the rest of us.

“Does your sister live in Quantico?” my mother asked Stone.

His face fell, but only for a second. “No, she lives in California with my mom,” he said. “I’m hoping to go out there soon to visit.”

I knew by his voice how much he missed them. He told me he hadn’t seen them since before everything happened to Blythe. My heart ached for him.

“Len has never been to California,” my mom pointed out.

I wanted to melt on the spot, completely and utterly embarrassed by her words. I knew she was playing matchmaker.

“I suppose I’ll just have to take her with me,” Stone said confidently, and my entire body just about caught on fire.

I glanced to him, and he gave me a genuine smile.

So he meant it?

I didn’t have time to sort through all the feelings there. Nothing more had happened since my birthday, and I was starting to believe I may have dreamt it all along. Sitting here, I genuinely believed he meant every last word.

I tried to shake the feeling, knowing all it could bring was heartache. Stone had to return to Quantico to his job.

Volunteers carried out trays of food, setting everything on the tables. Clams, lobster, and corn, which my family dug straight into, and I gave Stone a quick grin before grabbing some for myself. It was his first time at the festival, and his first clambake, for that matter. I felt almost honored for it to be with me.

Everything was delicious, and it wasn’t long before we’d ate our way through most of the food on the table.

“I’ve truly been missing out,” Stone groaned after a bite of lobster.

Everyone around us chatted and enjoyed second helpings. My parents had found us drinks, including soda for Stone. It warmed my heart that they’d even taken the time to remember he didn’t drink.

It wasn’t long before I felt the shift in the air, the way people started nervously glancing around, how the joyous chatter turned to whispers. I realized many were staring at Stone and exchanging hushed words. I swallowed hard as my parents continued their conversation, blissfully unaware, and my brother helped Eloise pick apart her lobster.

“What happened?” I whispered under my breath.

“There’s been a development in the case,” he answered, noticing the unwanted attention.

“What happened?” I asked.

“We found Ethan on the footage at the warehouse, tying him there during the phone call and when we estimate the body was dropped.”

My stomach turned, and I felt nauseous. This was the moment I’d imagined for years: the Coastal Killer finally seeing justice, so why did it feel so horrid?

“Did you arrest him?”

He nodded.

“That’s why you were late,” I stated pointedly.

“Yes,” he admitted. “I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t want to ruin this for you.”

“You didn’t think I’d find out?” I asked. “The whole town knew before I did.”

“I’m sorry. I should’ve said something sooner. I just wanted you to have this one bit of peace with your family,” he said.

I knew he meant it, that he had the best of intentions, but part of me still felt a little hurt that he didn’t tell me sooner.

“The news is spreading. I’m sure the sheriff‘s office has already put out a statement,” Stone said.

People stood from the tables, hurrying from the festival, and I knew they were heading to the sheriff’s office. An arrest like this would draw a crowd.

My heart pounded, realizing what this news also meant. “When?” I asked.

Stone looked at me with pain in his eyes. I knew he felt it too. Whatever had grown between us was beyond just this case. I relied on him.

The way he chased away my nightmares, how he knew what I needed before I even said it, was a privilege I never knew I’d have to learn to miss.

“Three days,” he answered.

The pit in my stomach grew. Only three days before I had to say goodbye.

I nodded as my family stood, realizing the majority of the town was rapidly filing out.

“Where are they off to?” my mother asked.

“The sheriff’s office,” I answered.

My entire family turned toward me, and Stone waited patiently for me to take a breath before letting them know what happened.

“The Coastal Killer has been arrested,” I said, the words not feeling real.

My brother and sister-in-law looked at each other, shock on their faces. My mother and father immediately went on about what great news this was for the town, how much news coverage this would attract to Briarport.

“Mallory!” my mother exclaimed, catching my friend as she walked by.

It’d been a few days since I’d seen her, and I gave her a friendly wave to join us.

“Are you heading to the sheriff’s office too?” I asked.

“Of course,” she scoffed. “This is the most interesting thing to happen to this town in years.”

“I’m not sure what everyone thinks they’ll see,” Stone muttered. “He’s already inside for processing.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Mallory said. “Tourists will flock to whatever they think the newest entertainment is.”

“You’re not a tourist,” Stone pointed out, and I watched her nostrils flare at the comment.

“I imagine you’ll be leaving soon, then,” Mallory said. “And Len can finally return to her apartment.” I didn’t miss the smug grin spreading across her face.

“We should go with you,” my mother said, stepping up next to Mallory.

“You’re welcome to join,” she answered, smiling brightly at my parents.

I didn’t have the stomach to tag along. Stone was right—it was unlikely they’d even catch a glimpse at Ethan. My mother more likely just wanted to be near the news cameras.

I, however, preferred to stay far away from that spotlight. I’d had enough of the Coastal Killer for a lifetime. With him in prison, the victims would know justice, and my job was finally complete. I could go back to living a peaceful, quiet life.

My parents started to wander away as Mallory led them off, giving me a quick wave goodbye. I nodded to her but stayed put with my brother and Stone.

“We’re going to head home. You two heading back to your place?” Calvin asked Stone.

He nodded and grabbed my hand.“I think we’ve had enough excitement for the day,” he admitted.

For a lifetime.

There was only one thought playing through my mind as Stone took my hand and led me back toward his rental.

The hard truth was one I needed to face: Stone was leaving Briarport.