“Fiona, I’m working,” Sean started, but upon Cade’s mother’s look, he sighed and stood up, shutting his notebook.
“Mom has Uncle Sean wrapped around her little finger,” Cade whispered.
“Dah doy.” Darby giggled. “They’ve been dating for years.”
“Dating?” Cade almost yelped the word.
“Oh, snap.” Darby gasped as her eyes moved to the kitchen. “Was it a secret?”
“Dating?” Cade said again as his eyes moved to where his uncle was helping his mother get a stack of plates down from the cupboard. “Dating.”
“Are you okay?” Raven asked, squeezing his hand.
“Yeah, I guess…” He shook his head. “I guess part of me knew, but it’s just…”
“Here we are now.” Fiona walked in and set a stack of dishes on the table while Sean set down a large a bowl of hash browns and a plate of toast.
During breakfast, Raven could see that Cade was watching his mother and his uncle like a hawk.
Each time his uncle’s hand brushed his mother’s, Cade got a strange look on his face. Raven wanted to soothe him, to assure him that everything was okay.
While the six of them ate, Sean continued to ask them questions. None as difficult as before, but questions about who else was in the bar that night.
Between the four of them that had been there the night before, they were able to compile a list of almost everyone there.
Raven was more relaxed with the idea that the culprit was a guest who had been in the resort last night rather than one of her employees. Still, she agreed to Sean interviewing each of the employees that had been working last night.
Which meant she needed to return to the resort. She’d known she had to go back—after all, the place was her life now—but part of her had hoped that she could remain there, with Cade and Blue.
Once the dishes were cleared away, Darcy and Carrie got rides home from Sean. Darcy was excited and claimed she’d always wanted to ride in a cop car but groaned when Sean informed her that he was in his personal car that morning.
Cade asked why he hadn’t driven his patrol car. Instead of answering, Sean had glanced over at Fiona and shrugged.
“I haven’t been to the office yet,” Sean had answered.
The moment his uncle left, Cade turned on his mother.
“Is there something between you and Uncle Sean?” he asked his mother.
Raven held in a smile when Fiona’s coffee mug almost slipped from her fingers.
“What?” she asked, looking a little shocked.
“You heard me,” Cade said slowly.
“Cade,” Raven started, but she stopped when Cade gave her a look.
“Are you and Sean seeing one another?” he asked again.
“Cade.” Fiona sighed. “We decided to keep what’s between us quiet. For many reasons.”
“I’ll take that as a yes,” Cade said, then surprised Raven and Fiona by smiling. “You know I love you both.” He sighed. “But damn it, you’ve made me lose a bet.”
“A… bet?” his mother asked.
“Yeah, I bet Andre a few years back that it would take Uncle Sean fifteen years after Reggie’s death to finally ask you out. He bet me it would take less than ten.” He smiled. “I guess I lost a hundred bucks.”
“You…” His mother smiled. “You aren’t mad?”
Cade stood up and walked over to his mother, then wrapped his arms around her. “How can I be mad when I see how happy you’ve become?” He kissed the top of her head. “Besides, everyone knew it was only a matter of time. The two of you have been crazy for one another for years. God knows Sean worships the ground you walk on.”
“It’s been two years,” Fiona said softly. “Two years since we first…”
Cade held up his hand. “I don’t want to know anything more about it. Other than he makes you happy.”
“He does.” Fiona smiled. “He does.”
“Good, then it’s settled.” Cade straightened. “Now, Raven has a proposition for you.” Cade glanced down at her. “I’m going to go let Blue out.” He turned and left with Blue tagging behind him.
Raven took a deep breath as Fiona turned to her. “A proposition?”
Taking a sip of her now cold coffee, she worked up the nerve. She liked Cade’s mother, she always had. Even when she’d been dating Reggie. Now, however, there was a lot more at stake. Especially since she was starting to have real feelings for Cade. Feelings she’d never experienced with Reggie or anyone else.
“Don’t think me…”—she shook her head— “dark. But I really relied on Rachelle around the resort. Honestly, she was the only employee I could really rely on. Cade reminded me that you used to work under my parents.”
“I did.” Fiona smiled. “When they passed and your uncle and aunt took over, I stepped down.” Her eyes grew sad. “After losing Reggie, I…” She shook her head. “I spent a few years living under my mother’s roof, since I lost my own home in the fire. It took me a few years to get back on my own feet. By then, your uncle had run the resort… well, you know the rest.” She stopped talking.
“I understand.” She smiled. “If you’re amenable, I’d like to ask you to fill Rachelle’s position. It could be temporary or…”
Fiona laid her hand over her own. “Raven, I’d be happy to help you out. To be honest, I’ve been bored lately and looking for something new to fill my time.”
“Seriously?” Raven asked then felt guilty when Fiona nodded. “I know it’s not the best circumstances. The resort is still in need of leadership. Some of the employees are still struggling with me being in charge.”
“Honey, at this point, it can only help to have someone like me around,” Fiona said.
“How so?” Raven asked.
“Everyone in town knows that I don’t listen to gossip. After all these years of hearing rumors about Sean and I.” She leaned closer. “Make no mistake, I was true to my husband until the day he died. Cade is his father’s son, who happens to strike a remarkable resemblance to his uncle.”
Raven smiled. “I look like my grandmother. I saw pictures of her when she was young.” She remembered seeing the black and white image of her grandmother and freaking out at how much she looked like her. “I used to believe I was adopted.” She chuckled.
Fiona smiled. “Remember, I was close friends with your parents. I held Rosemary’s baby shower for you.”
“Then it’s settled.” Raven smiled. “We won’t pay any attention to rumors.”
“Agreed.” Fiona held out her hand and Raven shook it. “So, when do you want me to start?”
“Today, if possible,” Raven said after a moment. “Sean has requested interviews with employees, and I’m going to need to do damage control. One murder was bad enough, but two.” She closed her eyes.
“We’ll get through this,” Fiona said in a soothing tone.
Just hearing those words from someone who Raven understood had her back made her feel instantly better.