Page 82 of Fire Harbor

“Ten that we’re sure about. Eastlyn says they still haven’t identified the woman found by the surfer fifty yards from where I discovered Gabby. So there’s a possibility of an eleventh victim. Have you opened your mystery letter yet?”

“No. I got busy with lunch and forgot.” She took it out of her pocket and studied it again before ripping the envelope open. “Huh? This appears to be from Scott. What kind of a joke is this? And Cora went out of her way to deliver this?”

“Let me see that,” Linus said, taking the letter and scanning its contents before chuckling. “I don’t think it’s a joke. I’ve heard rumors from staff at the hospital. They’ve either received notes from Scott or their partners have. Some even swear Scott popped in for a visit.”

“He did visit me,” Lake stated. “Remember I told you about it, He was here the night of the storm when the power went out. That’s when I asked him about the women he saved on the bridge.”

A thought occurred to her. She pondered the letter, feeling a mix of confusion and curiosity swirling in her head. She took the letter from Linus and reread it before reading it out loud.

From here on out, your life is a blank canvas. Live every day with a full heart. Do good. Be kind. As you burst from your cocoon into your own beautiful butterfly, be adventurous. It won’t hurt to try new things. But if you insist on exploring everything through books, there’s nothing wrong with that either.

Keep the community at the forefront of everything you do. You no longer need to be afraid of the past. The future is yours for the taking. After more than a century of heartache and pain, there’s peace in knowing Marigold House has finally found its joy. Fill the rooms with love and laughter. Let Linus help you with that. Scott

“He makes it sound like I’m the most boring nerd ever,” Lake grumbled. “Like I never do anything fun or do anything out of my comfort zone. And since when do I not put the community first?”

Linus found that funny. “You’re definitely not a boring introvert. You’re thoughtful and caring.”

“Exactly. So, what does it mean? Why write it at all? I’m certainly not planning to take up skydiving any time soon, not for him or anybody.”

“Scott has a way with words. Maybe he sees something in you that you don’t realize about yourself. I think he’s suggesting you step out of your comfort zone and embrace new experiences. It’s not about jumping out of planes or traveling the world but about taking risks in your own way.”

“You’re my new experience,” Lake said with a grin. “Maybe it’s time to see what life has in store for me outside the pages of my books, romance-wise.”

“We could dance in the moonlight,” Linus suggested, taking her hand. “We haven’t done that yet. Tomorrow night there will be fireworks over the pier—dirty dancing under the fireworks.”

“I like the sound of that.”

With that simple, newfound resolve, Lake tucked the letter back into the pocket of her overalls. Her mind was already racing with things she and Linus could explore together.