Page 199 of Secrets Hidden In The Glass

Matthew’s smile faded. “I see.” He settled his ankle on his knee. “I’ll make it easy on you. The year 1995 was a long time ago. It feels like a lifetime, but I’m certain I was at our annual Fourth of July Party—probably making sure you, Molly, and that nephew of mine were keeping all of your fingers and toes.”

A small smile curved Nate’s lips. “I appreciate it. Did you have any reason to be off-island on a regular basis during the months of February through June?”

Matthew shook his head. “I have my work cut out for me right here in this office. That doesn’t leave a whole lot of time for gallivanting to the mainland.”

Nate nodded, never really considering Matthew any more of a suspect than his dad or Thomas, but he was required to do his due diligence. “I’m sorry.”

Matthew waved his hand in dismissal. “There’s no point in apologizing for doing your job.”

“I appreciate your understanding.”

“Of course.” He dropped his leg back to the floor. “So, what does Callie think of the idea of repressed memories?”

“I haven’t mentioned it to her. I wanted to run it by you first—see if you thought I was nuts.”

Matthew smiled. “Certainly not nuts. I’d say you’re more determined than anything else.” He stood. “Let me know if there’s anything I can be doing to help. I’m just a phone call away.”

“Thanks for your time.”

“You’re welcome.”

Nate headed into the waiting area, then outside to the Tahoe. He got in the driver’s seat and started home, trying to figure out how he was going to broach the subject of repressed memories with Callie. The last thing he wanted to do was cause her any more hurt. God knew she’d had enough of that, but he couldn’t overlook the possibility that Callie held the answers to her mother’s disappearance.

~~~~

Callie sang along with the song pumping through Nate’s speakers in the living room while she cut another piece of glass in the garage. She’d been at it for hours, creating since she came back from dropping Mom off at the airport for her midmorning flight home to Oregon. Having Mom in town had been great—showing her Mary’s Bluff and the lighthouses, sharing with her the new life she was building in a place she loved so much. Family, friends, and Nate: the last couple of days had been exactly what she’d needed after three tryingly long weeks. When Callie had hugged the woman who’d raised her and promised to visit soon, she’d meant it, hoping that Nate would come with her out west to meet everyone.

Smiling, she measured the glass again out of habit, yet she wasn’t concerned about the need to be precise with her latest project. When she’d shared her ideas for the staggered pendant lighting she had in mind for the new business space, Molly and Gwen had gone wild and were just as eager to see the final results. She set another long rectangle among the dozens she’d already stacked and selected a different panel of textured blue, savoring the excitement and energy she felt to bring her creation to life—something that had been absent for far too long.

The music suddenly grew quieter, and seconds later, Nate opened the kitchen door wider, smiling as he stepped into her messy workspace. “Hey, you.”

She grinned, her heart rate kicking up to a faster beat as she trailed her gaze over his handsome face and broad shoulders filling out his form-fitting long-sleeve black tee. “Hi.”

“Looks like the artist is hard at work.”

She took off her safety glasses and shoved them in the pocket of her apron. “Sort of—or I will be later. Right now, I’m just cutting glass.”

He walked over to where she stood, chuckling as he reached up and touched the black cat ears headband she was currently wearing, complementing her ponytail. “Nice.”

Her grin returned. “My niece gifted them to me for Halloween. I’ve been given strict instructions not to take them off until the last trick-or-treater has rung our doorbell this evening. Mom took a picture before she boarded the plane. I forgot to take them off.”

“You should definitely keep them on.” He wiggled his brows as he trailed his finger down her neck. “They’re kinda sexy.”

She laughed, tugging on his shirt and pulling him closer for a kiss.

He surprised her, instantly changing the mood of their silly moment as he stared into her eyes and cradled her cheeks, then coming back in again and playing his tongue with hers.

She moaned, clutching at his wrists, letting herself melt against him as the moment stretched out.

“I love the way you taste,” he murmured as he eased back.

“You’re pretty delicious yourself.”

He smiled. “Your mom got off okay?”

She nodded, locking her arms around the back of his neck. “This last weekend was really great, Nate. Having her here seemed different somehow. Saying goodbye wasn’t so hard this time.”

He rested his forehead against hers as he slid his hands up and down her sides. “That’s good.”