Katelyn, sitting in the pub, surrounded by her family and friends, finally smiled as the feeling of safety crept back over her. The tropical storm had been downgraded, but the rain and wind still howled outside. She knew most in attendance would have stayed in their homes to ride the storm out, but as soon as the news spread, all gathered at Finn’s.

Corrine and Eric came barreling in to check on their daughter. Aiden picked her up, snatching her from Gareth’s arms, and twirled her around until Gareth, grumbling, pulled her back into his embrace. Jillian and Tori rushed in, hugging Katelyn before settling in Mitch and Grant’s arms. Belle and Jade also came, slamming the door behind them, shutting out the rain.

Gareth assisted Katelyn to a chair, making sure she was comfortable before shifting his gaze about the room. He knew the town got behind one of their own, but Katelyn had it in spades. A hometown girl with years at the diner and pub…everyone loved her smile.

Zac made his way in with Jason and Callan in tow, all tossing head jerks of approval toward Gareth. Ginny made her way in, her eyes landing on Brogan before sliding toward Katelyn.

Brogan, surly as ever, placed a plate of Katelyn’s favorite fish and chips in front of her, with a side of the chef’s special slaw next to it. Bending over, he kissed his sister’s head, his shaking hands giving the only indication of his fear for her. His eyes landed on Gareth and he said, “Gratitude, man.” With a slight head nod toward Ginny, he moved back behind the bar.

“How long had she been planning all that?” Tori asked.

Taking a sip of the warm cider Aiden had given her, feeling as though she might never get warm again, she replied, “From what she said, she was suspicious when she called his office a few times and he wasn’t there. She then followed him and discovered he met several times with Cindy Reynolds. Always in public, but it was enough that she thought he was having an affair. Then, she found out it was worse. A daughter.”

“How is that worse?” Corrine asked, her eyes glued on her own daughter.

Shrugging, Katelyn said, “That’s where her issues came to play. A mistress could be gotten rid of…or at least wouldn’t have had any claim to Walter’s money. But Eleanor wanted it all. She wanted his love as well as his money. And a daughter could ruin that. A daughter was the one thing that Walter might end up loving more than her.”

Aiden chimed in, “Sounds fuckin’ bonkers, if you ask me.” He ducked as Brogan walked near, but kept his smile in place.

Nodding sadly, Katelyn could not help but wonder what drove Eleanor to such extremes.

“But the hotel receipts, trying to build a case against someone else…that took a great deal of plotting and planning,” Jillian said, stealing one of Katelyn’s French fries.

Shaking her head, Katelyn agreed, “Yes, it did. What I struggle with is that she cared for her husband, but felt as though he betrayed her in the greatest sense. He not only had an affair many years ago, which was long over, but had a child from that union. To her, it was the ultimate betrayal, and he needed to be punished.”

“She knew he had not changed his will, so she had to get rid of Walter before he decided to. But, she was smart enough to know to divert all suspicion away from her. Hence the elaborate setup,” Gareth added, his arm wrapped around Katelyn, his fingers splayed on her shoulder, gently rubbing. “Playing on Ken’s insecurities and money problems, she convinced him to go along with it. It was the two of them going to the hotels, her dressed in a blonde wig, to cast suspicion on someone else.”

“I don’t get that Ken guy at all,” Brogan piped up. “To kill his own brother.”

“She did the killing, but Ken was willing to get rid of the body. He got his hands on a small motorboat and took the body over to the golf course. That was just one more dig toward Walter. His brother was the country club socialite, while Ken was the stay-at-home, take care of their mother kind of man. Eleanor probably knew that Ken had resented his brother for years,” Gareth explained.

“The lawsuit threw a monkey wrench into her plans,” Katelyn said, abandoning her food to lay her head on Gareth’s shoulder, offering him a small smile as her hand on his thigh squeezed.

“But you solved the case!” Jillian pronounced, gaining an eye-roll from Mitch and Grant. “Okay, fine, the Baytown Police helped,” she giggled as Grant grabbed her waist, pulling her toward him.

“Oh, no, I didn’t!” Katelyn refuted. “I just ended up at the right place at the right time. Or rather, perhaps, the wrong place at the wrong time!”

“Don’t want my baby sister having to do anything like that again, but thank God for her bat-swinging skills!” Aiden quipped.

Leaning in to whisper in her ear, Gareth said, “And her tree climbing skills.”

“I told you I’d bring all kinds of different skills to the job,” she quipped, then moved to speak so others could not hear. “And later, I’ll show you some of my special, just-for-you-skills.”

Smiling as he leered, she leaned her head back on his shoulder, her gaze roaming around Finn’s, her heart full of the friends and family gathered.

“Harrison and MacFarlane, Private Investigations. Katelyn MacFarlane speaking. How may I help you?”

Gareth walked by, winking at Katelyn as he watched the sign painter finish adding her name to the door. Taking the invoice, he turned and walked back over to Katelyn’s desk as she finished the call. She reached her hand out, but he shook his head.

“Now that you’re a partner, you shouldn’t have to handle all the invoices as well.”

Making a play for the piece of paper, she placed her hand on her hip as he held it away from her. “Well, as the office manager, I happen to know that we can’t afford to hire someone else right now…so, I’ll still handle the payments.”

Stepping closer, he pressed his body right up to hers, towering over her as he said, “We’ll need to figure it all out as we go, but with you now licensed private investigator, we’ll share the office duties…at least until we can afford someone else.”

Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pulled him closer. “We can economize by you moving in with me. Every penny counts, you know?” she teased.

* * *

Gareth watched the sign maker as he painted the finishing touches on the front door.

Harrison and Harrison Private Investigations.

“I like it,” a soft voice came from behind. Gareth turned, seeing Katelyn walking across the street, a Finn’s lunch bag in her hand. He moved to take it from her, planting a kiss on her forehead.

The painter finished, and wiping his hands on a worn rag called out, “All done, Mr. and Mrs. Harrison. It looks real good, if I do say so myself.”

Katelyn smiled as she nodded. “Yeah, it does.” Turning to Gareth, she said, “We’ve been married for three months and I swear, it still feels strange to be called Mrs. Harrison.”

“A good kind of strange?” Gareth asked.

Lifting on her toes, she kissed his lips lightly. “Yes,” she smiled, “a good kind of strange.”

Gareth wrapped his arms around her as they entered the building, nodding at the older woman sitting at Katelyn’s former desk. “Mable,” they greeted together.

Mildred’s sister had come to live with her but quickly discovered she was bored. Like Mildred, she had worked as a receptionist for a police force where she previously lived and missed the excitement. Becoming Gareth and Katelyn’s receptionist worked for all.

Patting her purple-grey hair, she stood and greeted them. “You’ve got an afternoon appointment and after that, Mitch would like to see you concerning some work as well.”

“When is the next appointment coming in?” Katelyn asked.

“Not for another hour, so you have time to eat,” Mable replied, her smile landing on the young couple. “If you don’t need me, I’ll run over to have a bite with Mildred.”

Waving her away, Gareth started to walk toward the back when Katelyn’s hand pulled on his arm. “Hey, now that we’re alone, I wanted to talk to you.”

Placing the Finn’s bag on Mable’s desk, he gave his undivided attention to Katelyn. Cocking his head to the side, he said, “What’s up, babe?”

Suddenly nervous, she placed her hand over her stomach and blurted, “I’m pregnant.”

The silence in the office was deafening for a moment before he grabbed her in a bear hug, twirling her around. “We’re gonna have a baby?” he yelled, his eyes twinkling as his heart pounded in both joy and fear.

Nodding and laughing at the same time, she confirmed, “Yes. I went to the doctor this morning while you were out. I didn’t want to say anything until I was sure.”

Setting her down gently, he held her face in his hands. “Oh, Katelyn, you’ve made me the happiest man.”

Tears stung her eyes as she said, “For so long, I never thought I’d have this. Career…husband…baby. But you found the clue to my heart.”

“And what clue was that, sweetheart?” he whispered, his breath warm against her face as his lips moved closer.

“Love,” she whispered back, leaning into his kiss.