Death by Devotion (Caribbean Murder #9)

“I really have no desire to see Marge at all,” said Cindy abruptly.

“Come now, Cindy, it’s good to forgive,” Ann chided her softly. “You don’t want her holding grudges against you, dwelling on you negatively, when you two live only a few blocks away.”

“I don’t live anywhere right now, Ann,” Cindy corrected her.

“Wrong, right now you live here. And Marge’s practically your neighbor.”

Cindy cringed. In her mind, she was only back here visiting, no matter what Ann had told everyone. And she agreed that it was good to forgive, but was still stinging inside from what had happened with Mattheus. There was plenty of hurt to get over with him, she didn’t need old wounds from the past coming up for her to deal with now.

“I’ve arranged a little welcome party for you,” Ann barreled right along, “there’ll be so many people here it won’t matter if Marge is somewhere among the crowd. I think she wants to mend fences badly,” Ann smiled.

Cindy shook her head slowly. “It’s not as if I’m staying here forever,” she proclaimed.

Ann patted her hand. “Of course I realize that nothing is forever. But you’re here now and you told me that you have no plans to return to the Caribbean for a long, long time. You said that era’s over.”

Cindy gulped. She had said that to Ann. She’d been in the throes of shock about Mattheus. And, it was still true, she had no plans to return to the Caribbean immediately, but she also had no plans to settle here, either. Cindy had no idea what era she was in now. This was simply a place for her to land when she felt too tossed about by life’s incessant surprises - when it was too hard for her to go on.

“You’ll take one step and then another,” Ann said soothingly. Ann always knew how to take the edge off for Cindy, to bring her back to center. “Who knows what’s waiting? It could be something wonderful,” Ann smiled, obviously so happy to have Cindy back home.

Cindy leaned over and hugged her sister. “It’s wonderful enough being here with you,” she said. Cindy was finished with looking for something or someone to rescue her anymore. She’d been through too much, had learned too many lessons, grown wiser. She’d watched events and people twist and turn into all kinds of unexpected configurations. What she really hoped for now was to find her own center of gravity, really feel the earth beneath her feet, and let life itself show her how to go forward.

“So, the welcome home party is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon,” Ann chirped as the car turned the corner and drove up the familiar tree lined street to the end, where the cottage she and Clint had shared, waited for Cindy unconditionally.





Chapter 2


As soon as she walked inside the house Cindy felt Clint’s spirit everywhere. Pictures of him and her together were still on the walls, his things were still in their usual corners. Cindy stopped and looked at a photo of the two of them with their arms around each other smiling, which stood, framed, on the wooden console. Cindy breathed deeply and took a moment. It felt as if Clint himself were there, arms extended, welcoming her home.

Ann had come here two days ago to prepare the house and get things ready. She’d filled the vases with fresh flowers and opened the windows, letting the cool, salty air in. Cindy shivered as she walked about slowly, remembering each moment she’d spent here, the good and bad, the joyous and lonely.

“It’s beautiful here,” Cindy breathed. “Thanks so much for getting it ready.”

“I didn’t have to do a thing,” Ann replied. “Your home has always been here, waiting for you.”

Cindy took a suitcase, walked to her room and began to unpack slowly as she heard Ann rustling about in the kitchen preparing dinner. Memories of her life with Clint drifted before her as she took her clothes out of her suitcase and placed them back in her old closet. Their time together had been so brief and yet so beautiful. Cindy had never imagined that he would be taken from her so suddenly and in such a horrible way, right on their honeymoon.

She sat down on the edge of the bed and put her head in her hands. For a moment it was as if no time had passed at all, as if he were in the next room about to come in, take her in his arms and tell her how much he loved her. Cindy allowed herself to feel the old sense of comfort and security she’d always felt, having Clint close by. Who thought their marriage would have lead her in such an unexpected direction, that she would become a detective dedicated to helping others whose loved ones had been murdered as well? Who thought she would have become so obsessed with justice and difficult crimes? Perhaps Ann was right, maybe it was now time to take a breather, and embark upon another way of life. Cindy couldn’t work with Mattheus any longer, that much was clear. And she couldn’t continue alone, either.