The mayor called the meeting to order, and Annabeth didn’t have a chance to respond to Patricia. She wasn’t even sure she could respond. It would be a big risk to take her relationship with Hank to the next level. One that could not only affect her son’s career, but her attachment to Sophie if things didn’t work out. Unfortunately, the thought of not having Hank in her life frightened her just as much.

* * *

Julianne sat on the bench swing located along the perimeter of the small boardwalk in downtown Chances Inlet. Most of the tourists swam at the public beaches located farther out on the island, but a few families with young children strolled along the shoreline eating ice cream and dodging the waves. Will waded up to his ankles, Owen on his shoulder. Julianne gripped the chain on the swing, her knuckles white. She knew her fear was irrational, but that didn’t make it any easier. The sea had swept away the mother she loved. It could just as easily do the same with the other two people she loved most in the world: Owen and Will.

Until this morning’s trip to the trailer park, she hadn’t admitted to herself that she loved Will. She’d desperately tried not to involve her heart in their relationship. But he’d finally started to let her in, sharing a piece of his past with her. Will was a fiercely private man, one who didn’t want others to know any of his weaknesses. The shame he felt about his upbringing was totally unfounded in her opinion, but he believed it. Her heart had ached for the boy he once was, convinced the world was against him. It also swelled with pride at how he’d used his brain and his brawn to build a better life for himself and Annabeth.

For now, she’d bide her time, loving him in her heart even if she couldn’t bring herself to say the words. She’d already confessed to him how much she needed him. He held all the cards and he could crush her if he wanted to.

Her cell phone buzzed in the diaper bag. Julianne pulled it out and glanced at the screen. Stephen. She’d managed to avoid his phone calls for the past two weeks, instead trading voice mail and text messages. Total avoidance of him seemed silly and petty, though. After all, he was only concerned about Owen’s welfare. What harm could there be in letting him know his nephew was fine?

“Hello,” she answered.

Stephen hesitated; he was probably stunned she’d finally answered. “You’re alive!”

“Don’t sound so disappointed,” she teased.

He sighed. “Julianne, do we always have to do this?”

She bristled at his tone, feeling chastised. Even worse, her half brother was right. He took his job as older sibling very seriously; there was no reason for her to be churlish. “Sorry. You’ve got my undivided attention now. What’s up?”

“Just checking how everything is going there. You’ve been thrust into an awkward situation and I worry that you’re okay.”

“Part of this situation is my fault, Stephen, but I’m taking responsibility for it, trying to correct the wrong decisions I might have made.”

“Yes, you are, Julianne, and I’m really proud of the way you handled yourself and this whole crazy situation. You’re a wonderful mother.”

Unexpected tears stung her eyes. That was twice her brother had complimented her. She wasn’t sure how to take it.

“How is Owen doing? Has he completely recovered?”

Julianne proudly regaled him with the latest update from Owen’s checkup earlier in the week. “Of course, he’s in the hundredth percentile for height and weight. He’s going to be big like his daddy.”

“I know Faith and the kids would love to see you both. Are you coming up with Will next week?”

She looked across the sand at Will. He hadn’t mentioned anything about next week. Of course, they both strategically avoided any discussion of the future.

“Next week?” she asked.

“Blaze mini-camp is next week. Unless, of course, Will is skipping it to avoid all the questions about the bounty issue.”

Back to that again. Why was her brother so interested in her husband’s supposed involvement in a bounty scheme? Will was headed toward her, a cranky Owen in his hands.

“Umm, I think Carly was actually going to come down here,” she fibbed. “But if plans change, I’ll let you know, Stephen. I need to feed Owen now. I’ll definitely call if we come to town. Bye.” She hung up the phone just as Will reached the stroller. For some reason she couldn’t explain, she was uncomfortable talking about Will and football with her brother.

Julianne pulled the bottle of water out of the diaper bag and mixed the dry formula in before shaking it up. Will gently sat down on the swing, maneuvering Owen into the crook of his arm.

“Who was that?” he asked, taking the bottle from her and silencing Owen with it.

She wasn’t sure why the question put her on the defensive, but it did. It almost felt like her brother and Will were tussling over something and she was caught in the middle. In the end, she decided that given their evolving relationship, she had no reason to hide things from Will.

“It was my brother. Checking up on me again.”

If Will had any reaction, she didn’t catch it because he was watching Owen drink his bottle.

“He mentioned that you would be going to Baltimore next week. For mini-camp?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh.” She hadn’t meant to sound so disappointed.

They were quiet for a moment; Owen gulped his lunch, punctuating the lull in their conversation.

“You and Owen could come with me.”

Julianne’s stomach soared at his words. She didn’t have a problem being left in Chances Inlet. Annabeth would be there. But the thought of spending several days, and nights, away from Will made her chest ache.

“Where would we stay?”

“I have a loft apartment in Fed Hill. It’ll be cozy.” He looked up then, his green eyes stormy. “But I think we’ll be able to make it work.”

She couldn’t keep the grin off her face. “I could see Carly!”

“And your brother.” He looked at her intently.

Julianne waved a hand. “If there’s time. But I’d rather see Carly.”

“The team hosts a big family picnic the night before the mini-camp ends. I’m sure Carly will be there.”

Her heart was racing. If he was going to introduce her to his teammates, there was a chance he wanted their marriage to last more than just three months. Joy bubbled up inside her. She took a now-sleepy Owen from his arms and gently laid him in the stroller. Together they started back through town, headed home.

“There wouldn’t by chance be any shopping near your apartment?”

Will laughed. “I’ve never really noticed. But”—he sobered—“the place is adjacent to the harbor. Will you be all right with that?”

Julianne thought she’d be all right with any place as long as he was there. “Didn’t I just spend forty minutes sitting a hundred yards in front of the Atlantic Ocean?”

He wrapped an arm over her shoulders and kissed the top of her head. “Yes, Princess, you did. I’m very proud of your progress.”

It was the second time in less than an hour that one of the men in her life had told her he was proud of her. Julianne felt ten feet tall.

She brought her arm around his waist, sliding her fingers into the back pocket of his shorts. “Of course, all it would take is one nasty storm for me to backslide,” she warned.

“Well, Princess, let’s pray there aren’t any bad storms this summer.”

Twenty-two

Will should have realized the futility of trying to pray away a summer storm. All afternoon, the National Weather Service had advised the entire coastline of a brewing tropical thunderstorm forecast to strike the area sometime after dark. As if that weren’t enough, Owen had been cranky since their return from the beach earlier, making both Will and Julianne jumpy.

Will sat in his office as Owen fussed in and out of a fitful sleep. He propped the baby on his shoulder and rubbed his back. “Come on, Cheerio. Just close your eyes for a few minutes. You’ll feel better. And so will Mommy and Daddy.”

He was begging his child to sleep. Next he’d be one of those crazy parents who strapped their kid into his car seat and drove him around the inlet. Will sat up straighter in his chair, digging in his pocket for his car keys. Why hadn’t he thought of that before? As he was striding out of the room, however, something flickered on the television, catching his attention. He increased the volume.

“. . . sources in the commissioner’s office confirmed today that the league’s investigation of Bountygate has ended in a stalemate. Implicated players and coaches continue to vehemently refute the allegations, leaving the league with its hands tied. However, a Senate committee investigating racketeering charges emanating from this scandal plans to hold its own hearings. Subpoenas are set to be served any day now. The commissioner is said to be hoping that these hearings, along with lawsuits filed by players alleged to be injured under the scheme, will shake loose some tongues, allowing the investigation to move forward to its likely conclusion: fines and/or suspensions against players and coaches.”

Will heard thunder in the distance. He wasn’t sure if it was real or the pounding of his head. He needed to call Roscoe to make sure he wasn’t in the line of fire for subpoenas or anything else. Owen whimpered in his arms.

“Okay, okay. You first, Owen.”

Will pulled open his office door to find Julianne standing there, a strange man beside her.

“Oh, hey. Your friend, Chris”—she pointed to the guy next to her—“dropped by. He wanted to say hi before he left town.”