Epilogue

Sally’s Diner

June 1 9:00 p.m.

Elsa picked up a glass of champagne and moved through the shadows to the back of Sally’s Diner. Since she’d gotten the call from Killian, and he’d explained what he was planning, something inside of her had changed. But it wasn’t until she’d watched her best friend being proposed to, she’d realized what she was feeling. She was jealous.

Her eyes were drawn to Liam Reade, the man she’d been ‘seeing’ for months. The attraction had been instantaneous, and she’d thought they were going somewhere. Except, the reality was, he treated her like his friend. Not the woman he couldn’t get out of his head. Not the woman he wanted to spend his life with. And certainly not the woman he loved. But she didn’t believe he couldn’t love her. Something told her he wouldn’t allow himself to love her. How did she fight that?

She wanted a man to look at her the way Killian looked at Emma. It had been there the night they’d danced at the New Year’s Eve Ball. That special something that spoke of forever. But if Liam wasn’t her forever, then who was?

Inadvertently, her gaze landed on Tyler James. At one time, he’d starred in her dreams, and she’d thought he was her future. But then he’d gone back home and ….

“Elsa,” Ava joined her in the shadows, “do you know him?”

“Who?”

Ava arched a brow. “The hottie you’ve been staring at for the last few minutes.”

“His name is Tyler James.” Elsa sent Ava a side-eye grin. “I met him for the first time when we were sixteen.”

“For the first time?”

“Caught that, did you?” Elsa sighed, wishing she’d watched her words a bit more carefully. “A few years ago, Emma and I saw him in concert, and I thought, maybe, but,” she shrugged, hoping Ava would let it go.

“He didn’t call?”

“No, and according to Emma, he has a daughter, so, he wasn’t pining for me. And then,” Elsa tipped her champagne glass toward Ava, “I started my residency at Queen’s Court and my time has been limited.”

Ava stared at her for several seconds, as if to say, ‘okay, we’ll play it your way’, and moved the conversation back to Emma and Killian, who were still on the dance floor.

“They look happy, don’t they?”

“They do.”

“But?”

Crap!

“But nothing,” Elsa smiled at Ava. “I was just thinking how Emma tried to run from her feelings. And now look at her.”

“Maybe you’ll be next,” Ava gently bumped her shoulder, “your young man is headed this way. We’ll talk later.”

“There you are, love.” Liam turned his sexy smile her direction. “I’ve been looking for you.”

Was that when you were dancing with several lovely females? Or could it have been when you were speaking to the Sheriff? Elsa wanted to ask.

“Sorry.” She pasted on a smile. “I’ve been right here.”

His navy eyes bore into hers and for a split second, Elsa could have sworn he wanted to say something. But then his face shuttered and whatever it was had disappeared.

“Would you care to dance?” Liam asked, even though she knew that hadn’t been what had rushed through his mind just minutes ago.

“I’d like that. Thanks.”

He led her to the dance floor and pulled her into his arms. And just like every other time, the zing when they touched was there. Did he feel it, though? Or was she imagining the slight catch she’d heard in his breathing?

“Did you get to talk to Killian?” she finally asked when she was in danger of letting down her guard.

“Not yet.” Liam’s hot breath blowing across her temple.

“But you said it was important.”

“It is.” The palm of his hand spread across her back, pressing her closer. “I’ll get to it. But this is where I want to be now.”

Elsa dropped her head against Liam’s chest so he couldn’t see her face. He confused her by saying the right things sometimes. By doing the right things sometimes. But after watching Emma get engaged and seeing how happy she was with Killian, was sometimes enough? Somehow, she didn’t think so.

The music ended, and Elsa stepped back, out of Liam’s arms. “Thank you for the dance.”

“Elsa, I ...”

“Come with me.” Emma laughingly locked their arms. “We haven’t gotten to catch up.”

Elsa glanced at Liam, but one look told her the moment had passed.

“Killian needs to talk to Liam anyway,” Emma continued, dragging her towards the back hallway where it was a little quieter.

“So,” Elsa grabbed Emma’s hand as soon as they were seated, “let me see that rock.”

Emma giggled, and held out her hand. “He didn’t do too badly, did he?”

“Not bad at all.” Elsa leaned back against the wall. “I’m glad I could be here to share the moment with you.”

There, that sounded normal, didn’t it?

“I’m glad you were here too.” Emma suddenly turned serious, “I want to talk about you.”

“Me,” Elsa interrupted. “This is your big day and no—”

“Stop,” Emma jumped back in, “what’s going on with you and Liam?”

“I—”

“Don’t do that, El,” Emma pleaded. “Talk to me.”

Oh, the irony, thought Elsa. It’s always been the other way around.

“Wait a minute,” Elsa quipped. “Will the real Emma Foster please stand up? Is this Killian’s doing or Swan Harbor’s?”

Emma blushed. “A bit of both, I think. Killian started with, ‘I’ve been told that sharing your burdens helps,’ and I found myself doing just that.”

“Which is so not you.”

“No,” Emma acknowledged, “it’s not. And I will say, sometimes I forget and it’s hard. But when I do … things look different.”

Elsa could relate, as there were times when she’d talk to Liam about a patient or something annoying that had happened at the hospital. And he always said things that gave her a better understanding of what was going on. But he didn’t always reciprocate, preferring to keep work issues at work. Which hurt since she’d grown up in a home where her parents had talked to each other.

“And then there’s the town,” Emma continued, “since I arrived, it’s felt like home.”

“I’m happy for you and Killian.” Elsa blinked the tears away. “You’ve found your happily-ever-after.”

“And now we need to work on yours.”

“Well,” Elsa sighed dramatically, “I need to pass my boards and—”

“You’ll be fine.” Emma wagged her finger playfully. “You of the photographic memory will be just fine. I’m talking about you and Liam, and you know it. Wouldn’t it be perfect if you and he …?”

There were several times while Emma was talking that Elsa wanted to laugh because the future being described was perfect.

“Oh Emma,” Elsa contended. “You of all people should understand the future we want isn’t always the one we’re meant to have.”

“I do get that,” Emma sighed. “But until you open yourself up, you never know.”

“Seems my talk in January did some good,” Elsa chuckled. “But I need to finish my residency, find a job and then we can talk about what’s next.”

“Find a job?” Emma frowned. “Didn’t Queen’s Court offer you one?”

“Yes,” Elsa nodded. “I’ve actually gotten a couple of offers. I just want to make sure I take the right one, you know?”

“The right one what?”

Elsa looked up into Liam’s concerned eyes.

“The right one, what, Elsa?” he repeated.

“Job,” Emma replied, before Elsa had gathered her wits.

“Job?” Liam glanced from one woman to the other. “But you have a job at Queen’s Court.”

“I do,” Elsa stood, so Liam wasn’t hovering over her. “And I’ve explained this, but apparently you either didn’t listen or don’t remember.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Liam,” she dropped into her no-nonsense physician’s vocal pattern, “I took my Family Practice boards last month. In a few weeks, I’ll finish my pediatric residency at Queen’s. Yes, they offered me a job. But so did a hospital in DC, one in Florida, and one in Tennessee. Then in October, I’ll take my pediatrics boards. So, yes. I need to choose what’s right for me. Now, if you’ll excuse me. I’m going to take a little walk. We’ll talk later, Emma.”

“But it’s dark,” Liam muttered, as she walked past.

“Relax, it’s Swan Harbor,” Killian responded.

But needing to get away, Elsa rushed through the party goers without speaking to anyone else.

Crap!

What had gotten into her? She never lost her cool.

Habit had her meandering down the sidewalk, not really paying attention to where she was going. Until the paved area gave way, and she realized the sound of the waves had pulled her to the beach. The newly renovated pier could be seen in the distance, anchored on one end by a majestic old ship turned into a restaurant. And on the other, by Siren’s, a club Emma had mentioned belonged to Tyler.

It was quiet, and alone with her thoughts Elsa replayed her behavior. Not her finest moment, she decided, turning back the way she’d come. But the street veered off in several directions, and they all looked alike.

“Bandit, get back here!” The quiet was shattered, and a black and white dog ran up to greet her.

“Well, hello.” Elsa scratched the dog’s head. “Did you run away too?”

“He didn’t wait.” Bandit’s owner held up a leash, but his eyes watched her instead of his dog. “You’re lost.”

His simple statement threw her. “Lost?” she repeated, almost without processing the statement. “No … yes …”

In more ways than one, Elsa realized, but he didn’t care about that.

“I’m Captain Jack,” he introduced himself. “Come child. I know just what you need.”

“What I need? How do you know what I need?”

“Oh, not me per se,” he clipped the leash onto the dog and begin walking. “But this is Swan Harbor, where the heart always knows.”

Elsa is about to find love and secrets in Brothers, Hope & Hearts: A Small-Town, Friends to Lovers, Medical Mystery Romance.