Moonlight in the Morning (Edilean 6)

“Oh,” Jecca said and she couldn’t believe how the news was bringing her down. No more nighttime meetings.

“Her husband, Jake, is being released from the hospital, and I’m going down to help them come back to Edilean.”

“How can you help them move if you have only one arm?”

“Actually, my sister wants me to look after my niece, Nell. I’m the designated babysitter. Mom’s driving down to Miami from Sarasota, so she and Addy will arrange everything. I’m just to look over Jake and see that the doctors haven’t missed anything, then Nell and I will be told to go occupy ourselves.”

“Which I’ve heard that you love to do,” Jecca said.

“Oh yeah. Nell’s up for any adventure. She’s going to love your artwork.”

“You told her about me?” Jecca asked.

“Not yet, but I will.”

Jecca smiled. “How about your parents and sister?”

Tristan took his time answering. “When I tell them, things will become serious. They’ll start wanting to know about your parents, your job, your plans for the future . . . everything.”

“Do they want to know that about all the women in your life?”

“The ones I’ve told them about, yes,” Tris said. “You wouldn’t like to go away with Nell and me for a week or so, would you?”

Jecca’s first thought was that she should work, not run off with this man she’d only known a few days. And there was his niece, who she’d never met. They were strangers to each other. But she couldn’t bring herself to say that. “Where and when?”

Tristan’s smile was so big she could feel it in the dark. “Nell wants to visit Roan at his cabin. He’s a cousin of ours and—”

“There’s a surprise!”

“Don’t make fun of Edilean.” This time she knew he was teasing. “Roan is the last of the McTerns, who were the oldest family to settle in Edilean back in the 1760s.”

“What does he do in his cabin?”

“Eats squirrels and possums. The usual.” When Jecca was silent, Tris laughed. “Roan lives in California and teaches philosophy at Berkeley.”

“Oh my. An intellectual.”

“Sort of. You wouldn’t think so if you met him. Anyway, he has a cabin in the preserve and he visits whenever he can. He’s taking a sabbatical this year to do some writing, so he’s there by himself.”

“What’s he writing? The philosophy of what?”

“Actually, he’s working on a mystery novel.”

“Really?”

“Yes. He’s worn out from teaching and wants to do something else. Will you go with us? Roan has two bedrooms. You and Nell can have one, and we’ll all share cooking duties. You like to fish?”

“I’d like to paint wildflowers,” she said.

“That’s a good idea,” he said. “Kim’s ad campaign might just as well be based around daisies as Miltonias.” He paused to chew. “But I have a favor to ask of you.”

“What is it?”

“I know that if Nell sees your artwork she’ll want to try it. Could you give me a list of supplies she’ll need and I’ll get them while I’m in Miami?”

“That’s a favor? To make a list?”

“Yes,” he said. “Is there something wrong with that?”