Death by Devotion (Caribbean Murder #9)

*

As Cindy expected, when she walked through the gate into the airport, Ann was right there waiting for her. She was at the front of the crowd, scanning the passengers closely, looking for Cindy. What would Cindy do without her sister? Whenever hard times came, Ann was always there. All at once, she spotted Cindy, started waving and the two of them ran to each other and hugged.

“Thank you so much for being here,” Cindy murmured. “You’re the best possible sister anyone could want.”

“I know I am,” said Ann, smiling, “and so are you.”

“I’m so relieved to see you,” Cindy said, surprised at how shaken she felt.

“I’m relieved as well,” Ann said. “And not only me, everyone, but everyone is thrilled that you’ve come to your senses and are coming home.”

Cindy shivered a moment. Ann could not shake the idea that the way Cindy had lived since Clint’s death, as a detective in the Caribbean had been a crazy thing to do. And Cindy couldn’t convince her sister otherwise, no matter how much good Cindy had accomplished.

“Come to my senses?” Cindy felt hurt.

Ann hugged her again quickly. “I didn’t mean anything by that,” she backtracked. “Don’t get offended. I’m too happy to see you.”

“I’m not offended,” said Cindy, deciding to let it go. And in truth, she wasn’t offended, just very sad.

“I have a car waiting for us,” Ann continued in a chirpy tone as they followed the crowd to baggage claim to pick up Cindy’s luggage. “When you told me you were returning, I opened the house, filled the cupboards with food, bought your favorite treats. And, I had the yard cleared of old crusty, autumn leaves.” Ann seemed thrilled to be filling Cindy in.

“Thank you,” Cindy murmured. She had no idea what she could do for Ann in return.

“Thank yous are not necessary,” Ann responded as they got to baggage claim. “I always knew this day would come. I can’t tell you how long I’ve been waiting for it.”

Cindy felt her body tighten. Did Ann expect that Cindy was coming home for good?

“Both Frank and I have been waiting for you to come back alone, and start your life all over again,” Ann continued. “We both knew it would happen one day.”

“You two must never have thought much of me,” Cindy murmured, as the luggage started rolling in. Cindy’s suitcases came up right away and Ann pulled them off the rack.

“Not at all,” said Ann, “Frank and I both love and adore you. We respect you Cindy. You’ve been on a journey that you obviously had to go through. But sooner or later, we both felt that your nightmare would come to an end.”

Cindy was dumbstruck. “Working as a detective in the Caribbean hasn’t exactly been a nightmare,” she replied, feeling the need to defend herself again.

“It’s been a nightmare for me,” Ann replied as the suitcases came rolling in.

“I’m sorry about that,” said Cindy as they each took one suitcase and started walking together out of the airport, into the late autumn afternoon.

“You’re here now, that’s all that matters,” said Ann as she waved to the car that she had waiting, to come and drive them home.

*

As the car left the airport and drove along the highway to Oyster Bay, Long Island, Cindy felt as though she were being transported backwards in time. She’d never put the home she and Clint had shared on the market, though she’d thought about it many times. Why was she keeping it, she’d wondered? Could she ever bring Mattheus here? Probably not. Yet, there had always been something comforting about knowing that the beautiful cottage, near the water would always be there waiting for her. It was a place she could return to and never lose the wonderful memories of the time she’d shared with Clint. It truly hadn’t occurred to Cindy that one day, she would be coming back here possibly to live, alone.

As the car sped along, Ann reached out and took Cindy’s hand. “I’ve told lots of people that you’re returning,” she said. “Everyone’s so excited to see you again.”

Cindy was startled by the announcement. “Who?”

“I’ve told the old friends you and Clint had. And, also, Clint’s sister heard that you’re returning and wants to see you again, too.”

Cindy swallowed hard. That was a bit too much for now. She had no desire to see Clint’s family again, or remember all the pain they’d put her through.

“That’s going a bit far,” she said to Ann, not wanting to hurt her feelings after all her efforts to make Cindy happy. “Marge couldn’t stand me, ever. What in the world does she want with me know?”

“I’ve heard that things have changed for her,” Ann continued. “She and Ralph are divorced and she’s dating an old flame who recently became available.”

Ann had really done her homework. Cindy was surprised that she knew so much about everyone now.