Free Along Came a Husband by Helen Brenna Page A

on Mirabelle. Not so anymore.
    Sally McGregor dying from cancer a while back had brought a new permanent postmaster to Mirabelle, Al Richter, a man just as cranky as Sally, but half as lovable. It was no surprise he was sitting alone at the counter. Then, too, the recent boom in Mirabelle tourism due to the pool and golf course had brought several new business owners and charter fishing operations and made it possible for Marty and Brittany Rousseau to expand the Mirabelle Island Inn. They’d added two wings, one for additional guest rooms and the other housed a full-featured spa. But that wasn’t all.
    Harry Olson had opened a real estate office and was buying up some of the state land in the hopes of building townhomes. Tom and Carolyn Bent had built a nightclub out near Rock Point that had turned out to be even more controversial than the pool and golf course. While some maintained a nightclub brought an unwelcome party element to the island, others claimed the live entertainment running late into the night filled a void in Mirabelle’s otherwise family-oriented atmosphere.
    As far as Missy was concerned, it would take a lot more than a few new people and businesses to change the heart of Mirabelle. She was only halfway listening to Sarah complain about the bride for an upcoming wedding going nuclear when Sean came into the restaurant. He was heading toward the counter when his gaze landed on her. Immediately, he detoured to their table. “Hello, ladies.”
    “Hi.” Missy smiled uncertainly at him. Don’t say anything about Jonas. Please.
    “Hey, Sean.” Sarah stabbed a French fry with her fork and dunked it in some ketchup. “Want to join us?”
    Sean hesitated. “Actually, I needed to talk to Missy for a minute.”
    “Come on,” Sarah said. “Sit down.” She scooted in to make room for Sean.
    Though clearly reluctant, he sat and ordered as if he was in a hurry. The conversation at their table remained light and innocuous, but Sean was clearly preoccupied. The moment Sarah’s and Hannah’s attentions were distracted by a tourist causing a commotion with a complaint on a bill, he handed Missy a sample bottle of medicine.
    “Antibiotic,” he whispered. “I didn’t have enough to leave with you last night.”
    “Thank you.”
    “How is he?”
    “How’s who?” Hannah asked, spinning back to them.
    Sean said nothing, only waited for Missy.
    “Um…my brother,” Missy said.
    The Mirabelle islanders were a nosy lot. Even if Jonas stayed inside, as she’d asked him, one of her neighbors was sure to notice someone in her house while she was working. Lights going on and off or his shadow in a window. Besides, with Ron already happening upon Jonas, it was probably best to get his presence out in the open.
    “What?” Gape-mouthed, Sarah stared at Missy. “A brother? ”
    “You’ve never said anything about a brother,” Hannah added.
    “We’re not very close.” She’d never said anything, period, about a family and who could blame her. She had nothing in common with any of her real siblings.
    Last Missy had heard, from the occasional news report or celebrity profile, her brother, the oldest, was following in their father’s political footsteps. Her sister, only a few years older than Missy, was a force in her own right on Wall Street. And the baby of the family was in rehab for a recurring addiction to painkillers when he wasn’t practicing corporate law.
    “So is that what you were talking about?” Sarah asked. “This whole keeping something from someone business?”
    Not knowing what else to do, Missy nodded.
    “Don’t worry about it.” Sarah waved it off. “Sounds like you weren’t expecting his visit.”
    “No,” Missy said. “He kind of surprised me.”
    “Must be a family trait.” Hannah smiled. “Spontaneity.”
    “You could call it that.”
    “Yeah, but is he cute?” Sarah asked, grinning.
    “Depends how dark you like your men,” Sean quietly offered.
    “The darker