Wisteria Cottage

An offer

~ Carter ~

People usually can't read me. It's part of my whole 'frowning all the time' gig and few people can tell when I'm really upset but I am. It's McCorkle's fault. All week I've been thinking about what happened at Agnes' place. Was it dangerous? No. Could it have been? Deadly. And what's with him harassing townspeople? He thinks he's being helpful and proactive but it makes him look like a joke. He's not ready. Period.

"Carter, you okay?"

I haven't even put my drink order in yet, not that I really need to, and Lyam is already hanging halfway over the counter, his ever-present smile gone. That won't do. "I'm fine."

"You're lying" he whispers, exaggerating his mouth to the point that people across the street can probably read it but he looks adorable doing it. "Hot black large, no sugar, coming up."

He's dropped the inquisition and turned away to make my coffee. He won't push, I know that, and maybe that's why I tell him "Your deputy worries me."

His eyes are wide when he spins towards me. "I would hope so!" I am very, very lucky that I don't have my coffee yet because the strange burst of laughter that comes out of me would have made a mess. "He was in here earlier tying someone's shoes. Didn't want there to be an accident!"

I'm trying really hard to compose myself. I have an image, ya know? But how... why... what? "That's... helpful?"

Sunshine slides my coffee over. "A child, maybe. The mayor? Not so much. We're lucky nothing bad actually happens around here."

That's not true, I was up half the night reading reports and court filings. "I wish that were true but it's not and that's the problem. I'm afraid he's going to get himself hurt."

Lyam steals my coffee back. Slides it back towards him and puts it under the counter. "Will you talk to the mayor? If you're worried, I'm worried and you'll be gone in a couple of weeks and... then what? He's all we have. Please?"

Do I want to do this? Throw another cop, excuse me, Deputy, under the bus? Of course not. Still, it needs to be done. I'd rather wait until the day before I leave but Sunshine's right, my return trip on that awful ferry is happening sooner rather than later. If it'll bring his smile back, "Sure."

A small Asian woman sitting in a table by the big front window raises her hand and waves. "Over here, Carter the cop from Chicago."

I look at Lyam and get a smug little "The mayor" in response. The little shit. Of course I have no alternative but to go over. "You always hang out at the coffee shop during the day?" Her eyebrows rise but she doesn't get flustered. Points for her.

"Mayor Liu. As for my office, the old mayor was practically buried in his chair. Everyone thought he did a great job but the budget was so bad I'm working at a cafe. I can't complain though, the coffee is hot and the service is great." Then she winks and waves at Lyam and I get to see him blush. Win. How can I help you?"

May as well jump in. "I'm not sure McCorkle is up for the job."

"Well of course he's not. Look, between you, me, and every full-timer on the island, I have been trying to fill the Sheriff position since the day after I was elected. Contrary to popular belief, Skye isn't as quiet as it seems but Brian did a great job. He trained Bailey but... anyway. The salary is peanuts but there is a house as part of the benefits package. So, tell me why you want to be our new Sheriff."

WHAT? I almost choke on my coffee but manage to get it down. When did I say that? Imply it? "I don't?" Why is it a question? I look over at Lyam who is smiling and handing a donut to a small boy who can't be more than four. He's adorable. You choose which one I mean.

"Come on Carter, you love it here." She's staring at me staring at Lyam. She's not stupid. "Have anything waiting for you in Chicago? Anyone important?"

"My life." One I was able to walk away from for two months without doing anything more than having someone handle my mail. I like to think the Captain and guys on the force are waiting for me but I'm not cocky enough to think I'm irreplaceable. No one is, not at a job anyway.

"Seems like you have one here. So tell me, what do you bring to the island?"

"A suitcase, mayor. I brought a suitcase."

She laughs and then clasps her hands together. "So let me ask again. Why do you want to be our new Sheriff?"

I find myself telling her the truth. "I'm not sure I do but you sure as hell need me. How do you even know I'm qualified?"

"I know enough and will find out everything else. That said, I'm not exactly overflowing with resumes here. Look, I've seen you around. Agnes thinks you're great. I think you and Bailey would work well together and you could help... hmmm, how do I put this? You could help prepare him in case you can't hack it out here." Can't hack it? She is my favorite kind of evil and reads people perhaps better than I do and that was the perfect thing to say to me. Judging by the look on her face, she knows it. She stands up and apparently I've accepted a job offer and we shake on it. "I don't like bullshit either, Carter, we're going to get along just fine. Welcome to Skye, Sheriff. I'll get you the keys tomorrow. When can you start?" I hesitate for less than a second. "The first? Great. Meet me in my office sometime next week to do paperwork, you're here every day anyway."

She's not completely wrong. She grabs a purse, messenger bag and bookbag and takes off and I sit back down, stunned. After a minute or so I manage to finish my coffee but my brain is still somehow empty and full at the same time. Am I going to be Skye's new sheriff? It's a promotion for me, regardless of pay. But, and here's a pretty important point, I have a job. In Chicago. Which is nowhere near Maine. Am I really going to go put in my notice and pack up my apartment and then move to a tiny island in the Atlantic ocean? Chicago may be cold in the winter but this is farther north than some of Canada!

I can't help but grin at the thought of Lyam keeping me warm in the winter. Maybe I could finally get him into my bed and I'm pretty sure that would be hot enough to keep us both warm. Maybe the house has a fireplace. I've never had a house, actually, only apartments. Hiring Lyam to do my yard seems wrong yet also very, very right. Hell, if I don't stop now I'll have him living with me and us having a dog. I need to get myself together but it's hard to stop thinking of him when he takes a quick break and heads over.

"How long are you gonna leave me hanging, Carter? What was the shaking hands about? She looked happy which isn't exactly what I was expecting. Why, why did we get an afternoon rush when I wanted to be listening?"

At least he admits it. "I uh... I may have accepted a job?"

"May have?" If his eyebrows go any higher they may get stuck that way.

I run my hand through my hair which I only do when I'm nervous and I have no reason to be except that I'm not quite sure how Sunshine will react. This is good, right? "I might be the new Sheriff. I mean, she offered it to me and Ooomph" I have a Lyam in my arms and can barely breathe but he pulls back.

"Are you shitting me, Carter? Wait, have you thought about this? There are downsides to island life" he teases but his tone tells me how serious he is.

"It's sort of sinking in now. I didn't really intend... I mean... she's one persuasive lady."

That almost puts a smile back on his face. "I'm pretty sure that she was a drill sergeant in her past life. Great mayor though. So, you're not sure yet? That's totally okay, it's a big decision."

I've been a man who has always gone with his gut. It's saved my life several times. Literally. Its also put me where I am now. My gut says that even though I've had exactly one actual boyfriend in my life, the man in front of me will be that and more. It says I have things to learn here, and things to teach. That this island is where I should be. "I'm taking the job, Lyam." My gut also says that a coffeee shop is not the place to do this. Lyam doesn't seem to be getting the same message.

He pulls me into a hug again before whispering "What does this mean for us?" against my cheek.