“Tanya, that’s enough,” Robert’s voice startled them.
Before Caroline knew what was happening, Tanya grabbed Caroline like a lightning bolt. Tanya held a knife to Caroline’s throat.
“Stay away, or I will kill her,” Tanya warned.
“Tanya, you don’t have to do this.” Brad walked in after Robert, his eyes filled with fear as they caught Caroline’s for a few seconds. “Let her go, and we can talk this through.”
“No, she won’t win this time,” Tanya told them. “I’m taking my life back from her.”
“Tanya, please, sweetheart,” Robert pleaded with her. “Think about our daughter.”
“I don’t have a daughter.” Tanya looked at Robert as if he was mad. “I’d never ruin my body by having a child.” She shuddered, and Caroline’s fear grew as she felt the blade of the knife dig deeper into the delicate skin on her neck.
“Listen to them, Tanya. It’s not too late for you,” Caroline said, pushing her fear aside. “You can have everything you want.”
Tanya started inching Caroline toward the front door. “I’ll have everything I want when you’re no longer in my way.”
“Tanya, don’t do this.” Brad and Robert tried to get closer, but Tanya pushed the blade a little closer to Caroline’s throat.
As Tanya got to the front door, she had to loosen her grip on Caroline’s neck for a few seconds to open it, then screamed. Melton pounced at her, knocking her backward. At the same time, Sandy sprung at Tanya, toppling her to the floor, and then stood over Tanya with bared teeth.
Brad rushed toward Caroline, who ran into his arms. Her heart was pounding with fear until she was in the shelter of hisembrace. Robert went to Tanya as Jennifer and Officer Crowley stormed into the house.
The next couple of hours went by in a blur as Caroline gave her statement, and Tanya was taken to a secure mental health facility. Once the house had quieted down, Brad and Caroline sat on the sofa in her living room, resting in the comfort of each other’s arms.
“I was so scared when I saw her grab you,” Brad admitted and kissed her. “I don’t know what I’d do if I ever lost you.”
Caroline turned to look at him, her eyes locking with his. “I feel the same way about you.”
“I don’t know if I’ve made this clear,” Brad told her. “But I’m head over heels in love with you, Caroline Shaw.”
“And I’m crazy in love with you, Brad Danes,” Caroline confessed and was rewarded with a heart stopping kiss.
EPILOGUE
Six Months Later
Caroline sat in the chair, watching the last scene for the final episode of the first series of Cobble Cove Mysteries. It had been a long, harrowing six months, and Caroline had learned a lot. She’d worked on most sections of the production process and loved every minute.
Brad and Connor had been on Plum Island for the first three months after filming started. Brad and Caroline had been nervous about how their teens would react to the news of their relationship. They had been pleasantly surprised when Connor and Jules had been happy for them and promptly told them they’d won a bet with Liam and Finn about it.
They had spent three months getting to know each other as a family unit. Caroline and Brad had even taken up surfing as an activity to do with their kids. Connor and Jules quickly became a brother-sister team as Connor became Jules’s protective brother. Caroline and Jules had been heartsore when Brad andConnor had to go back to New York, but today they were due back home.
Caroline sighed. She couldn’t wait to feel Brad’s arms around her again or hear Connor’s joyous laughter. The four of them had chatted on the phone three to four times a day since they’d left, and Caroline had found solace in Brad’s voice over the phone or seeing his face on the screen. Caroline longed to touch his warm cheek and not the cold glass of her tablet or feel his warm breath against her ear when he whispered I love you.
Caroline glanced at her wristwatch as the crew wrapped up. She had to get going if she was going to have a shower and be ready in time for when Brad and Connor arrived home. Home was such a meaningful word when it was filled with love.
As Caroline hurried to her car, her phone rang. She pulled it out of her purse to see Robert calling. Caroline put her phone on its cradle and turned on her car, letting it take the call.
“Hello, Robert,” Caroline said as she pulled out of the parking lot. “How are you and baby?”
“Doing great, thank you, Caroline,” Robert told her. “I’m looking forward to finally figuring out who dunnit in the two-part episode of Cobble Cove Mysteries.”
“No spoiler alerts, Robert.” Caroline laughed.
“I just wanted to say hi and find out how you felt now that production has finally wrapped up for the first season?” Robert told her.
“Exhausted and sad,” Caroline told him honestly. “How’s Tanya doing?”
