Page 29 of Whispers of the Lake

“Oh, wow. Yeah, that is strange. I waved at one of them earlier and they stared at me too. Didn’t bother waving back.”

Eddie sipped before saying, “It was probably Damian then.”

“So, when did you officially move here?”

“Well, we bought the land about three years ago and had the house built last year. We moved in ’round April, so a couple of months now.”

I sipped again. “And do you like it here?”

“I do. It’s quiet. Like I said, the people can be a little weird, but we just have things delivered or order groceries for pickup if we don’t want to be bothered.”

“That sounds really nice. I’d probably be doing the same.” I laughed.

“See.” He tipped his mug my way. “You get it.”

I looked up as a bird squawked. “Have you ever met the owner of the rental? Alex, I think.”

“Haven’t met him, no,” Eddie answered. “But I hear he’s civilized enough. His uncle is the sheriff. James Reed. I see his face plastered all over the town. The people love him.”

“Mmm. Yeah, I’ve met the sheriff. Twice, actually. He pulled me over when I was on the way here.”

“Seriously?” Eddie scoffed. “My wife got pulled over by him about a month ago. He claimed she was speeding but she swears up and down she wasn’t.”

“I can imagine the cops here are extremely bored.”

“Oh yeah. No doubt about that.” He took a brief pause, then switched gears. “So, what’s all this about your friend?”

“Well, she booked Alex’s cottage a few days ago but I haven’t heard from her since she checked out. When I call, her phone goes straight to voicemail. I figured I’d come to Sage Hill and check things out, but I haven’t had much luck.”

“Damn. I’m sorry to hear that. Did you ask them if they’d seen her?” he asked, gesturing across the lake.

“Not yet. I don’t want to alarm too many people.” I swallowed hard while shaking my head. “The thing is, Eve is the kind of friend who is spontaneous. I don’t want to assume she’s missing or anything if she’s just booked a trip to Hawaii or something.” I laughed.

Eddie laughed too. “Hawaii sounds like a dream right about now.”

“Right? So . . . who knows, you know? Only thing is it’s not like her tonotbe in touch.”

His brows dipped. “No?”

“Not at all.”

“Well, I’ll tell you what.” Eddie placed his coffee down on the nearest surface and leaned back, folding his arms. “I wouldn’t put anything past those boys. I’d go and ask them if they have seen her. Wouldn’t even beat around the bush.”

“Daddy?” a small voice came from the left and I craned my neck to see a little girl standing on the dock with a pink dress on. Her coily dark hair was unruly and her feet bare. She had beautiful beige skin and eyes just like her father’s. Couldn’t have been any older than four.

“Oh, baby girl!” Eddie stood and walked off the boat to scoop her up. “I’ve told you about coming down here all by yourself.”

“Sowwy,” she said in a soft voice.

“That’s alright.” He bounced her on his hip. “How was your nap?”

“Good.” The little girl laughed.

I took that as my sign to get up and stop interrupting this man’s day.

“What’s her name?” I asked, joining them on the dock.

“Go on, baby. Tell her your name,” Eddie encouraged.

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