Page 52 of Harmony Island Gazette
Abigail smiled as she took a sip.
Shelby and Claire had engaged in conversation, so I turned back to Abigail. She was so nice, and I was grateful that I was finding friends in Harmony. “How are things with Bash?”
She was mid-sip, so she pressed her finger to her lips as she swallowed. “He’s good. Busy.” She sighed. “He’s in so many negotiations when he is here, I barely see him.”
“Negotiations?”
She nodded. “His company has been buying up real estate around the island.”
I paused, my ears perking up. “Real estate? Like buildings or houses?”
She frowned like she was trying to recall. “I think both.” Then she sighed. “I mean, I love that our little town is finally getting recognized for its beauty, I just don’t want it to lose its old-time charm.”
“I totally understand.” I paused, my journalist hat landing solidly on my head. “I was in Harmony Cove this week, interviewing a resident who had just sold their house to the Proctors.”
Abigail glanced over at me. “Oh, Bash has been telling me all about that. He’s been surprised at how expensive those houses are. I keep telling him that Harmony Cove is prime real estate.” She sighed. “I wish my aunt hadn’t sold her house back in the day. We’d be rolling in the dough if she’d held on to it.”
“Bash said that Harmony Cove’s houses are top dollar?” My ears were ringing.
She nodded. “Crazy high. Like, millions.”
My mind was swirling. If Bash’s company was buying up Harmony Cove houses for millions, but the Proctors were telling the residents the appraisals had come in low…I shook my head.
I needed to do some research. Ordinarily, I’d call the expert, but I had a sinking suspicion that my only expert wouldn’t be too happy if I was moments away from ripping the curtain off a real estate scandal he was involved in.
I downed my soda and grabbed a twenty out of my purse. I set it down on the table and turned to the ladies, who were now all watching me. “I’ve gotta go,” I said as I stood and pushed in my chair.
“I realized I forgot an article, and if I don’t get the file to the printers by midnight, Gloria is going to have my head.” I gave them a quick smile.
“Of course,” Shelby said. “Do what you gotta do.”
I nodded at them before I turned and hurried through the pub. As soon as I was outside with the front door swinging shut behind me, I took off jogging toward my car.
I didn’t go home. Instead, I went straight to the paper and unlocked the door. As soon as I was inside, I headed straight to my desk, grabbed my computer from my bag, and plugged it in. I shook my mouse, and the screen glowed to life.
I sat down, determined to get answers. And, after my research, if I discovered that there was something going on in Harmony Island, I was going to expose it. This Sunday, in the paper.
I just hoped my relationship with Asher could withstand that kind of blow. No matter how I pitched it, Asher was embroiled in a scandal, and there was no way I could save him.
I could keep this under wraps, but that wasn’t who I was. The residents of Harmony Island deserved to know, so I was going to tell them.
19
JUNIPER
Time always seemed to stand still when I was waiting for something. I was standing at the register the next day, willing the seconds to tick by faster, ready to get my lunch with Kevin over. I was ready to put him firmly in my rearview mirror so I could finally start living.
I was finally ready to be Mrs. Kevin Proctor no more.
I tapped my fingers next to the register as I mentally fought the urge to pull out my phone from the drawer. I was trying to keep myself from glancing at the screen just to see how many minuteshadn’tpassed by. I blew out my breath and glanced around, needing a distraction.
I had exactly fifteen minutes until I needed to leave. And with the way I was feeling, they were going to be the longest fifteen minutes of my life.
Of course, the store was slow. The last customer had come through my register twenty minutes ago, and not a single person had walked in since then.
Boone had kept to himself since last night. This morning, he’d been up early. By the time I came out, he was showered and had made breakfast—French toast with bacon. We ate in silence at the dinner table, and then he waited for me while I grabbed my shoes. We left the house walking side by side, me to my car and him to his truck.
When we got to the store, we parted ways, and he’d kept to the back most of the morning. I tipped my gaze up toward the ceiling. What I wouldn’t give for someone to come in and engage me in conversation. I’d even take a call from my mother at this point.
