Page 68 of Tempest at Annabel's Lighthouse
They’d arrived at the lighthouse by early evening, and after getting Pete situated, Shea made a late supper, served it to himwithout a word, then settled into her bed with a book. But she was far too distracted to get involved in a story. Instead, she lay there staring at the ceiling until well past two in the morning. When sleep finally claimed her, it was fitful and filled with dreams of Pete getting hit by a car, with Annabel’s ghost hovering just beyond the crime scene as if responsible for it.
She woke up on a mission, and Pete noticed from his position on the sofa where he’d chosen to sleep that night.
“I’m going to find out who this Rebecca is and where Captain Gene is and all this nonsense about Annabel’s ghost once and for all,” Shea explained in response to Pete’s wordless question.
He’d been watching her go to-and-fro, busying herself collecting her notebook, purse, filling her water bottle, and more. The wordless treatment was worse than if he’d just been nosy.
She halted. She’d not bothered to check on him in the night. He preferred not to be babied, instructing her to leave his pain meds on the coffee table and he’d “figure it out.” Now she felt like she should at least try to be the bigger person.
“Did you sleep all right?” she asked.
Pete raised an eyebrow. “Sure.”
They were still at an impasse. Shea decided there was nothing she could say or do at the present time that might solve their dilemma. “Well, bye then. If you need anything...” Whatever. He wouldfigure it out.
“Have fun” was all Pete had to say.
Shea didn’t stick around to see if he’d add anything more. She slipped her feet into a pair of leather mules and swung open the door.
“Oh!”
Penny stood just outside the door, her hand poised to knock, a large cake pan in her other hand. Her bright red lips stretched into a smile.
“Good morning, hon!”
Shea quickly gathered her wits about her. “I was just heading over to the Dipstick to see you!”
“You were?” Penny held out the cake. “And here I am making sure you get that handsome husband of yours fed. He needs sugar to heal, that’s my prescription!”
Shea stepped to the side and invited Penny in. The tiny bar owner walked straight to the table to set the cake pan on it. “Chocolate cake with chocolate icing.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a can of cherry pie filling. “It’s not particularly gourmet, but my mama swore by adding cherries on top. Our own version of German chocolate cake, I guess.”
“Sounds great!” Pete hollered from the sitting area.
Penny made herself at home and went in to see him.
Apparently, Pete had eaten more meals at the Dipstick than Shea realized. He and Penny—who was almost old enough to be his mother—seemed like the best of friends.
Interesting.
Shea watched the two interact for a moment. She was suspicious of everyone now. Rightfully so, she believed.
“I’m just so glad you’re still with us!” Penny perched on the footstool near Pete’s spot on the sofa. “And that you came back here!”
Shea leaned against the doorjamb. “A few days ago, Pete was suggesting it was too dangerous formeto be alone.”
Penny’s laughter pealed. She waved toward Shea. “My late husband was always like that too. Making sure I was taken care of and never doing anything to take care of himself. I had to watch him like a hawk or that man would’ve died way sooner than he did by cause of sheer stupidity.” She laughed again, Pete joined her, and Shea managed a smile.
Penny grew serious and looked between the two of them. “I did want to let you both know something, though.”
“What is it?” Shea pushed off the doorjamb and took a few more steps into the room.
“Well,” Penny started, “right after Pete was hit, Holt took off on a fishing trip to Canada. I think he needed some time away and it’ll do him good.”
“He what?” Shea was dumbfounded. Holt hadn’t said a word about a planned fishing trip.
“Mm-hmm.” Penny nodded. “And he’s put me in charge of this lighthouse, so if you need any landlord-type stuff, just give me a ring. But since it was rather sudden, and I ... well, I wanted to ask if he’d said anything to either of you about the fishing trip? Seeing as you’re his guests and all.”
“Not a word,” Pete replied.
