Page 24 of The Lighthouse on Plum Island
“Hi, can I help you?” Caroline stepped beside her daughter.
“Yes, I’m looking for Carrie Lines,” the woman said.
“That’s my mom!” Jules said proudly, her eyes sparkling with excitement as they caught Caroline’s.
“Me, I’m mom.” Caroline laughed.
“Hi, I’m Harriet Joyce from Danes Productions,” Harriet introduced herself. “I’m Mr. Danes’ Executive Assistant.”
“Oh!” Caroline blinked as it suddenly hit her that Harriet was from the production company.That’s where I must’ve seen her before.
“Do you have a moment?” Harriet asked.
“We’re actually just heading out,” Caroline told her. “I have to drop my daughter at her job and then get to work.”
“No problem,” Harriet smiled. “You work at the library, right?”
“Correct.” Caroline nodded.
“I was asked to set up a meeting with you and Mr. Danes,” Harriet told her. “Can you join him for lunch at the Summer Inn today?”
“That’s a bit sudden,” Caroline said, frowning and slightly annoyed that they would assume she didn’t have lunch plans. “I can’t make lunch today.”
“Mom!” Jules looked at her in disbelief. “What plans?”
“I have plans!” Caroline felt a little offended by her daughter’s skepticism. “You know.” She gestured with her hands. “Meetings and things.”
Jules looked at her questioningly.
“Let me see,” Harriet said, swooping her finger over her phone. “Can you meet this evening?” She smiled. “At, say, six-thirty for an early dinner, perhaps?”
“Yes, she can,” Jules answered for her mother.
“Jules!” Caroline looked at her, annoyed, before giving Harriet a tight smile. “Sure. But I can’t have dinner. I have a birthday party to get to.”
Jules’s eyebrows rose as she looked at her mother, knowing she was lying.
“I’ll explain that to Mr. Danes,” Harriet assured her. “It was nice to finally meet you. I love your books and am honored to be working on this project.”
She said goodbye and walked back to the limousine awaiting her.
“How much do you think executive assistants earn?” Jules gave a low whistle as they watched the limo drive away.
“I think the word executive in the title means it must be a pretty penny with perks like limos,” Caroline told her, hurrying to the car. “We have to hurry.”
As they drove toward the Cobble Cove Restaurant, Jules looked at her mother suspiciously. “You lied.”
“Excuse me?” Caroline glanced at her daughter, hoping she didn’t look guilty.
“You told Harriet that you had plans for lunch,” Jules pointed out.
“That wasn’t a lie,” Caroline defended her actions. “I’m bringing Tucker’s birthday present to you.”
“That takes like fifteen minutes.” Jules pursed her lips. “I thought you were excited about the television series and couldn’t wait for it to start filming.”
“I was—“ Caroline paused. “I am.” She smiled at Jules as she pulled into the restaurant’s parking lot. “But they’re here a week early, and I’m still handing all my duties over to Daniella.” She stopped the car. “We were going to have lunch at the restaurant.”
“It’s okay to be nervous, Mom,” Jules surprised her by saying. “This is huge and overwhelming. I still can’t believe my mom is a famous writer now.”
