Page 29 of The Lighthouse on Plum Island
“Are you going back to the hotel, Sir,” the chauffeur, Sam Donovan, slid the partition window down and turned toward Brad.
“Actually, could we go to Cobble Cove?” Brad asked him. “I’d like to see the lighthouse.”
“That’s private property,” Sam, a local to Cobble Cove, informed him. “I do know the owner. I can call her and ask if I can take you to look around.”
“Who’s the owner?” As the words left his mouth, Brad already knew the answer.
“Caroline Shaw,” the chauffeur confirmed Brad’s suspicions. “The Shaw’s once owned that entire side of Plum Island.”
“Oh?” Brad’s interest was piqued. “What happened that they no longer own it?”
“Stuart Shaw had medical bills piling up,” Sam told him. “He sold Mid-Point of Cobble Cove to the long-term tenants, the Swan family. A few years later, he sold Lookout-Point to the Donovan’s. A year before Stuart passed away, he sold the Summer Inn on Lower-Point to Liam Gains.” He gave Brad a tight smile. “But the Shaw’s still own a large part of it, including the Cobble Cove reserve.”
“Cobble Cove plays a major role in Carrie Lines’ books,” Brad told him. “I’d like to see the area and get a clear picture.”
“Let me call Caroline,” Sam said, pulling out his phone and calling the woman who had been haunting his days.
Brad’s heart made a few loops around his chest as he waited for Caroline to answer Sam’s call, but it went to voicemail.
“I’ll try her brother.” Sam turned toward the front of the car to make the call. This time, someone answered. “Hello, young man, it’s Sam here.” Brad overheard the conversation. “I’m driving Mr. Danes around the island, and he’d like to see the lighthouse.”
Brad watched Sam nod a few times. “We can be there in …” He turned to get a time from Brad.
“Twenty minutes, I’d like to fetch my son,” Brad said.
“Twenty minutes?” Sam asked Caroline’s brother, then turned to smile and give Brad a thumbs up before ending the conversation. “All set.” He adjusted the mirror, and Brad nodded. “I’ll take you to the hotel.”
Sam was about to slide the partition up, but Brad stopped him.
“Would you mind being my guide while I’m here?” Brad asked him.
“Of course,” Sam nodded enthusiastically. “I’d be glad too.”
Sam skillfully steered away from the library, directing the car towards the Summer Inn. The short journey unfolded smoothly, ending in a seamless parking maneuver right in front of the establishment—a place Brad insisted transcended the conventional notion of an inn; it was more like a small modern-style hotel. The building gracefully formed a square U-shape, with broad windows and balconies that wrapped around the front, ensuring every room in the hotel embraced a breathtaking panoramic view of the sea.
Sam climbed out and opened the door for Brad.
“I’ll meet you in the foyer in ten to fifteen minutes,” Brad told Sam, who nodded and left.
Brad stepped up to the front sliding doors that opened automatically, inviting him to step inside the sleek building that had been cleverly designed with a mix of modern architecture that blended with the coastal charm of the area.
The foyer was bright from the natural light of the floor-to-ceiling glass windows that ran the length of the front of the inn. The check-in and concierge desks occupied the right corner closest to the doors, making guests feel like they’d stepped into a seascape painting. Seating areas lined the front section of the entrance area with glass doors on either side of the lounge area. One led to the long sparkling pool that ended a few feet from the beach’s white sand, outlined by an outdoor cocktail bar.
Brad’s eyes scanned the scene in front of him. The inn could rival any five-star hotel Brad had ever stayed in. It boasted twenty luxury rooms, a fully equipped gym with an indoor pool, a mixed cuisine restaurant, and a full-service spa. Brad, Connor, and Harriet were stunned when they first arrived at the hotel. They expected a quaint small-town inn, not a five-star hotel with modern amenities set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean.
His eyes moved to the left, where the first few slips had been built for the small marina that the owner of the Summer Inn had installed to accommodate the Blackwell’s yachts. Thinking of Ethan Blackwell broke Brad’s reverie, and he shook his head, thinking of what they’d put the Summer Inn owner through to accommodate the Dane Productions crew. Brad had to remember to get Harriet to ensure Mr. Gains was adequately compensated for his efforts. He glanced around the foyer once more.
Brad knew many A-listers who would love to know about this place. He went to the elevator, where he went to the top floor.Brad, Harriet, Alex Blackwell, and Dawn were occupying the four suites of the inn. As the elevator stopped and opened, Brad was greeted by Harriet and Connor.
“Hey, Dad,” Connor greeted him. “We were on our way to the beach.”
“I see that,” Brad said, eyeing their swimming outfits. “But I’m afraid you’re going to have to put something else on as we’re going for a quick tour of Cobble Cove, including the lighthouse.”
“Seriously?” Connor’s eyes grew wide with interest. “Cool!” He spun on his heels and raced back to the suite.
“Wow!” Harriet breathed. “Teens are so fickle!” She watched Connor disappear through the door. “We were going to check out thesceneryon the beach.”
“I’m sure you were!” Brad laughed, getting her meaning loud and clear. “But I’m afraid thesceneryis going to have to wait. We’ve got a tour of the lighthouse in fifteen minutes.”
