Page 34 of The Lighthouse on Plum Island
“Liam?” Caroline’s brows rose a little more as she shook her head. “What’s going on?”
“I’m giving Brad, Harriett, and Connor a lighthouse tour,” Liam explained. “They wanted to get a feel for it as it is a major part of the first episode.”
“Sorry.” Harriet popped up from behind Brad. “We should’ve called you.”
Caroline noticed the woman slip her hand through Brad’s arm, and her heart jolted as images of Harriet and Brad on the yacht flashed through her mind. She bit back her emotions and forced herself to concentrate on the present.
“Hi!” As Jules squeezed past them, a tall, good-looking young man stepped beside Liam. The young man leaned forward politely, holding out his hand. “I’m Connor, Brad’s son.”
Jules took the initiative and shook Connor’s hand. “Hi, I’m Jules, Caroline’s daughter.”
“Hi.” Connor gave Jules a small wave.
“Hello, Connor,” Caroline greeted the young man, plastering a smile on her face. “It’s nice to meet you.” Her attention turned to Jules. “Please go find Blue Beard and his chaotic posse.”
“Sure.” Jules nodded. “Would you like to come with me?”
“Not if you’re going near that vicious bird and cat!” Brad’s hand shot out, placing his hand on Connor’s chest as he was about to follow Jules.
“I promise you, Blue Beard is not vicious,” Jules assured Brad. “You probably startled him.”
“I’ll be fine, Dad.” Connor pushed past his father and took off after Jules.
“They’ll be fine,” Liam confirmed Jules’s words. “Blue Beard loves Jules, so he’ll behave.”
“He hates Liam!” Caroline told them.
“Yeah, that bird and I have never gotten along!” Liam shook his head.
Caroline pointed toward an armchair. “If you sit, I’ll disinfect those scratches.”
“I’m sure they’ll be fine.” Brad waved her off. “I’ll get some disinfectant from the hotel.”
“I think you should let Caroline help you now.” Harriet gave him a bump toward the living room. “It’s an animal. You don’t know what germs are coating its talons.”
Brad reluctantly sat on the chair.
“How about I take you to look around outside while we wait for Brad?” Liam looked at Harriet and offered.
“I’d like that,” Harriet said, and Liam led her out the front door.
Caroline’s hand shook slightly as she opened the first aid kit and put it on the table beside Brad, focusing on the task and pushing the questions in her mind aside. As Caroline treated his wounds, the room filled with a heavy silence, broken only by the distant squawks of Blue Beard and the muffled sounds of Jules and Connor’s voices.
“I’m sorry we came here unannounced,” Brad apologized as she gently dabbed the scratches on his face. “Sam assured me that your brother gave us permission to look around the lighthouse.”
“I’m sure he did.” Caroline felt him flinch as the disinfectant touched his torn skin. “Sorry.” She pulled a face. “I’m almost done with your face.” She glanced at his hands clenched around the chair’s arms. “Did Blue Beard scratch your hands as well?”
“Oh, no, that was a mini tiger,” Brad told her, and despite herself, she felt a smile tug her lips.
“You met Melton,” Caroline told him. “Jules’s cat. He can be a little jumpy around strangers.”
“Well, he used me as a springboard,” Brad lifted his hand slightly. “They’re not that bad.”
“I’m sorry about the animals,” Caroline apologized. “They can be lunatics at times.”
“The parrot was riding the dog and squawking onward!” Brad gave a soft laugh. “Is that a common sight?”
“I’m afraid so.” Caroline sighed. “Sandy’s a stray that was dumped in the cove when she was a puppy. Blue Beard found her and stayed with her until my father and Jules went looking for him, and they’ve been inseparable ever since.”
