Page 5 of The Lighthouse on Plum Island
“Would you like beverages in the living room?” Rosa asked them.
“Can I have cold chocolate milk, please?” Connor asked, standing up.
“Of course.” Rosa smiled at him fondly. “I was going to bring you one anyway.”
“Thanks, Rosa.” Connor kissed her on the cheek, making her blush as always.
Rosa had been with Brad’s family since his father was a young man. She’d helped Brad raise Connor when his wife had left him with an eight-month-old baby. Rosa adored Connor as if he was her own son.
After dinner, father and son retreated to the living room, where a massive flat-screen TV dominated one wall. It was Connor’s favorite spot in the house, where he could indulge in his virtual surfing game, a gift from his grandparents. Brad wasn’t too keen on his son having a game console at first. But then it became a way to bond with his son, and now their nightly challenges had become a cherished tradition.
As they settled in for their gaming session, Brad couldn’t help but reflect on the day’s events. A chance encounter with Caroline had filled him with newfound hope and anticipation. At the same time, Connor’s dreams of surfing in California had reignited his own sense of adventure. Little did they know that the summer ahead would be a season of transformation and discovery, where dreams would take flight, and destinies would be woven together in unexpected ways—which Brad was to find out early the following day when his father called to schedule a meeting as soon as Brad got to the office!
Having dropped Connor off at his exclusive private school in New York City, Brad navigated through the morning traffic to reach the imposing glass-and-steel skyscraper that housed Danes Productions. He’d been driving the same route for years, but today felt different. The chance encounter with Caroline still lingered in his thoughts, infusing his day with a sense of anticipation he hadn’t felt in years for their dinner that night.
As he pulled into the parking garage beneath the office building, he couldn’t help but think about how life had taken an unexpected turn. Brad had grown up in privilege, inheriting wealth and, hopefully soon, the family business. His father, Travis Danes, had taken his family’s already impressive production company and turned it into a powerhouse. Danes Productions was a formidable force in the entertainment industry.
Brad had always felt like he was living in his father’s shadow, trying to prove himself worthy of taking over the family empire. Granted, he had made some bad choices in the past that had hurt his family and broken his father’s trust, all in the name of love. Brad shook his head, thinking of what a fool he was nineteen years ago when he’d fallen head over heels for Debbie Attwood. Little did he know her father, Shaun Atwood, who owned Atwood Finance Brokers, was about to get indicted for fraud and insider trading.
Brad’s parents had warned him that Debbie was nothing more than a scheming socialite trying to save face by hitching her name to theirs. Brad didn’t want to know as his parents had never liked the Attwoods, whom his father had never trusted. But Brad was so besotted with Debbie that he didn’t see the signs his family and friends did. Until it was too late, and he’d been cut out of the Danes empire. He had to earn a salary at a television news network, where he was hired as a production manager.
Debbie had stuck out their marriage for exactly three years and five months. She’d even allowed herself to fall pregnant. While Brad had convinced himself Debbie wanted to start a family with him, it was just a ploy to get them back into the Danes empire. While his parents welcomed Connor, they still didn’t welcome Brad back into the family while he was married to Debbie.
When Connor was eight months old, Brad came home from work one day to find Rosa at their house with Connor and all traces of Debbie gone. She’d left. The only thing she left behind were divorce papers. Six months after their divorce, Brad discovered his mother and father had paid her off to stop her from demanding full custody of Connor. Brad was furious, but his father told him not to underestimate the Attwoods, and he’d ensured she could never try to get custody of Connor or squeeze them for money again.
Brad became a single father, and to this day, although he dated, it was never anything serious, and he was very wary of their motives. His heart and family legacy were well guarded, especially now that he had Connor to care for. Brad’s son came first in his life, and he made sure anyone who wanted to be a part of his life knew that. After years of not feeling anything but respect and enjoyable companionship for the woman he dated, he felt light and excited about going on a date since meeting Caroline.
The lift from the parking garage dinged, snapping Brad out of his thoughts. He exited the top-floor elevator and greeted Grace at the front desk before heading down the hallway. His father had called him early that morning to meet him as soon as Brad got into the office. That’s why he bypassed his own corner office and headed straight for his father’s, hoping that one day soon, it would be his office to occupy.
Travis Danes was deep in conversation on the phone when Brad entered. He gestured for Brad to sit and continued his call. Brad leaned back in the plush leather chair, his eyes scanning the impressive office that had always seemed so out of reach. The walls were adorned with framed posters of iconic movies and television shows that Dane Productions had brought to life over the years.
Finally, Travis hung up the phone and fixed his gaze on his son. “Brad, thank you for coming in right away.” He sorted a few papers on his desk. “We have something important to discuss.”
Brad leaned forward. His curiosity piqued. “What is it, Dad?”
Travis leaned back in his chair, his expression serious. “We’re making a television series.”
Brad raised an eyebrow. Danes Productions hadn’t taken on a television series in years. “A series? What’s it about?”
Travis’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “It’s called ‘Cobble Cove Mysteries,’ and I believe it will be a hit. Picture this, Brad:Jessica Fletcher meets the twenty-first century with a younger lead, and it’s all set on Plum Island in New England.”
A shiver swept up Brad’s spine at the mention of New England, which immediately brought images of Caroline to mind, and he couldn’t believe the path fate was leading him down. Now, his interest really was piqued. It had been a while since their company had ventured into the world of television series, and this concept seemed intriguing.
“Plum Island? That’s an unusual choice for a filming location.” Brad sat back and rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Travis smiled and nodded, his voice earnest. “Exactly, and that’s where you come in, Brad. I want you to oversee the entire production, from casting to locations, wardrobe, scriptwriting—everything.”
Brad hesitated. That was a big undertaking and different from his usual job description. “Who’s the creator of this series?”
Travis smiled. “A newcomer to the industry, Carrie Lines. She initially wrote it as a book series, but after reading it, I knew it had the potential to become a successful television series.”
“A newcomer, Dad? Really?” Brad couldn’t help but feel skeptical. “This is risky, and why Plum Island? Why not choose a location that viewers have actually heard of?”
Travis’s expression turned serious. “Because, my boy, Plum Island has a unique charm and mystery that will set our series apart. I’ve already secured the rights to film there, and the locals are excited about it. It’s an opportunity we can’t afford to miss.” He steepled his fingers in front of him. “It is also part of the contract I signed for the television series deal with Carrie Lines.”
“Dad!” Brad sighed. His father was always doing things like that.
While Travis Danes was no fool, he still had a soft spot for newcomers and loved giving them their first big break. But inso doing, he did things like agree to film in locations like Plum Island.
