Page 6 of The Lighthouse on Plum Island
“Listen, son, some of the most successful television mystery series have been filmed on small obscure islands,” Travis reminded him. “Viewers love the small island atmosphere.” He grinned. “And you can take Connor. There are some good summer surfing spots there. I did some research. Guess who’s originally from Plum Island?”
“No way!” Brad said in disbelief.
“Uh-huh.” Travis nodded. “Finnster was born and raised on Plum Island.”
“I knew he was from New England, but I didn’t know it was Plum Island,” Brad gave a low whistle. “Connor will be ecstatic.”
“I know,” Travis said. “Be sure to tell him Gramps sent you there.”
“Dad!” Brad rolled his eyes. His parents doted on Connor and would move the moon for him if he asked them to. “Sure, I’ll tell him.” He laughed. “When do you want us to go?”
Travis leaned back in his chair, a sly smile playing on his lips. “In two weeks. You’ll need to head to Plum Island and set everything up. Find suitable locations for filming, arrange accommodation for the crew, and ensure everything runs smoothly. Think of this as your final step to taking over from me.”
Brad’s heart sank as he considered the timing. “Two weeks? That’s not possible, Dad. Connor wants to participate in a surfing competition in California.”
“What competition?” Travis raised an eyebrow. “And when is this competition?”
“West Coast Classic Surfing Competition,” Brad told him. “It’s during the first week of the summer vacation, and he’s been looking forward to it for months.”
Travis sighed, torn between business and family. “Alright. After the competition, you can head to Plum Island. But we can’t afford any other delays.”
Brad nodded, grateful that his father had relented, if only slightly. “I’ll make it work, Dad.”
Travis leaned forward, his tone encouraging as he said, “You know, I’ve been to Plum Island. They used to make the most delicious beach plum desserts and jellies.” He sighed. “And Connor might enjoy it there. It has some good surfing spots. His surfing hero is from there.” His grin grew. “Who knows? Maybe Connor will even get to meet the man.”
“I doubt it!” Brad ran a hand through his hair. “After that mess with his ex-wife, Finnster seemingly disappeared off the face of the earth years ago.” He sighed. “But even with the man now a ghost, Connor idolizes him.”
“Well, then, you have two things in common with Finnster. Your son idolizes you.” Travis pointed out before giving a lopsided smile. “And you both have bad taste in women who’ve led you down a bad path.”
“Okay, Dad!” Brad’s heart slammed against his ribs. “It’s been almost nineteen years. When are you going to let it go and forgive me?”
“When you find actual happiness with someone who deserves you and will love your son as much as they love you!” Travis gave him a smug smile. “Believe it or not, your mother and I only want you to be happy and find the kind of love we have.”
“What you and mom have is one in a billion,” Brad told him. “I don’t think another relationship can top yours.”
“You’re wrong, son.” Travis corrected him. “Your mother and I are not perfect. We have our flaws. But what we have is real. When love is real, it can conquer and survive anything.”
“You make it sound so easy!” Brad mocked and looked at his wristwatch. His mind once again conjured images of Caroline,and his heart skipped a beat as he thought of their dinner date later. “Send me everything I need to know about this television series.”
“Harriet already has it,” Travis assured her. “It’s a pity you and she—“
“Dad!” Brad hissed in exasperation. “We’ve been over this a million times. Harriet is my executive assistant and a good friend—nothing more!“ He shook his head. “We just don’t feel that way about each other.”
“Such a pity.” Travis sighed. “She might be tough, but she has a good heart. She’s loyal and protective.”
“You make her sound like a German Shepherd.” Brad shook his head. “I must go. I have a meeting in twenty minutes, and I still need to review a few things.”
After the meeting with his father, Brad returned to his own office, his mind abuzz with plans and preparations. He understood that the forthcoming weeks would whirl by in a frenzy of activity, and he realized the importance of assembling a capable team to assist with scouting and logistical arrangements on Plum Island.
While he diligently made calls and sent out emails, thoughts of his serendipitous encounter with Caroline continued to weave through his mind. It had ignited a chain of events that promised to reshape the trajectory of his life, both on a personal and professional level. Unbeknownst to him, the enigmatic island of mysteries held a trove of surprises and secrets poised for discovery.
Fate, it seemed, had cast its gaze upon him, and the journey ahead was poised to be a transformative odyssey, steering him through a turbulent but exhilarating course that would leave an indelible mark on his life.
CHAPTER 3
Caroline’s day had been nothing short of tumultuous, a rollercoaster of emotions that had left her drained yet strangely exhilarated. She had found herself thrust into the middle of a feud between Robert, Jules, and Tanya—one that had escalated far beyond the issue of Jules’s childhood bedroom.
What had started as a seemingly simple attempt to find an amicable solution quickly transformed into a therapy session. Caroline had found herself consoling Tanya, who was overwhelmed with insecurity and doubt. Pregnancy hormones had a way of amplifying every emotion, and it was clear that Tanya was struggling.
