Page 69 of The Cottage on Plum Island
She looked at the closet above it. There was a small button in the middle near the bottom of it. Jennifer grinned, thinking how she’d always wanted to climb into the pages and tell the characternotto push the freakin’ button in the books she’d read that had mysterious buttons. Jennifer had always thought it was a little unrealistic that the character always pushed the mysterious button.
Now she knew it wasn’t unrealistic because she really wanted to push the mysterious button, especially as the closet had no other handles on it. She laughed as she reached and pushed it, bracing herself in case she was transported to Narnia or some other land through a mysterious closet. It shot up, making Jennifer give a soft yelp and jump back as it opened to reveal four shelves. On the bottom shelf was a fancy coffee maker like the one Jules had mentioned she wanted to get for Caroline. Next to it was an electric kettle and a teapot. An assortment of coffees, teas, hot chocolate, and sweeteners was on the shelf above. Above that were cups, saucers, and a bowl of spoons.
“I wonder if I can sneak the coffee maker into my suitcase?” Jennifer laughed, sighing. “Good grief. I’d never want to leave my room if I lived here.”
Jennifer wondered what Molly’s room looked like as she remembered Molly telling her they lived with her grandmother now that shewas alone. While Jennifer didn’t pry, she took that to mean Molly’s grandfather had either passed away or was in a home.
She toyed with the idea of making a hot chocolate but took a bottle of water instead. She figured out how to close the closet. As it turned out, she had to push the button again. The door closed slower than it shot open.
“Just as well,” Jennifer said, watching the door click into place. “If it closed as fast as it opened, it could probably do some damage.”
She walked back to the bed and couldn’t help it. She jumped and plopped down as if she was falling onto a cloud and nearly bounced her laptop onto the floor. Jennifer sighed, sat up, opened the water, and took a few sips before putting it on the nightstand and pulling her laptop toward her.
“Time to do some research into the Wesley and Hanover families.” Jennifer’s fingers flew over the keyboard.
Before long, she was digging through all the information she could find on the two families. Jennifer jotted down a few notes of information she wondered if Sam could get for her. Jennifer didn’t want Andrew to know that she was doing her own investigation. While Jennifer had told Andrew a general overview of what Angela had told her, Jennifer had withheld some key facts as she still didn’t trust him.
“Jenny!” Warm breath tickled the side of Jennifer’s cheek. “Jenny, Jenny, Jenny.”
Jennifer swatted at her cheek and slowly opened her eyes as someone called her name repeatedly. She yawned and stretched, shooting into a sitting position when her foot hit something soft and warm.
“I’m so glad you’re awake!” Angela sat stretched out on the bed next to Jennifer. “Thank you for coming back.”
“What time is it?” Jennifer rubbed her eyes.
“I don’t know.” Angela frowned. “But the sun’s coming up.”
Jennifer turned her head and saw the day was breaking through the night. She glanced at her wristwatch—ten minutes past six.
“Let me guess!” Jennifer pushed herself into a sitting position and saw her laptop still open on the bed. Her notebook had fallen on the floor.
“I’m sorry.” Angela jumped off the bed and picked up the notebook. “I might have knocked it off.” Her eyes widened as she saw something on the page. “I can give you my address.” She handed the book to Jennifer. “I don’t live there anymore. My sister and that—“ Her eyes flashed with fear. ”—that horrible man live there.”
“Angela is the horrible man Wallis?” Jennifer asked.
Angela’s eyes widened in surprise. “No, not Wallis.” She shook her head. “But he’s not a nice person either.” She scrambled onto the bedand grabbed onto Jennifer like a frightened child. “I think he tried to make my sister do bad things.”
“Bad things like what you told me last night?” Jennifer asked.
Angela nodded. “Yes.” Her eyes locked with Jennifer’s. “Jenny, you can’t go there.”
“Go where?” Jennifer asked her.
“To that house!” Angela said
Angela’s fear deepened and started darkening into panic, sending alarm bells off in Jennifer’s head. She’d found out where they led to the previous night, which was one reason she’d called Andrew for help. Jennifer had needed legal and medical help, which she was sure he’d be able to help with.
“It’s okay, Angie!” Jennifer soothed, putting her arm around Angela’s shaking shoulders. “Why don’t we go have breakfast?”
Angela’s shoulder relaxed as she drew away from Jennifer. “Do you think there’ll be pancakes?”
“If not, I’m sure they’ll make you some,” Jennifer told her, closing the notebook and her laptop before sliding off the bed. “Let’s get dressed and see what they have in the dining room.”
“I don’t have clothes!” Angela slid off the bed and looked at the pajamas she had on. “Davina lent me these last night.”
“You’re shorter than I am,” Jennifer walked into the dressing room where she’d seen her clothes had been unpacked and slid through the few summer dresses she’d packed. “How about a dress with pink roses on?”
Jennifer held up the dress.
