Page 23 of The Cottage on Plum Island
“Hello, Aunt Betty,” Caroline called. “I’m glad you’re okay after last night.”
“Thank you, sweetheart,” Betty replied before greeting her nephew. “Hello, Liam.” Her voice perked up as she spoke to Liam. “How was your trip?”
“Great,” Liam told her. “I hear you had another fall?”
“Yes, but I’m fine,” Betty assured him before pausing for a few seconds and lowering her voice. “I’m glad you’re there with Jennifer, Liam. It saves me having to make another phone call.”
“Is everything okay, Aunt Betty?” Jennifer’s brow furrowed worriedly at the sudden urgency in her aunt’s voice.
“Can you and Liam come home urgently?” Betty asked in hushed tones.
“Have you hurt yourself again, Aunt Betty?” Liam asked, his eyes widening with concern.
“No, no,” Betty said. “But we need to discuss something, so please come home now.”
“Okay!” Liam said and looked at Jennifer curiously. “We’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”
“Thank you,” Aunt Betty said. “Bye, Caroline. I hope you stop by for a visit soon.”
“I will, Aunt Betty,” Caroline promised before Jennifer hung up. “I wonder what’s going on?”
“I guess we’re going to find out in the ten to fifteen minutes it takes to get to Beach Plum cottage,” Jennifer said, collecting her purse and turning to Liam. “You’re going to have to drive us there as Iwalked here.”
“Let’s go,” Liam said, turning to Caroline. “If Lila needs anything, just give me a call.”
“I will,” Caroline told him, waving them off.
Jennifer’s heart raced as they headed toward Beach Plum Cottage. “I hope Aunt Betty didn’t get some terrible news about any tests she may have had done at the clinic last night.”
“Don’t even go there,” Liam warned her, slowing down to turn onto the road that led to the cottage. “Aunt Betty is as fit as a fiddle, and I’m sure she’s going to live to over a hundred.”
“Let’s hope so,” Jennifer said, her voice throaty with emotion.
As they pulled into the drive, they saw a car they didn’t recognize in the driveway.
“Do you know anyone who drives a Jaguar XJ?” Liam asked Jennifer as he parked and switched off the car’s engine.
“Nope!” Jennifer shook her head. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Jaguar on Plum Island!”
“Yeah, it’s not the typical car you see on the island,” Liam agreed, sliding out of his SUV and glancing at the pickup. “I see Harley’s here.”
“Yes, he’s working on the roof, and that’s why I left Aunt Betty to go to Caroline as he was here with her,” Jennifer explained. “Daniella was here earlier when I left, too.”
Liam nodded and followed Jennifer inside.
“Aunt Betty?” Jennifer called, walking into the house.
No one was in the sitting room, and they walked through to Aunt Betty’s bedroom at the end of the hallway. The door was open, and voices were coming from it. Liam and Jennifer frowned at each other before walking into the room and freezing at the person sitting beside Aunt Betty’s bed.
“There you two are,” Betty greeted them as the man stood.
He looked the same except for the streaks of gray in his hair and a few age lines. He stood on the opposite side of Betty’s bed to them, looking at them with uncertainty in his blue eyes. Eyes that her mother always said were so much like Jennifer’s.
“Hello, Jennifer. Liam.” His voice was deep and had a slight husky sound to it.
Jennifer’s mind spun, and she couldn’t find any words as she gaped at the man before them. The shock of seeing him wore off, replaced by years of pent-up hurt and anger.
“What are you doing here?” Liam’s voice was low. His eyes narrowed and flashed with the same emotions burning inside Jennifer.
