Page 83 of The Cottage on Plum Island
“Did you get a good look at him?” Jennifer asked.
“He was average height and build. I couldn’t see his hair because he wore a fedora hat, dark blue jeans, and a light blue cotton shirt.” The server frowned.
“Thank you,” Jennifer and Harley said in unison before walking out the door.
“Should we go to the store he disappeared into?” Jennifer looked at Harley.
“No. While whoever he is is in the store, I say we head to your car and put as much distance between us as possible,” Harley suggested.
“Agreed,” Jennifer said as they walked to where her car was parked in front of the police station.
As Jennifer drove off, she kept an eye in the mirror but didn’t see the man leave the store. They were nearing Chestnut Hill when Harley told her to pull over. She did as he asked and looked at him questioningly.
“Please open the present from your mother and Andrew,” Harley insisted.
“You’re not going to leave this alone, are you?” Jennifer rolled her eyes.
Harley shook his head. She reached over to the back and pulled the present from her purse. Jennifer didn’t give herself a chance to ponder and ripped the wrapping off to review a blue velvet box. She openedit, and tears sprang to her eyes. It was a gold charm bracelet like she’d always wanted. Jennifer was going to travel the world and wanted to
get a charm from wherever she went.
Two charms were on it: a heart to symbolize her mother’s love and a butterfly, her mother’s favorite creature.
I’m not leaving you, my loves. I’ll always be here in your hearts, and whenever you see a butterfly, it will be me reminding you of how much I love you.
Jennifer’s hand shook as she stared at it, and this time, she didn’t stop the tears that rolled down her cheeks.
“Hey!” Harley’s soft voice whispered as he wrapped his arms around her. “It’s beautiful.”
Their eyes met and locked. Harley’s hands moved and cupped her face. His thumb gently wiped the tears before his lips descended and touched hers, blocking out the pain and the world around them.
CHAPTER 16
Harley sat behind the wheel of Jennifer’s car with the road stretching out before him like a ribbon of asphalt winding from the heart of Boston to the quaint town of Newbury Port. The engine’s purr filled the car’s interior, a mechanical symphony accompanying the tension that hung in the air. A heavy silence lingered between Harley and Jennifer, the echoes of their kiss resonating like an unspoken secret.
The car glided over the road, cutting through the open spaces and stretches of tranquil green countryside while the bright blue cloudless sky formed a canopy above them. Cool air filtered through the car vents, keeping the heat that shimmied off the road outside.
Harley fixed his eyes on the road ahead, projecting an air of calm belying the turmoil within him that was only evident by the white tinge around his knuckle gripping the steering wheel. Harley felt like he was in a cocoon of unspoken words, each passing mile a reminder of the uncharted territory he and Jennifer had drifted into. Although their entire relationship so far had been uncharted territory for Harley. He’d never met anyone quite like Jennifer.
As the silence seemed to thicken around them like a heavy fog, Harley glanced toward the passenger seat to see Jennifer staring out the side window. The letters her mother and Andrew had written to her forty years ago lay on her lap, neatly folded and unread by her. As his attention returned to the road, his eyes caught the charm bracelet cradled in a center pocket between the seats.
The backseat leather squeaked, capturing Harley’s attention, and he looked in the mirror to see Harriet scooching forward to lean between the seats. They had collected her on their way out of Boston. Harley had been acutely aware of Harriet’s shrewd eyes observing Jennifer and him since she slid into the back of the car. She reminded him of a spectator in a theater, anticipating the next act of the drama unfolding before her.
When their trip began, Jennifer had filled Harriet in on what was happening and why Jennifer’s birthday plans had changed. They wereheaded for Plum Island via Newbury Port to find Angela, who they believed was in danger.
“Harley, you haven’t told us how James and Duncan are related,” Harriet pointed out.
“That’s why you’ve been so quiet!” Jennifer turned and looked at Harriet.
“Yes, that’s whyI’vebeen so quiet.“ Harriet grinned smugly and wagged her index finger between the two of them. “I’m not too sure what’s going on between you, but I have to tell you that you’re not hiding whatever disagreement you’ve had this time too well, either.” She shook her head and raised her eyebrows. “You can cut the tension in the car with a pizza cutter.”
“Don’t you mean knife?” Harley caught Harriet’s eyes in the mirror.
“No, Harriet likes to put a new spin on old sayings.” Jennifer sighed.
“You really are eccentric!” Harley laughed, looking at her in the mirror.
“Thank you.” Harriet exaggerated her thanks. “It’s so nice to finally be noticed for who I really am.”
