Page 4 of The Restaurant on Plum Island
“I’m sorry.” Carly’s heart went out to her. “Should we go find him and ask him?”
“It’s okay. I’ll go ask my dad. If I can find him,” Shay said. “If you don’t mind waiting for a few minutes,”
As the teen ran into the Summer Inn, Carly started following her. She knew if Reef was going to get a lift with a stranger, Carly would like to meet them. Shay met Harriet Joyce at the entrance, where Harriet stopped her as she approached. Harriet was the groom’s best friend, and Harley’s new girlfriend Jennifer’s good friend and business partner. Carly watched the two of them talk as she approached.
“Hello, Carly,” Harriet greeted her warmly. “I believe you and Shay are making a break for it.”
“Yes,” Carly confirmed. “I have a bit of a headache,” she lied.
“Are you sure it’s okay for Shay to go home with you?” Harriet’s eyes filled with concern. She looked at Shay. “Honey, you can go to my hotel room if you like.”
“No, I want to go home,” Shay told her, and she turned to look hopefully at Carly. “Would you mind if I stayed with you until my father came home?”
“I’m sure that won’t be a problem if your father’s okay with it,” Carly said, frowning as she glanced at Harriet.
“He’ll be fine,” Harriet assured Carly. “I’ll let him know as soon as he finishes another business call.”
“My dad lives on his phone.” Shay’s voice dropped.
“Shay, you know he loves you more than life itself.” Harriet hugged the girl and frowned. “Where is Oz?”
“I escaped him hours ago.” Shay grinned. “He’s probably sitting outside your hotel room door, where he thinks I am.”
“You’re a sneaky rascal.” Harriet laughed and looked at Carly. “Thank you for looking after my girl here.”
“No problem,” Carly told her with a smile. “I remember being just like Shay at her age. I’d take curling up with a good book over having to go to a big gathering.”
They said goodbye to Harriet and went to Carly’s car.
“Is Harriet the person who looks after you when your father’s busy?” Carly asked as they buckled up, and she started the car.
Carly pulled out of the Summer Inn and drove a few yards down the road before turning into the drive that ended with large cast iron electric gates. The scanner scanned her license plate, and the gates slid open.
“Yes.” Shay nodded. “Well, sort of.” She looked at Carly. “Harriet’s my godmother.”
“Oh!” Carly’s eyebrows rose, and her heart sank. Her neighbors were A-listers.There goes my quiet hide-away bungalow in a nature reserve.“Harriet is lovely.”
“Yeah, she’s the best.” Shay smiled. “When my mom died, she was there for me and my dad.”
Carly turned into her driveway and opened her automatic garage door so she could drive in and park her car. She let them into the small outer room where hers and Reef’s coats, shoes, umbrellas, and hats were. Carly kicked off her heels and hooked her shawl over a hook on the wall.
“Must I take off my shoes?” Shay asked, eyeing the room.
“No, you don’t have to,” Carly told her. “I needed to remove those heels as they were killing me.”
“My dad won’t let me wear heels yet,” Shay told her. “He said maybe he’d think about it when I’m eighteen.”
“Trust me,” Carly assured her. “Your feet will be better off until then.”
“I love shoes, though,” Shay chatted with Carly as they entered the kitchen.
“I think most women do,” Carly informed her with a laugh. “Would you like some hot chocolate or herbal tea?”
“Just some water, please,” Shay said.
Carly nodded and took two bottles from the refrigerator, handing one to Shay. “Would you like to watch TV?”
“Sure.” Shay nodded and followed Carly into the living room, where she sat on the large sofa while Carly sat on the giant armchair. “I like old-fashioned movies.”
