Page 3 of The Restaurant on Plum Island
“Mom, I can walk home because we live just across the road in the nature reserve.” Reef rolled his eyes.
“You know I don’t like you walking through the reserve at night,” Carly told him.
“Mom, the place is lit up so brightly they can see it from space,” Reef pointed out.
“Harley will give you a lift home, and that’s the end of this conversation.” Carly’s voice brooked no argument.
“Fine!” Reef shook his head. “Do you want me to walk you to the car in case you get...” He looked around the room. “You know…”
“No, I’ll be fine.” Carly smiled, and her heart swelled.
Reef was so protective of her. Her baby boy was not such a baby anymore and had towered over her since age fifteen.
“Okay.” Reef hugged her and kissed her on the cheek. “Drive safely, and I love you.”
“I love you too, sweetheart.” Carly gave him an extra squeeze. “Please be good, and I’ll see you later.”
Carly hurried from the ballroom, stopping to get her purse and shawl. She hurried to her car and nearly stumbled over a young girl hiding beside it, dropping her purse and keys.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Carly said to the teen as she bent down to retrieve her things. “Are you okay?”
“I… I…I’m fine.” The young girl jumped to her feet, grabbing the book she’d been reading. “I was in your way.” She pushed her round tortoiseshell glasses up her nose.
Carly was captivated by her large blue eyes and wondered why the teen didn’t wear contacts since the glasses did nothing for her.Geez, Carly. How nice. You were in the company of A-listers for three hours, and already you’re sinking into old habits.
Her eyes assessed the young girl’s expensive attire and knew she wasn’t homeless, nor did she seem to be a runaway. She was also dressed like she was attending a formal gathering. Carly’s eyes narrowed. She must be the daughter of one of the wedding guests.
“Are you hiding from the wedding reception?” Carly asked her.
The girl nodded and clutched her book as if it were a shield. “Yes. I don’t like parties and crowds.”
“I don’t either,” Carly told her, smiling warmly. “Wouldn't you rather sit in the hotel foyer or lounge area instead of out here in the car park on the asphalt?”
“I was tired of my b...” She stopped what she was about to say. “The person who takes care of me when my father’s busy keeps finding me in there and dragging me back to the wedding.”
“Ah!” Carly nodded. “I know a place in the hotel safer than the car park where you can hide.”
“Thanks, but I’d rather just go home,” she said.
“Can I give you a lift?” Carly offered. “I’m heading home myself, and I can take you home.”
“I can walk,” the girl told her. “I live across the road in Nature Valley Estate.”
“Oh!” Carly’s eyes widened. “I live there too.”
“Really?” The girl looked at her in surprise. “We moved in last week to number five.”
“No way! I live in number three.” Carly’s heart slammed into her rib cage as she hoped the girl and her family were friends or relatives of the bride, not A-listers on the groom’s side.
“You’re Reef’s mom?” The teen asked.
“Yes, that’s me.” Carly smiled and held out her hand. “I’m Carly Donovan.”
“I’m Shay,” the girl introduced herself.
“It’s nice to meet you, Shay.” Carly frowned thoughtfully. “If you like, I can give you a lift home if your parents allow me to.”
“It’s just my father,” Shay told her, a shadow darkening her beautiful blue eyes. “My mother passed away seven years ago.”
