Page 98 of The Beach Hut on Plum Island
“It’s a very nice house, what I can see of it in the dark,” Finn said.
“Thanks.” Harriet was distracted as they made their way toward the stairs, where they stopped and listened for a sound. “If I had to guess, I’d say my mother, Uncle Titus, and Faith have been taken to the main living room.”
“But we’re obviously not going to storm it until Scott gives the signal,” Finn reminded her.
“Right!” Harriet nodded. “We can see his signal from upstairs.”
“Why don’t I believe you?” Finn asked, but he followed her, not wanting to leave her alone.
They walked down a long hallway until they saw a light at the end of it.
“They’re in there,” Harriet whispered and flattened herself against the wall before pulling Finn into a cloak closet. “We’ll wait here for the signal.”
“How are we going to see the signal?” Finn asked, confused. They were standing close together. He could feel the warmth of her skin against his.
“It’s when the pizza delivery arrives,” Harriet told him.
Their eyes met in the dark room, only slightly lit by the moonlight that filtered through the large windows. Before Finn could stop himself, his lips met hers, and he pulled Harriet closer as her arms wound around his neck. For a few moments, they let the world and danger around them disappear until the sound of the doorbell rang through the hall, forcing them apart.
They stood for a few moments, catching their breath and staring at each other.
“I know this isn’t the right time for this,” Finn said. “But in case something happens, I don’t want to regret not saying this.” He moved a stray lock behind her ear. “When I was a young man, this crazy teenager with flashing green eyes and a bandanna covering the bottom of her mouth stole a part of my heart and rode away with it.” Their eyes locked. “Years later, I met her again, and she stole the rest of it.” He smiled. “I wasn’t lying when I proposed to you in front of your uncle. Everything I said I meant. I’m so in love with you, Harriet.”
“Really?” Harriet’s eyes widened. “While you do pick your moments,” she smiled, “I’ve always had a giant crush on you. In fact, if you go to my bedroom, there’s still a poster of you on my wall.” Before he could say anything, she put her finger over his lips. “I love you too, Finn. I just wish we could’ve done this in a more romantic setting.” She smiled.
Their lips barely touched to seal their confession of love; a commotion in the hallway about a big order of pizza for a party drew them apart.
“That’s our cue,” Harriet told him, giving him a quick kiss. “We’re going to dash into two different doors. You’re going to gointo the next door on the left and keep hidden until I call you and Scott.”
Before he could ask her what she was going to do, she kissed him. “Be careful.”
She slipped out of the room so quickly, leaving him staring after her. When Finn crept out of the room, he froze for a few seconds, and his heart nearly stopped beating. He was about to leap forward and protect Harriet when he was grabbed from behind.
“It’s Scott,” he said into Finn’s ear. “This way.” He pulled Finn into the door Harriet had told him to go into as they heard voices.
“Harriet! I should’ve known. Take her into the living room with the rest of her family and get rid of that pizza guy. I didn’t order pizza.”
Harriet’s heart hammered in her chest when she turned to see that Finn was about to leap to her rescue. She breathed in relief when she saw Scott pull him into the next room right before Harriet was pushed into the living room.
“Harriet!” Julie called. “What on earth are you doing here?”
“You shouldn’t be here, Harry,” Titus told her.
“How’s your father?” Julie asked.
“He’s fine,” Harriet assured her. “How are you all?”
“We’re fine,” Julie assured her.
Harriet’s eyes landed on Faith. “Are you okay, Faith?”
“Yes, thank you, Harriet,” Faith said, nodding, and that’s when Harriet saw the ring on her finger.
“I knew it was too good to be true.” Harriet’s eyes fell on the other person sitting near her family. “I believe you,Estelle.”
“Harriet,” Julie whispered. “It’s not what you think.”
“I was trying to save your mother and uncle,” Estelle told Harriet. “I only played along with the plan to get to them.”
