Page 5 of The Beach Hut on Plum Island
“You were the backup in case anything happened to me,” Gray told her. “And you still are, princess.” He put a comforting arm around his sister. “Uncle Titus, Mom, and Dad nearly had heart failure when they found out I’d let Matt go to Oxford. They only calmed down when Victoria Blackwell assured them that Matt was being taken care of by Bailey.”
“I remember how outraged Mom still is about Matt going to Oxford,” Harriet told Gray. “He’s the only heir because I never had kids, and you’re not going to have anymore.”
“At least we have Grandfather on our side,” Gray told her. “I wish he was still in charge.”
Dawn pointed out, “Queen Elizabeth ruled until she was ninety-six. Your grandfather’s only ninety-eight.”
“He’s also losing his mind,” Harriet reminded Dawn. “Do you remember the last time we visited him?”
“For his ninety-fifth birthday,” Dawn remembered with a smile. “He was so cute.”
“He kept forgetting who we were,” Harriet commented.
“He’s gotten a lot worse since then,” Gray informed them. “Uncle Titus has to keep the grounds gates locked, orGrandfather escapes and walks into town and then forgets how to get home.”
“Dementia?” Alex asked.
“Yes,” Gray nodded. “It was confirmed last year.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Alex said. “I enjoy your grandfather. He’s such a laugh and has a wicked sense of humor. He’s one of the most down-to-earth—“
“Hi,” Harley interrupted their conversation. He walked toward them with his wetsuit peeled down to the waist, his t-shirt clinging to his wet body, and a surfboard clutched beneath his arm. “I see you’re all also gathered around that incredible machine.” He nodded toward the Bugatti. “Wow. I’d love to take it for a spin.”
“I’m sure the owner wouldn’t mind,” Alex said, turning to give Harriet a smug smile. “They haven’t used it in a while.”
“Seriously?” Harley looked at Alex in disbelief. “Who owns it?”
“Harriet!” Alex, Dawn, and Gray said in unison.
“Harriet?” Harley shook her head, glancing from her to the car. “Is that the car you lost your license in?”
“Yup!” Harriet confessed before one of the other three in the group spilled the beans. “It’s been sitting in my parent’s garage in Long Island for about a year.”
“No way!” Harley breathed. “What a waste.”
“That’s what I said,” Gray commented, stepping forward with his hand extended. “I’m Gray.” He looked at Harriet. “Harriet’s brother.”
“Harriet has a brother and a Bugatti?” Harley snorted. “Wow. You are a dark horse, Harriet.” He walked around the car, giving a low whistle. “I must say that I understand why you lost your license now.” He looked at Harriet. “I mean, who wouldn’t drive this car at top speed?”
“Dawn,” Harriet, Alex, and Gray chorused.
“Hey!” Dawn protested. “Just because I drove it with caution,” she looked at Harriet, “and stopped it from being impounded, doesn’t mean I didn’t get a sneaky speed in.”
“Dawn, going from twenty miles an hour to thirty isn’t speeding,” Alex pointed out. “And I know that’s what you did because I was driving behind you!”
“Okay, but I’m not the one who got points taken off their license.” Dawn looked pointedly at Alex and then smugly at Harriet. “Or had it taken away altogether, and why? Because I stick to the speed limit.”
“Dawn, sweetie,” Harriet patted her shoulder, “one day, you’re going to get your license taken away for going too slow.”
“I think you’re a great driver, Dawn.” Gray squeezed her.
“Thank you, Gray,” Dawn wrapped her arm around his waist. “This is why you’re my favorite out of the group.”
“That and he went to all your band parades,” Alex reminded them.
“Only because he was a band geek himself.” Harriet snorted.
“Can we move the subject away from my band geekiness?” Gray suggested. “And talk about what you’re going to do when Uncle Titus tries to set you up with Leon again?”
