Page 1 of The Summer Inn on Plum Island
CHAPTER 1
Dawn, her heart heavy, stood on the balcony of her hotel suite overlooking the ocean as the sun slowly stretched over the sea, awakening Plum Island with its golden yawn. The cool morning breeze carried the salty tang of the sea, mingling with the scent of blooming wildflowers from the cliffs. She sipped her green smoothie, a concoction she’d perfected over the days to keep her energized yet calm—a necessary balance for the hours of writing she had planned.
As the horizon bled into a canvas of orange and pink, Dawn’s thoughts meandered to the wedding festivities that had filled the Summer Inn with laughter and love just the day before. The double familymoon that followed meant that her best friends, Alex and Harriet, along with their new families, would be absent for the next few weeks. The sudden quiet was stark, making the island feel more like an isolated retreat than ever.
With a soft sigh, she set her smoothie down and turned back into the suite, the plush carpet soft under her bare feet. Plum Island felt empty without the cheerful chaos of her friends and their children. On a whim, she decided to start her day with a morning walk on the beach, thinking it might inspire some new ideas for her script. She reached for her watch on the bedside table, a habitual gesture to ensure she kept track of time, only to find it missing.
Perplexed, Dawn searched around the table, lifting papers and peering behind the lamp. Nothing. Her brow furrowed as she considered the last time she’d seen it—a vivid memory of placing it on the table the previous night sprung to mind. A chill prickled at her spine, not from the morning coolness but from a budding suspicion. The watch wasn’t just a timepiece; it was a vintage collector’s item, a gift from her late mother, making it irreplaceable. The question of its sudden disappearance hung in the air, adding a layer of intrigue to the morning’s tranquility.
Deciding to widen her search, Dawn checked the bathroom, the living area, and even under the bed. With each passing minute, her unease grew; it wasn’t like her to misplace things, especially not something of sentimental value. After a thorough yet fruitless search, she was forced to consider the possibility that her watch had been taken.
But who would take it?Her mind raced with possible scenarios.
Determined not to let this disruption stall her day, Dawn dressed for her walk, choosing comfort over style with a lightsweater and capri pants. As she laced her sneakers, her resolve hardened; she would need to alert the hotel management about her missing watch, though the thought of theft in such a secure environment was puzzling.
Stepping out of her suite, Dawn headed for the beach, her mind now occupied with more than just scripts and character arcs. While the possibility of theft nagged at her, she pushed the thought aside, focusing instead on the rhythmic sound of the waves and the soft sand under her feet.
Dawn’s missing watch created an unexpected twist in her morning routine, which was just what she needed to spark new creative ideas, even if it came with a bit of inconvenience. The familiar comfort of the beach, her usual creative sanctuary, reassured her amidst the uncertainty of the missing watch.
Dawn made her way past the Beach Hut and down to where the waves kissed the shore. The rhythmic sound of the ocean usually soothed her, but today, Dawn’s mind was preoccupied with her missing watch. She tried to remember if maybe she hadn’t put it down, or perhaps she left it in her car.
As she walked toward the rocky part of the long sandy beach, her internal debate was interrupted by a familiar voice. “Dawn!” Liam called as he emerged from the ocean.
Water cascaded off him in the early morning light as he emerged from the ocean, his surfboard under one arm. The unexpectedsight of him, a friend she hadn’t expected to see so early, brought a spark of anticipation to her morning walk. Dawn stopped and smiled as Liam jogged toward her.
“Hi!” Dawn greeted him. “You’re up early.”
“I usually get the waves to myself this time of day,” Liam told her and teased, “Going for a solo walk to get fitter than me, eh?” His blue eyes twinkled with humor as he approached her.
Dawn gave a soft laugh, momentarily distracted from her worries. “I just needed some fresh air to clear my head,” she replied. “I’ve got a busy day ahead. I’m fetching Harper from Boston airport in a few hours, and I have some rewrites of the next episode of the Cobble Cove Mysteries that I need to get to.”
Liam’s expression softened. “Sounds like a full day. Anything interesting planned for her visit?”
“Just hoping the change of scenery will help her,” Dawn said, thinking about her niece’s recent troubles. “She’s been acting out a bit lately, and my brother thinks a summer here might settle her down.”
“That’s a good idea,” Liam agreed, nodding as he glanced back at the waves. “This place has a way of calming even the wildest spirits. Plus, Lila will be thrilled to have someone her age around as her friends are all out of town for three weeks.”
Dawn appreciated his supportive tone. “It would be great if we could introduce the girls, as I think it’ll be good for Harper to have a friend like Lila.” She shook her head as worry creased her brow. “My brother tells me that Harper’s friends are very pretentious and a bit over the top when it comes to designer labels, the best hair and nail salons, and so on.”
“I get it,” Liam said with a nod. “I’ve seen it happen with some of my colleagues’ teens. There is a lot of pressure to fit in.”
They both looked out over the waves as they spoke. “Harper was never like that until she started at her new high school.” Dawn shook her head and sighed. “Now Harper and her mother, Tracy, who always had a great relationship, fight all the time. Scott, my brother, reckons they both need a long break away from each other for a while.”
“I bet your brother needs the break too,” Liam guessed. “I know what it’s like being in the middle of a mother-daughter feud.” He raised his eyebrows and blew out a breath. “It’s not nice. You’re trying to keep the peace and don’t want to take sides as you love them both and can see both points of view.”
“Then end up being the villain in both their stories,” Dawn finished for him. “There is no winning in that battle.” She agreed with Liam. “Scott and Tracy are going to take a cruise while Harper and I spend the next three weeks together.”
“What time are you back from Boston?” Liam asked.
“I’m leaving at ten, so I should be there by noon,” Dawn told him. “Harper’s flight arrives at twelve-thirty. I thought we’d have lunch and go shopping in Boston, then head back in time for dinner at around seven tonight.”
“I see you have your whole itinerary planned.” Liam laughed. “Why don’t we meet for dinner at the Beach Hut this evening?”
“That sounds like a marvelous idea,” Dawn accepted his invitation, and a thought struck her. “If Lila is here on her own, she can come with me to Boston if she wants to, and if that’s okay with you?”
“Really?” Liam looked at her in surprise. “I’m sure she’d love that. Last night she was whining about not having anything to do with all her friends gone. Even Carly, Ethan, Reef, and Shay have gone away for a few weeks while the filming has been paused.”
“I don’t know how we’re going to get this season of the Cobble Cove Mysteries finished on time with all the character changes we’ve had to make.” Dawn blew out a breath. “We need a leading man that’s not going to quit on us so I can stop having to come up with plot lines. Especially as it coincides with Caroline’s new books that are coming out when the series starts, so it’s not only the scripts that have to change.”
