Page 11 of The Summer Inn on Plum Island
“I told you, Dawn and my dad were falling for each other,” Lila whispered to Harper.
“I don’t know, Lila,” Harper said, her eyes narrowing as she took in the tender moment. “There’s definitely chemistry between them.”
“I think my father might be weary to give his heart away again,” Lila told Harper.
“My Aunt Dawn, too,” Harper said. “Aunt Dawn has been hurt one too many times, and now she guards her heart. I heard my father telling my mother once that Aunt Dawn never knows if someone loves her for her or her money and our family name.”
“That’s horrible,” Lila said, looking appalled. “I think my father’s scared of being cheated on again.”
Harper looked at Lila in surprise. “Is that why your parents are divorced?”
Lila nodded. “They think I don’t know, but I heard my father telling Uncle Finn about it.”
“I’m sorry, Lila.” Harper’s eyes filled with compassion.
“It’s okay,” Lila told Harper. “I know it wasn’t my fault they broke up, and they both love me.”
Harper, smiled mischievously. “Are we still going ahead with our plan?”
“Which one?” Lila’s eyes narrowed, and she smiled.
“The one where we get Aunt Dawn and your father together,” Harper reminded her.
“I was about to bring that up, too,” Lila admitted. “I think they’d make a great couple.”
“I agree,” Harper said as the two girls watched Dawn wave Liam goodbye and close the door.
They quickly stepped away from the bedroom door and gently pulled it shut.
“We have some more planning to do,” Lila said.
“I’m so glad I came here now,” Harper said, following Lila into the bedroom.
CHAPTER 3
Dawn’s hotel suite was filled with the warm glow of laughter and the rich aromas of their evening meal. The makeshift dining area they’d created looked almost festive, an intimate setting that contrasted sharply with the expansive sea views darkening into silhouettes outside the wraparound balcony windows. Harper and Lila had returned from Lila’s house just in time for dinner, bringing with them an infectious energy that brightened the room further.
Liam had arrived shortly after the teens, and together, they enjoyed a spread of local seafood and hearty sides ordered from the Summer Inn restaurant. Conversation flowed easily among them, punctuated by Harper and Lila’s enthusiastic plans for their newfound friendship and summer adventures. Dawn noted that they made a point of including Tiger in their plans and had already made a chore wheel to look after the cat.
As the evening wound down, the girls excused themselves, heading off to prepare for bed in the spirit of their new camaraderie. While Dawn and Liam cleared the table, they couldn’t help but smile, hearing the muffled sound of the teen’s excited voices and occasional bursts of giggles that filtered through Harper’s bedroom door.
“I’m really looking forward to starting as an undercover manager tomorrow,” Dawn mentioned as she folded a napkin, her tone mixed with a hint of excitement and nerves. “This is so exciting.” Her heart flipped in her chest.
Liam smiled, stacking plates with a clink. “You’ll do great. You have a knack for understanding people, and that’s half the job. Plus, it’ll give us more insight into what’s been going on with these thefts, and you may be able to rule out all my staff.” His eyes darkened. “I’d really hate it to turn out to be one of them.”
“Let’s not rule out the possibility of a phantom just yet,” Dawn teased.
“Wouldn’t that be something?” Liam laughed.
Their conversation drifted from work to personal reflections, a deeper dialogue that was often paused when either of them found themselves lost in thought or simply enjoying the other’s company. The night had wrapped the suite in cozy seclusion, the soft sounds of the ocean waves providing a soothing backdrop.
Dawn and Liam prepared some hot chocolate and took it through to the living room. They had just sat down on the sofa when the sound of hurried footsteps shattered the peace. Lila burst into the living room, her face pale, eyes wide in a mask of panic. The scent of fresh soap wafted over her as bare feet sank into the plush carpet.
“Honey, what’s wrong?” Liam was off the sofa in a flash as he grabbed his daughter by the top of her arms to calm her.
Lila’s voice trembled. “I can’t find the locket Aunt Betty gave me from Gran.”
Liam looked at Dawn, frowning, and explained, “It’s a family heirloom that my mother left for me if I had a daughter one day. I gave it to Lila for her fifteenth birthday.”
