Page 12 of The Summer Inn on Plum Island
Dawn immediately stood and walked over to them. “Where did you last have it?”
“In your bathroom, before I got in the shower,” Lila replied, wringing her hands. “I took it off and put it on your dresser because I don’t like getting it wet.” Her eyes misted with tears. “When I finished showering and had my pajamas on, I went back into the room to get the locket, but it was gone.”
Harper appeared in the doorway of the living room, drawn by the commotion. She, too, was in her pajamas, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity.
“Are you sure it didn’t fall behind the dresser?” Harper asked.
“I looked all around it,” Lila told her.
Liam’s face hardened with worry, his earlier relaxed demeanor replaced by the protective urgency of a father and the owner responsible for the security of his family and guests. “Let’s go check Dawn’s room again, Lila.”
“Yes, four pairs of eyes are better than one pair,” Harper said, following the group into Dawn’s room and giving a low whistle. “Your room is so much bigger than mine.”
“That’s because I’m the adult, and it’smyhotel suite,“ Dawn said with a grin. “Now, let’s help look for Lila’s locket.” She turned toward Liam, who was moving the dresser. “What does it look like?”
“It’s a gold oval with a delicate rose pattern woven on it,” Liam told her as he got onto his hands and knees, feeling the carpet.
“It has an engraving on the back,” Lila continued for her father. “Always keep the ones you love close to your heart.”
“That’s beautiful,” Harper said before she dropped onto the carpet to join Liam and Dawn’s search for the jewelry item.
“I’ll look in the bathroom just in case it got hooked on an item of clothing,” Dawn said.
“I’m sorry, Dawn, I didn’t get a chance to pick up my clothes,” Lila called after her.
“It’s okay,” Dawn assured her as she stepped into the bathroom, which was still steamy from Lila’s shower.
She carefully went through the teen’s clothes, folding them and placing them neatly on the counter. Dawn then searched the spaces of the bathroom where the locket could’ve fallen. She even looked into the shower, but there was no sign of it.
“I’m sorry, it’s not in the bathroom,” Dawn told them as she returned to her bedroom. “Did you three have any luck?”
“No,” they chorused as Liam moved the dresser back into place.
When he was done with the dresser, Liam knelt, peering under the bed and inside the dresser drawers, even though they knew it was unlikely the locket would be inside. Defeated, he turned toward his daughter.
“Lila, sweetheart, are you absolutely sure you left it on the dresser?” he asked.
“Yes, I’m sure,” Lila replied, her voice cracking slightly with the strain of trying to remember each detail. “I remember seeing it there when I brushed my hair back to go shower.”
Dawn’s heart sank. Having just lost a precious piece of jewelry, she knew how the young woman must be feeling. “I’m sure it will turn up.” She tried to sound hopeful.
“I agree with Dawn,” Liam backed her up. “Let’s go have the hot chocolate Dawn made. In the morning, I’ll write it up and make sure room service is aware of it, and they can keep an eye out for the locket.”
“Okay,” Lila nodded, but Dawn could see how upset Lila was.
After Dawn reheated the hot chocolate, the teens wished Dawn and Liam goodnight, taking their beverages to bed with them. Once Dawn and Liam settled on the sofa with their chocolaty drink, they discussed what had just happened.
“I’m sorry, but that was just too coincidental,” Dawn said, her eyes darting to her room, and she shuddered. “To be honest, I’m now weary to sleep in my room tonight.” Her eyes met his. “That’s just a little too creepy for my peace of mind.”
“I agree. It’s too coincidental, especially given the recent spate of thefts.” Liam’s eyes narrowed as he stared at Dawn’s bedroom door. “I can sleep on the sofa tonight if you’re feelinguncomfortable.” He looked at Dawn. “It pulls out into quite the comfortable sofa bed.”
“I couldn’t ask you to do that,” Dawn said, but her mind was screaming at her to say yes!I don’t believe in ghosts!She reminded herself.Really?The voice at the back of her mind said:After what you just witnessed twice today?She gave herself a mental shake and shut her worries off.
“You’re not asking. I’m offering,” Liam said. “I’d feel better after what’s happened.”
“Thank you, Liam,” Dawn replied, relief washing over her as she considered the comfort of not being alone in her suite tonight with just the girls. “That would make me feel a lot better.”
As Liam made the arrangements to convert the sofa into a bed, Dawn went to the kitchen to put away their mugs. The quiet clinking of the dishes seemed louder in the tense atmosphere. Both were lost in their thoughts about the day’s unsettling events.
