Page 13 of The Summer Inn on Plum Island
In Harper’s room, Harper and Lila were not quite ready to let the night end.
“Did you know about that legend of the phantom hotel thief?” Harper asked Lila.
“No,” Lila said, frowning. “My father has never mentioned it before tonight. Well, to me anyway.”
“Your father mentioned going to check the archives at the library for more information on the phantom thief.” Harper’s eyes narrowed. “Is the library far from here?”
“No,” Lila shook her head. “There’s an island bus that stops outside the hotel and takes you right into the town center.”
“Cool, we should do that.” Harper’s eyes were filled with excitement. “If Aunt Dawn and your father are going to investigate, I think we should help them.” She grinned. “That way, we can keep an eye on them and have more opportunities to set them up.”
“Good thinking,” Lila said, and her heart dropped when she thought of her mother.
“Are you okay?” Harper’s brow furrowed as she looked at Lila. “Is this about your mother?”
“Sorry,” Lila said with a shaky smile. “I know it shouldn’t upset me.” She glanced at her phone. “But my mother hasn’t even bothered to call me about her engagement and wedding.”
“I’m sure she’ll phone you tomorrow,” Harper tried to cheer Lila up. “And if she doesn’t, you can always phone her.”
“And say what?” Lila raised her eyebrows. “We were eavesdropping on Dad and the woman my friend and I are trying to set him up with when I heard you were getting married?”
“Maybe not that!” Harper snorted. “Just call her and say you were thinking about her and thought you’d call to say hi.” She shrugged. “She is your mother, after all. You are allowed to call her.”
“I don’t know.” Lila looked uncertain and shook her head. “My mother may think it strange that I’d just call her out of the blue.”
“Then be honest,” Harper suggested. “Well, sort of honest anyway. Say we were going to get something to drink when we overheard your father telling my aunt about her wedding.”
“That might work,” Lila said.
Harper’s frown deepened, and her eyes softened with worry. “How do you feel about your mother getting remarried?”
“I like Sean,” Lila told her honestly. “He’s a nice man and in the Marine Corps like my mother. But there is always this tiny bit of resentment for him as he was the one who broke up my mom and dad.”
“That’s only natural,” Harper pointed out. “You’re going to feel upset with the man.”
“Yeah, but then there’s also a bigger part of me that’s happy for Mom, you know?” Lila looked at Harper. “She also deserved to be happy with the man she loves.”
“Just like my aunt and your dad!” Harper stated.
“Exactly,” Lila said, stifling a yawn. “Excuse me. I guess I’m more tired than I thought.”
“And we should get to sleep if we’re going to get up early to get breakfast for Aunt Dawn and your dad,” Harper said.
“We’ll dash out after we’ve ensured they’re having breakfast together,” Lila added. “I’ll tell my dad I’m going to teach you to surf.”
“I’ve always wanted to learn,” Lila admitted. “Then we can leave the two of them alone.”
“We can go have breakfast at the Beach Hut and then later go into town and hit the library,” Harper finished off their plan. “I think that will give them ample time together.”
“Then we can come back and jot down all our findings while coming up with our next matchmaking move,” Lila said with a sleepy grin.
The teens each climbed into one of the queen-sized beds that graced the room. Harper put out the light as they snuggled down to sleep.
“Night, Lila,” Harper said softly. “I’m so glad I met you.”
“Night, Harper,” Lila said in return. “I’m glad you came to Plum Island.”
The hotel staff that had come to help Liam with the sofa bed and bring him linen had just left, and Liam joined Dawn on the balcony, where she was enjoying the cool evening breeze.
