Page 39 of The Summer Inn on Plum Island
“Ritz!” Dawn and Liam said in unison.
“Where is she?” Liam asked
“Safe and warm. Ritz is pretty shaken and irritated, so just leave her with me for a while and let her warm up where I have her,” Wade advised.
“You saw someone in a white jumpsuit,” Carl questioned Wade.
“Yeah.” Wade nodded. “It was like a slick skin and even covered her face.”
“Wait!” Dawn’s frown deepened as she looked at her brother. “How did she come to have Ritz?”
“I can’t give you an exact answer as I only came to the party when she was screaming down the hallway with an Iguana stuck to her,” Wade told them. “Once I rescued the poor thing, I found that your room door was open. There were papers scattered everywhere. I went inside and found this passageway. As you were nowhere to be found, I thought you may have been kidnapped and dragged in here.”
“So you came to rescue me?” Dawn was touched. “With an iguana as your weapon?”
“Trust me, that woman was pretty scared,” Wade said. “Iguanas know their owners and who is feeding them or taking care of them. They don’t like strangers and, like any animal, can pick up on ill intent.”
“You said that woman was in Miss Vanderbilt’s room?” Carl’s eyes widened, and his head snapped around to look at her. “I’m sorry, Miss Vanderbilt, Mr. Gains, but it’s time to call the police.”
They retraced their steps back through the tunnels to Dawn’s bedroom. Along the way, Wade insisted he be brought up to speed on what was going on under the threat of calling theirolder brother if he wasn’t, especially when he learned his niece was in town.
It was nearly three in the morning when the police finally left. Dawn and Wade were being moved to newer suites in the new wing of the hotel, which had only just finished being renovated. Carl and some of his security detail helped Liam and some of his staff members board up the doors that led to the guest rooms through the tunnels. Liam liaised with Carl about getting secret security cameras set up in the tunnels to try and catch the thieves.
It was four in the morning before Dawn climbed into her new bed in her new room with Hicks curled up beside her. Wade still had Ritz and insisted on creating a temporary home for her in his new suite made from a large fish tank Liam had taken out of the main sitting area of the hotel a couple of years ago. Before Dawn fell asleep, she messaged Harper and Betty to let them know that they had to switch rooms. It had been an eventful night, and Dawn was going to sleep until noon or try to at least.
Every time Dawn closed her eyes, she felt her lips pressing against Liam as she remembered the stupid, impulsive slip-up Dawn had earlier. Thank goodness they’d been too busy to dwell on it. As the sun started to awaken the day as it peered over the horizon, Dawn finally drifted off to sleep. Carried in the arms of Liam, she stepped into a blissful dream.
CHAPTER 8
The morning sun streamed through the large bay windows of Aunt Betty’s kitchen, casting a warm glow over the breakfast table where Harper and Lila sat. They were nestled in the cozy nook of the kitchen, with a panoramic view of Cobble Cove’s picturesque cliffside that overlooked the sea and across to the Cobble Cove Lighthouse.
As they nibbled on fresh toast and fruit, their conversation gravitated toward the unexpected message they had received from Dawn and Liam about the eerie events at the hotel.
“Can you believe all that happened?” Harper asked, her eyes wide with a mix of excitement and concern. “With secret passages and mysterious thieves?”
Lila nodded, her expression thoughtful. “It’s like something out of one of the mystery novels Aunt Caroline writes. But I’m glad they’re okay. It must have been terrifying.”
Just then, Aunt Betty returned to the table with a plate of steaming toast and another bowl of vibrant fruit salad. “Here you go, girls. Eat up,” she said cheerily, setting down the food. She wiped her hands on her apron and sat down with them. “I just got off the phone with Liam. He asked if you could stay here for another day or two, just to be safe.”
“That’s perfect,” Harper exclaimed, unable to hide her delight. “More time for adventures at Betty’s!”
Lila chuckled, sharing Harper’s enthusiasm. They whispered excitedly about their extended stay when they thought Aunt Betty had left the room.
“It’s great because it means Aunt Dawn and Liam will get to spend more time together,” Harper whispered, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Lila nodded in agreement. “True, but they also need to do something normal, you know? Not just high-stakes situations that throw them together.”
Harper contemplated this, tapping her fork against her plate. “Yeah, they need a chance to just... be.”
Unbeknownst to them, Aunt Betty had lingered by the doorway, her presence unnoticed. She smiled softly, overhearing their conversation. “You know,” she began, walking back into the room, “a family outing like going to the movies or ice skating might be a nice, normal thing for a group. It’d give Dawn and Liam some space, too, which is perfect for your parent trap matchmaking scheme.”
Caught in their matchmaking scheme, Harper and Lila exchanged embarrassed glances. “Busted,” Harper muttered under her breath.
Aunt Betty chuckled, her eyes twinkling with a mix of amusement and fondness. “I know what you’re up to, but while I want you to be careful about meddling too much, I do want Liam to find happiness.” She smiled at Harper. “And Dawn, as I’ve grown very fond of her this past year.”
“That’s why ice skating would be perfect!” Harper suddenly said, inspired. “Aunt Dawn is hilarious on the ice. She’s not... the most graceful.”
Lila laughed, adding, “And my dad used to play ice hockey when he was younger. He’s an excellent skater.” Her eyes lit with excitement. “Which is perfect because my dad will need to help Dawn.”
