Page 24 of Kindred Lies
“She had so much loss early in life,” Amethyst said softly. “I don’t know how she had the fortitude to endure that. If she did kill herself I almost…understand.”
Cooper nodded. “I’ve always thought so.”
“So George Marchant is your relative.” She tapped her chin. “And the Marchant family has owned this inn ever since. How many generations is that?”
“Four I think…” He tilted his head to the side and considered her question. “George was my great-grandfather.”
All this talk about family was interesting, but he wanted to get started on their trip to Ghost Peak Island. They could discuss it in length while they were exploring the island and searching for the Ghost of Easton Hill. How did he divert her attention long enough to get her moving and heading toward his boat?
“You’re probably right then,” Amethyst agreed. “I’m sorry I’m being so nosy. I find it amazing you know so much about your ancestors.”
He frowned. She might not think so when she realized Hannah was his great-grandmother. Marianne didn’t paint her in a favorable light in her journals. Cooper hadn’t much liked her either. He hated that he had horrible thoughts about his relation, but he couldn’t deny she’d acted dishonorably toward her best friend. “Don’t you know your grandparents?” He’d always been close to his family and couldn’t imagine not having a relationship with any of them. “My grandparents are snow birds. They spend the warmer months in Michigan and travel south for the winter. We expect them back any day now.”
“You’re so lucky.” There was a whisper of longing in her tone. “It’s just my mom and me. She never talks about her parents and I never knew my dad. I don’t even have the luxury of knowing his name.”
“I’m so sorry,” he said earnestly. “My family has always been there for me. My whole life is wrapped up in this town. I don’t know if I could even imagine a life other than this one.” He smiled. “I’d be glad to share it all with you. Give me the journal and I’ll make sure it’s in a plastic bag.”
She handed him the journal she had left sitting on the settee. He opened the picnic basket and pulled one of the extra bags he’d stored in there for leftover food. Once it was safely secured in the bag he put it in the picnic basket. “There safe and sound for later reading.”
“Thank you for helping me with all of this,” she said.
“It’s my pleasure.” He grinned. It really was and he wouldn’t be any place else for anyone. “Are you ready to head to my dad’s house?”
She lifted a brow. “I didn’t realize we were going there.”
“The boat is docked near there, and it’s closer to Ghost Peak Island than traveling from the bay.”
She frowned briefly and then lifted her lips up in to a smile. “All right. Lead the way.”
He looped his arm through hers and lifted the picnic basket in the opposite hand. They walked together out of the inn and in the direction of his dad’s house. It was his childhood home, but he stopped thinking of it as his a while ago. Without his mom in residence it felt…lonely. He shook those thoughts away. He didn’t want to think about anything melancholy on a day that should prove to be a happy one.
