And somehow, Robin wasn’t a bit surprised. This was classic Lillian. Giving someone a second chance. Taking care of someone when life had dealt them a tough road.
“Come on, Robs. Lillian has a good idea. I’ll get you back to my place. Besides, we should check on Sunny and Barney, right?” Jay took her hand.
“So, you two run along.” Lillian practically pushed them out the door. “And, Jay, you keep an eye on her until Freddy is found.”
Chapter 25
The next morning Lillian went to the historical society along with Robin and Jay to help Etta clean things up. Etta hobbled around with her crutches though Lillian did her best to try to make her sit and keep her foot elevated. But Etta kept popping up to get one thing or another.
She sent Robin and Jay to the storage room to clean up the mess from the fallen bookcase while she and Etta unloaded some rubber containers Etta had filled in case there was damage from the storm.
Robin and Jay came back to the main room after an hour or so. “We’ve finished up in there. What are you two doing?” Robin crossed over to the table.
“I was telling Etta about Anna and her Johnny fella from the journal. Anna is listed as missing in the storm, and her journal ends right before the storm. Johnny’s father was the lightkeeper on the island.”
“And I had a listing of all the lightkeepers. I found Johnny’s last name.”
“That’s some good detective work.” Robin peered over their shoulders.
“We’re looking up to see if we can find out anything about them.” Lillian was already crushed that Anna went missing in the storm. She’d feel a bit better if she could at least have good news about Johnny. Like maybe he’d gone on to live a happy life. Or some thread of hope.
Etta paused and looked up, a sad expression crossing her face. “Oh, Lillian, look. Johnny is listed as missing in the storm, too.”
“Oh, no.” Her heart tightened and sadness swept through her. It was hard to explain. She didn’t really know them and it was so many years ago. But still. It saddened her. She sighed. “I had hoped they’d end up together and get their happily-ever-after. Or that at least Johnny did.”
Etta closed the folder of papers. “I guess not. I’m sorry, Lillian.”
“That’s that, I suppose. The end of the journal mystery. Though we still didn’t find any descendants of Anna’s family to return the journal to.” Lillian stood, pushing aside the thought of the missing couple. Or trying to. She had work to do. “Well, enough of this. I have an inn to run. You’ll take it easy if we leave you here? Promise?”
“I’ll take it easy.” Etta nodded.
“At least stay off ladders,” Jay admonished her.
She grinned. “I will do that.”
Lillian left with Robin and Jay, and yet she couldn’t shake the sadness that lingered over finding out the news about first Anna, then Johnny. Starcrossed lovers who never had their chance at happiness.
Chapter 26
Uncle Noah was driving her nuts. No matter how many times she insisted she was okay, he hovered around. Always and constantly. But, being back on the island had made one thing clear to Zoe. She’d thought she had to move away to make it on her own, prove herself. But now… all she wanted was to move back home.
Well, not in the same house as Sara and Noah. It was way too cramped for all of them. But back to the island. Find a job here. She’d even turned in her notice at her job.
Noah came walking into the sunroom. “Do you need anything?”
“Aren’t you supposed to be working at the community center?” She eyed him over the rim of her glass of sweet tea.
“I was, but I just stopped in to check on you.”
“Uncle Noah. I. Am. Fine.” She didn’t know how to make it any clearer to him.
He sank onto the couch beside her. “I know you are. I do. It’s just… it’s my responsibility to keep you safe. To take care of you.”
“No, it’s my own responsibility to take care of myself. Make my own decisions.” She eyed him. “And, by the way, I’ve made a big decision.”
He cocked his head to the side and she could see him bracing himself.
“I’m moving back to the island.”
His eyes flew open wide. “You’re what?”
“Moving back here. But—” She held up a hand. “I’m not living here with you and Sara. I’m finding my own place. I’ve talked with Lisa and I’m going to move in with her.”
“The two best friends together again.” A wide smile overtook Noah’s features. “This is great news. Great.”
“I’ve missed living here. I love the island. The people here.”
Noah took her hand. “I’d love to have you back here.”
“Then it’s settled. And Lisa has a couple leads for me on a job.”
“You’ll find one.” He hugged her. “This is the best news ever.”
And it was good news. She was sure of her decision. And she was happy. Except… she missed Mason. He was the missing link to everything being perfect living back on the island.
Chapter 27
Mason sat at the conference table with his father, going over notes on what they were going to say at the scheduled meeting of the upper management of the company.
His dad was going through a stack of papers that had accumulated while he’d been gone. He frowned when he picked up one with a handwritten address on it. He sliced it open and read it. “Well.”
“Well, what?”
“It’s from Brian.”
“The guy that practically brought you to ruin?”
“It’s about time I tell you the whole story. I found him. He was on an island. With his wife and daughter.”
“I didn’t
