“Well, let’s wait until I can tell Lillian.”
Lillian looked up from the reception desk to see Robin, Jay, and Betty Gleason standing before her. All three looked like they held the answer to some big secret.
“Betty, what are you doing here? It’s so good to see you.” She came around the counter.
“I have some news for you. News I wanted to deliver in person.”
What news could Betty possibly have? Intrigued, Lillian led the way over to a sitting area in the lobby. They all settled and she turned to Betty, waiting.
“Well, I heard about the journal you found.”
A ping tugged at Lillian’s heart. “Yes, Anna Smith’s journal. It’s sad though. She and her beau died in a hurricane.”
“No… they didn’t.”
Lillian leaned forward, searching Betty’s face. “What?”
“They didn’t die. They married.”
“But how? They were listed as missing…”
“They were listed, but really they’d eloped. They didn’t know everyone thought they were missing in the storm. They’d left a letter, but that did go missing in the storm.”
“I don’t understand…”
“They stayed away for a couple of years because Anna’s father was not a fan of Johnny’s. But then they had a child and came back to see if they could work things out. Her father took one look at that little baby girl, and, well. The rest of the family lore had it that that little girl could do no wrong and brought the family back together. He spoiled that little girl and the whole family got their happily-ever-after.”
“How do you know all this?”
“Anna was my great grandmother on my mother’s side of the family.”
Happiness rushed through Lillian. Anna and Johnny had found each other. They married. It was the perfect ending for the journal story. Lillian jumped up. “I’ll be right back.”
She hurried to The Nest and back to the lobby and handed the journal to Betty. “Here you go. Here’s the journal.”
Betty clutched it tightly to her chest. “Oh, a bit of my family history. This is wonderful.”
“And one more thing.” Lillian held out the piece of turquoise sea glass. “We found this with the journal.”
“Oh, it’s beautiful.” Betty set the journal down and took the sea glass, turning it over and over in her hand.
“You should make it into a pretty necklace or something,” Robin suggested.
“That’s a great idea, dear. It’s so pretty.”
Lillian sat back, content that she’d found the end of Anna’s and Johnny’s story, and that their story had finished with such a remarkable, happy ending.
Chapter 29
Robin popped into her bungalow with Barney the next day. She really needed to get a few more outfits if she was going to stay with Jay much longer. Though, maybe she should just move into the inn for a bit. She did worry about what the town gossiped about, even though she had her own room at Jay’s.
She shook her head. She should listen to Lillian and ignore the town gossip. It made Jay feel better to have her near while Freddy was still missing. Though hopefully, by now, he was miles away from Belle Island.
And Barney and Sunny were getting along great at Jay’s house. She swore the kitten got bigger every day. She should just let things go along like they were for now. But she did need those clothes.
She unlocked the door and she and Barney went inside. “Barney, I won’t be long. Just need to get a few things.”
She checked through her mail, then headed to the bedroom to pack a small bag with a few more outfits. And shoes. She needed more shoes. She hummed under her breath as she packed. Life was pretty good these days. She and Jay were a couple. The inn had opened back up. And soon the bridge would be open, too. Though the ferry was doing a great job of hauling the tourists and day visitors to the island and business was picking up for the town.
She walked back into the front room, lost in her thoughts of her perfect little world, and froze.
Freddy stood in the doorway.
She took a step back. “What do you want?”
“To get off this blasted island. I need a boat.”
“I don’t have one.”
“But your friend Charlotte can get us one.” He took a menacing step toward her.
“She—she doesn’t have a boat.”
“But her boyfriend does. I hear all about things on the island from Dana. Been living here with her for months now.”
Too bad for Dana. She was so much better off now without him.
She looked to her right and left but didn’t see anything she could grab to protect herself, and she wasn’t into the whole grab her and hold a knife to her thing again. She sensed, more than saw, Barney come up to her side and growl at Freddy.
“Keep the dog away. I mean it.” Freddy swung his arm wide and she couldn’t miss the glint of a knife.
“Barney, it’s okay.” She lied to the dog who stayed stubbornly at her side.
“So, you call your Charlotte buddy and get a boat.”
“What will I tell her? She knows I don’t boat.”
“Think fast, kiddo. ‘Cause I need one to get off the island.”
She pulled out her phone and started to call Charlotte, but then quickly changed her mind and pressed the button for Jay. Before he could say anything, she rushed her words. “Charlotte, I need you to do me a favor. I have a friend who needs a boat to get off the island.”
“Hey, Robs. You called me, not Charlotte.”
“I know, but he’s responsible. Just needs to get to the mainland for some kind of emergency.”
“Robs? You okay?”
“No, I don’t think so. I’m here at the bungalow now. He’s here with me.” She turned to Freddy, stalling for time. “You’ll need it only for the afternoon, right?”
Freddy circled nervously back and forth in the entrance to the house.
“I’m on my way.” There was no mistaking the edge of urgency in Jay’s voice.
The phone
