by Garcia, Rita
My darling daughter, I’ve never been able to think of you any other way. You turned sixteen today and I can only imagine how lovely you are. Have you gone to your first dance? Have you worn lipstick for the first time? Have you learned to drive? So many firsts are still ahead of you. Next year, you’ll be a senior in high school. It doesn’t seem possible. In the last letter and picture I received, you were two years old. I can’t mail this card, but I had to commemorate this special year. I think about you every single day, and whisper a prayer for you. All my love forever, Mom
An intense sadness flowed through me, that I had missed the chance to know this person who’d given birth to me. My cell phone vibrated in my pocket. I was thankful texting was my form of communication—I couldn’t have spoken over the lump in my throat. Logan’s name read out, along with his message. “Need to talk. I’m out front.” I gulped a deep breath—this couldn’t be good.
Melancholy lingered as I rushed outside. I squinted against the glare of the headlights from his truck.
He motioned toward the windows. You’re not wanted here. Leave NOW. Slanderous remarks shouted from the glass. I jumped the fast track back to reality. “Okay, this is starting to scare me.” I folded my arms across my chest. “Maybe I should just go home.”
He placed a hand on each of my shoulders and looked into my face. “You don’t need to run. I’ll find this jerk and put a stop to it.” He paused. “We should talk.”
What more could he possibly have to tell me? “Come upstairs.”
I brought another cup from the kitchen and poured us a both a cup of the chamomile tea from earlier. I scooped Anne’s card off the couch and pushed it into my pocket, inviting him to have a seat.
“There’s something you don’t know.” He studied the delicate cup lost in his man-sized hands.
My brain wanted to shut down and refuse to listen, but I had to know. “Okay…”
“Anne grew up here in Serenity Cove.”
“She lived here when she got pregnant? I assumed she’d given me away and moved someplace new.”
“There’s more.” Logan ran a hand over his jaw, fingers grazing his lips as if wishing he could keep the information locked inside. “Anne’s parents still live here.”
“I have grandparents here in Serenity Cove? Why—” My sudden intake of air stole my words. I had family? Nearby? My heart raced. “Do you think it has anything to do with the vandalism?”
“No. They’re both over eighty.” Logan winced. “Sam—they refuse to see you.”
My thoughts spun. Would this nightmare never end? How could this be true? “I have to change their minds. With Anne gone, I’m the only grandchild they’ll ever have.”
He reached out and drew me close to him. My traitorous heart wanted to connect with his. If only. I wanted to remain protected in the strength of his arms. But right now I had to find courage within myself. “I need to absorb all of this—the windows and now suddenly finding out I have grandparents.” I pulled a key from my pocket and handed it to him. “Lock the front door of the shop as you leave. Take the key with you so if there are any more problems you can get back inside. I don’t want to end up locked inside with a madman.”
“I’ll sack out on the couch. I won’t leave you alone with some lunatic on the loose.”
“I have Goldie and—”
“Not doable. Leaving you unaided and unprotected isn’t an option.”
“Don’t you have to be on duty?”
“Alec has it covered.”
“You don’t need to sleep on the sofa. There’s another bedroom. I guess you’re going to insist on going with me to take Goldie out?”
My furry friend skipped ahead of us down the stairs and tapped her paw against the door. Outside, my eyes wandered across the star-swept sky. Logan’s touch interrupted my thoughts. I looked up at him. “Alec is driving my truck to the station. Don’t want you to worry about the gossip hour in the morning.”
“You’re robbing them of gossip fodder—I’m already their favorite hot topic.”
A refreshing smile settled on his face. “They’re never short on tales to carry.”
Goldie finished her nighttime rounds and ran up the stairs in front of us. “See you in the morning.” I scurried down the hall before he had a chance to suggest a movie or a late snack. I trusted him—I wasn’t so sure about me.
I fixed Goldie a spot at the foot of the bed, although she always ended up snuggled in beside me. I tucked into bed, reached for the tiny knob and quieted the light, glad Logan had stayed—I felt safe. I thought about our earlier conversation, and fell asleep wondering why my grandparents had chosen to reject me. They’d never even met me. Much too soon, sunlight slanted through the window. I’m sure the birds were singing their morning melodies, like the ones I recalled from my childhood.
I wanted to snuggle in for another few minutes, but the smell of coffee reminded me Logan had spent the night. I pulled my robe around me and followed the desire of my heart—a cup of coffee. A man in my kitchen—I could get used to this. Transfixed by his tousled dark hair. I needed coffee, now. My pulse beat double-time to a jazzy tempo.
“Good morning.” He looked at me with that sexy lopsided grin of his. My hands flew to my cheeks, sure they’d flamed a beet red.
“Coffee.” I pushed my fingers into my hair, my palms pressed against my temples.
As I joined Logan at the table, he scooted a plate of pastries toward me. “I surprised Julia and knocked on her back door—these are fresh from her oven.”
“So much for no gossip,” I snickered and rubbed Goldie with my bare toes.
“Julia understands.” He bit off a chunk of a cinnamon roll and washed it down. “I need to check in at the station. Maggie’s on her way here.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Keep the doors and windows locked. I’ll take the front door key and lock it behind me.”
“Whoever’s behind this was only trying to scare me. They haven’t made any actual threats.” We both stood and I found myself encircled in his arms. He kissed the top of my head, and I tilted my face up, but he had already turned away.
The door closed behind him. I inhaled and held the air inside my lungs to control my breathing. My phone vibrated in the pocket of my robe: a text from Maggie. “I’m outside.”
I went down and let her in. “You’re here early.”
“I hope you have coffee,” she said, as we made our way back up the stairs.
Moving Logan’s dirty cup to the sink, I replaced it with a fresh one for her. “Thanks for keeping me company. It wasn’t necessary.”
“Our friendship didn’t end because you’re living here now.” Maggie added a spoon of sugar to her cup. “My brother’s head can be turned by a pretty lady, but no woman has threatened his heart—until now.”
“Logan…he’s...The timing is wrong. I can’t let my craziness infect his life.”
“Everyone has a story. Life doesn’t come tied up in neat packages with silky bows. It’s made up of mountains, of valleys, of deserts and we’re blessed to find refreshing green pastures along the way. The tough seasons enable us to appreciate the softness of the meadows.”
I wanted to believe, but my defeatist attitude still hung on by a thread. I retrieved the pot from the counter across the room and refilled our cups. I settled back at the table. Maggie looked as if she wanted to say something more—I waited.
“Dr. Ellie really is easy to talk to. I think she might help.”
“My parents insisted I talk with a counselor after I lost my hearing—the support helped.”
“You’ll like Dr. Ellie.” She paused and checked her cell phone. “I better go open for business. By the way, Gina, the owner of Serenity Blooms, is picking up her antique table, the one I mentioned to you the other day.”
“I’ll be over in a few minutes.”
“Good. Logan doesn’t want you left alone.”
After locking the door behind Maggie, I walked int
o the bedroom. I’d neglected to make the bed—no doubt distracted by the aroma of coffee. With a smile, I tugged the covers in place and prepared to shower.
Suddenly, Goldie crouched at my feet. “You sense danger?” My whole body trembled and my stomach knotted in pain. I checked to make sure I’d engaged the lock on the apartment door and did a quick walk through of the house—no fires. Goldie alerted me again by lying flat on the floor. Alarmed, I sent a text to Logan, with only the numbers 911. I held my breath as I eased the edge of the drape back to peek out the corner of the window. I couldn’t see anything wrong. I threw my robe off and grabbed my jeans and a shirt. Goldie let me know someone was at the door. My heart pounded, I opened it, praying I’d find Logan on the other side.
Chapter Nine
Sam’s 911 text had me speeding down Shoreview Drive, blaring my siren. People rushed outside their cottages. I slowed to take the curve onto Main Street. Tiffani ran out of Rubi’s Diner and Gina hurried out the door of Serenity Blooms. Their faces reflected concern, as though a tragedy had occurred. I hoped they were wrong. Please, let her be okay.
Alec and I arrived from opposite directions. A pungent taste lodged in my throat as I unlocked the front door of the bookshop. We entered the supply room from the main part of the shop and I took the stairs three at time.
Sam opened the apartment door and rushed into my arms. She shivered as the wetness of her tears fell onto my shoulder. She stepped back and folded her arms across her chest. Not wanting to sever the connection, I kept my hand on her shoulder. “What happened?”
“Goldie dropped flat at my feet, her way of signaling danger. She’s never wrong.” Her eyes darted around, her body trembling. I touched her chin so she would focus on me.
“I’ll take you to Maggie’s shop.” On the way I stopped and had Julia go with us. I wasn’t taking any chances. What if someone still lurked in the shadows?
After making sure Maggie locked the door, I rushed back to the bookshop. The intense fear in Sam’s eyes tugged on my heart. Who was doing this to her? I thought of Lilyan, and quickly dismissed it as a crazy idea. Lilyan had never been destructive or dangerous.
Alec met me at the front. “We searched upstairs and down. Nothing.”
“Leaves one place.” We headed for the alleyway behind the shop. Goldie’s instincts had been dead on. The painter had resorted to using her SUV as a canvas, and what looked like key scratches gouged into the vehicle’s finish. “Fingerprint it and call a tow truck.” I inspected it again. “Tell Hank to get on it now.” After a complete search of the area failed to turn up anything else, I called Maggie and gave her the all-clear for Julia to return to her shop.
We combed the area a second time. Drips of paint were the only evidence. “You think Nicole’s ready to take a shift?”
“Are you kidding, boss? She’s biting on her badge. Why?”
“Until we solve this case, I’m off patrol.”
“I’ll have Hank make a new schedule. Okay to give Nicole the night shift?”
“Your call. Might have Ted ride along with her the first couple of nights.” The four of us—Alec, Ted, Nicole and myself—were the entire Serenity Cove Police Department. When he wasn’t attending classes, Hank manned the phone.
“I’m going to Maggie’s. Make sure Ted gets out here right away—a fingerprint or two would be good.” I slapped Alec on the shoulder and hotfooted it back to the antiques shop.
The ship bell pealed my arrival. “My two favorite women.”
Maggie stood. “I need to check a couple of things.”
“What did you find?” Sam twisted the ends of her hair.
I sat in the chair Maggie had vacated. “Someone vandalized your SUV.”
“Details?” She raised her eyebrows.
“Several key scratches down both sides and defaced with paint.”
Her chin dropped. “This horrible nightmare needs to end.”
I reached over and lightly rubbed her hand. “Have you broken off a relationship recently or is there anyone who might be a threat to you?”
“None of the above. I have an occasional dinner with one of the instructors at the center—we’re not in a relationship. And no disagreements with anyone.”
“You exchanged emails with Anne. Did she ever mention anyone giving her problems?”
“Her emails were never personal. She wrote about the town and some of the people, like Maggie.”
We’d overlooked something. “Until we find this creep, I’m not leaving you alone.”
“There’s no need for you to rearrange your life.” She toyed with the handle of the cup on the table in front of her. “I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time now.”
I ran my hand down her arm. “This warrants being taken seriously. I’m calling in Zack Johnston, a detective with the Mariner Bay police force. I want his analysis of this case. He should be able to give me some pointers in profiling this guy.”
“If someone did have a vendetta against Anne, I might find a clue in her files.” She picked up the tray from the floor. “I’ll clean up first.”
“Talk to Maggie. I’ll handle this.” I balanced the tray on the corner of the table, stacked the dirty cups on it and put it in her storage room.
As we left, I tipped my hat to the Indian statue outside the antiques shop. “Someday he and I need to have a chat.” In response to my comment, her azure eyes shimmered and I reached for her hand. It fit perfectly into mine.
Chapter Ten
Since arriving in Serenity Cove, I’ve had this sensation of peering into the looking glass—longing to step through. The past clings to my thoughts like overgrown honeysuckle vines—still, the future bids me come. If I choose hope, will I find it? ~ Journal entry
Once the summer visitors arrived, Serenity Cove quickly filled with a bustle of activity. The town took on a new energy. The shore became crowded with sunbathers, and water sports like windsurfing gave the water a colorful new look. The parking slots on Main Street overflowed, and the benches outside the shops were put to use by tired shoppers and people watchers.
The sunset created a candlelight ambiance over the town, as Logan and I slipped into a window booth inside Rubi’s Diner. I gazed across the street, and the closed bookshop had taken on a neglected appearance. The flowerbeds surrounding the shop were in desperate need of a manicure. Thankfully, there hadn’t been any destruction or defacing of the shop for the past couple of weeks. It was time to return to some kind of normalcy.
“You’ve babysat me enough. I’ll be fine on my own, and I do have my furry protector.” I hoped the lightness of my comment might win his agreement. Too much togetherness was pushing things in a whole new direction.
“Not a chance. I have no intention of allowing this lowlife to catch you alone.”
The now familiar stubborn set of his jaw told me there was no use arguing—I didn’t even go there. We finished our meal and strolled back to the apartment.
We settled in for another evening. I stretched my legs out on the cushions of the sofa, my little girl curled up next to me. “Tell me about you and Maggie growing up here.”
Logan lounged on the other end of the sofa placing his stocking feet on the ottoman. “It was phenomenal.”
“Serenity Cove is amazing, so that’s easy to believe.” I shifted my position. He noticed and turned more toward me.
“Life wasn’t perfect. Our father died while stationed in Beirut. Suicide bombers detonated two truck bombs in an attack on the American Marine barracks. My father was one of two hundred twenty marines killed.”
“The eighties, right?”
“He died October of eighty-three. At that time, it was the largest one-day death toll for the United States Marine Corps since the Battle of Iwo Jima. I remember him, how he carried me on his shoulders. And playing catch in the front yard. Although a lot of my memories are vague.”
“So you and Maggie were quite young.”
“Maggie was six. I was seven. We
were lucky enough to have grandparents who stepped in and helped. There were days Mom stayed in bed or stared at the waves for hours. She loved us, but grief took her to places I don’t ever want to know.”
“And Maggie mentioned your mother died of cancer.”
“When Mom learned she had breast cancer. It had already metastasized. She refused treatment.” He stood and roamed about the room.
“Poor Maggie.” I shook my head. “I’m sorry. It was horrible for both of you.”
“No, you’re right. The house where she lives is the one our mom grew up in.” He sat back down and closed the top button of his shirt, as though he wanted to quiet painful memories the way others might ward off a chill.
“She told me how you gave her the choice of houses.”
He shrugged. “It was only right. Our families settled in this region four generations back.” His expression softened and he looked into my eyes. “Our grandparents were a big part of our lives.”
“So you’ve never lived anywhere else?”
“Maggie and I both went away to college. I have a law degree from Harvard.”
“You graduated from Harvard?” I leaned forward, eager to hear more. “How did you go from Harvard to a police officer?”
“Grandpa Delatorre drilled the idea of Harvard into my head from an early age. The least I could do, considering. Once I finished, I decided I preferred law enforcement. Still do.”
Goldie jumped off the couch and pawed my cushion. “She needs to go out.” I rubbed her head and reluctantly left my comfortable spot.
“I’ll take her if you make a snack.” He winked and reached for Goldie’s leash.
I quickly prepared a tray. They marched back in and both eyed the assortment of sandwiches and chips.
“Looks good.” Logan gave Goldie a small piece of corned beef and proceeded to take a hefty bite of his sandwich.
I liked the way he shared bits of food with my dog. Lord, is there a future and a hope?
In short order, not even crumbs remained. “I think I’ll clean up and turn in.” I placed the plates on the empty tray.