Seaside Manor Bed and Breakfast

by Lilly Mirren

  “I’ve missed this place,” said Dad, clenching fingers around the top railing.

  “I’m sure you have.”

  “Keisha misses the Cove too.”

  Mum didn’t respond. Sarah’s teeth clenched.

  “I thought you might like to hear it from me… I mean we did talk about it a while back, but I thought you should know — Keisha and I have found a house. We’re moving back to the Cove next month.”

  “Thank you for telling me.” Mum’s voice was tense, her shoulders straight.

  Sarah’s eyes widened. She hadn’t known Dad was thinking about moving back to town, but it sounded as though he’d talked to Mum about it. Why hadn’t she said anything?

  It made sense though — Dad had lived here all of his life. People in Emerald Cove knew him, they respected and admired him. When he left the Cove, he’d be another face in the crowd. Dad couldn’t abide not standing out. She wondered how he was feeling about Ben, he hadn’t said much about the secret that’d remained hidden for so long, but he seemed happy. She’d seen he and Ben in deep conversation several times since the revelation — there was an uncanny resemblance between the two of them. She smiled at the thought — she never imagined she’d get another brother so late in life. But life was full of surprises.

  Dad turned, walked away from his conversation with Mum. When he brushed past Sarah, he offered her a smile. “Did you hear any of that?”

  She nodded. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to pry…”

  “No, it’s fine,” he said. “You should know. I’m going to go and tell the others now. You don’t mind, do you?”

  “Of course not, Dad. I’ll be glad to see more of you.”

  “And Keisha?”

  “Yes, and Keisha.” Sarah swallowed. That would be an awkward meeting, but she was willing to try, for Dad’s sake.

  Athol walked past with two coffee cups in his hands, both sending steam into the cooling night air. He set them on the outside dining table, then went to Mum and put his arms around her. She turned in his embrace and kissed him on the lips.

  Sarah ducked her head in embarrassment. When had that happened?

  Apparently, everyone was keeping secrets in this family. She’d have to make more of an effort to catch up with people, or she’d miss out on everything that was going on in their lives. At least most of them either lived in the Cove or were moving there soon. Now they only had to work on getting Adele back into town, and they’d all be there.

  With one more backward glance at Mum in Athol’s arms, staring at the brilliant sunset, Sarah hurried into the living room and sat at Mick’s feet. He massaged her shoulders and she warmed beneath his touch. He was her husband, and it was still difficult for her to wrap her mind around, but filled her with such a sense of peace, satisfaction, and security that she couldn’t do anything but grin.

  * * *

  THE END

  Want to read more about your Emerald Cove favourites?

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  How about MEG & BRAD FALLING IN LOVE?

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  COTTAGE ON OCEANVIEW LANE (BOOK 1)

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  THE WARATAH INN (BOOK 1)

  Wrested back to Cabarita Beach by her grandmother's sudden death, Kate Summer discovers a mystery buried in the past that changes everything.

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  Keep reading for an excerpt from The Waratah Inn…

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  Excerpt: The Waratah Inn

  Brisbane

  The wind clutched at Kate Summer’s straight, brown hair blowing it in wild bursts around her head and into her green eyes. The ferry lurched forward. She grabbed onto a cold, metal handrail with one hand and held her flyaway hair against her neck with the other. Then she stepped through the doorway and into the City Ferry cabin. The rush of wind in her ears quieted, replaced by the dull murmur of conversation between commuters as they huddled together in clumps throughout the cabin.

  The Kangaroo Point terminal faded out of sight behind them as the ferry chugged across the sluggish, brown Brisbane River toward the city centre. Kate tugged her coat tighter around her body and inhaled a steadying breath through her reddened nose. It’d once been smattered with freckles, but time had faded them to a pale remnant of their former selves.

  Sighing, she sank into one of the hard chairs that were lined up like so many church pews, smoothed her hair with one hand as best she could, and set her purse on the empty seat beside her.

  She had to get to work on time today. Marco was stressed out about the new menu. He’d called her at home to tell her he wasn’t entirely convinced it was a good idea to take the restaurant in a new direction, what with the economic climate the way it was. She reminded him the economic climate was fine and it was the perfect time to try something new, as they’d discussed a hundred times over the past six months. That he’d named her head chef at the Orchid for a reason and should listen to her ideas.

  He’d agreed and hung up. But she’d heard the tension in his voice. He hated change. She knew that well enough, having worked for him for five years. But five years of creating food that was expected, safe, the same as it had always been, was more than enough for her. If he didn’t want to make the change, then she would. Her creative spirit itched for something different.

  The ferry pulled to a stop, growling back and forth until its ramp lined up with the dock. When she stepped onto solid ground, she couldn’t help one wistful glance back at the river. She missed the water. The ocean had been like a second home to her once. She’d spent so much of her teenage years diving under the waves, floating on her back, and staring up at the sky on a calm day, or surfing the break when the wind was up. But since she didn’t live near the beach these days, she had to make do with the river. It wasn’t the same but paddling a kayak or riding the ferry brought a measure of peace.

  By the time she reached the restaurant, she’d already run over the menu again in her mind and was convinced they were doing the right thing by reinvigorating their offerings. It was fresh, unique, delicious — it would bring diners into the restaurant in droves. She was sure of it.

  Or it would drive them away.

  Her stomach tightened at the thought of what Marco would say if it didn’t work the way she hoped it would. Reputation was everything for a chef, and in a small city like Brisbane, failures weren’t something you could hide.

  “‘Morning chef.” Her Sous Chef greeted her with a warm smile. “Ready to change the world?”

  She chuckled. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

  Fresh groceries from the market lined one of the bench tops along the wall. She always placed her orders the day before. Fresh produce, direct from the farmers, was the best way to make delicious meals, and the write-ups she’d received so far in the local newspapers showed it. She’d sent one review to Nan.

  What she really wanted to do was drive down to Cabarita and bring Nan back with her, so her grandmother could taste the food for herself. Not that she was such a big fan of Asian fusion cuisine. Nan preferred her meat and three veg, like most Australians of her generation. Still, Kate wanted her to see the restaurant, see the career she’d built for herself over the past decade. She was proud of what she’d achieved and wanted someone to share that with.

  Just thinking of Nan and the inn put a twist in her gut. She hadn’t been back to see Nan in months, and when she’d gone the last time she’d only visited briefly. Nan had made her promise to stay longer on the next trip, but with everything she
had going on, the visit never happened.

  If the new menu didn’t work out, Kate would have plenty of time on her hands to visit Nan and the Waratah Inn. Maybe she’d be a permanent guest there. She shook her head, her pulse accelerating as worry over the future, her career, and personal life washed over her again. She was used to it, this anxiety. It clogged her thoughts, put knots in her gut and sent waves of adrenaline coursing through her veins.

  The new menu had to work. It was the first time Marco had given her complete control over what they’d serve. If people didn’t like it, he might never offer her the chance again.

  She wasn’t ready to concede defeat and move in with her grandmother yet. But a holiday, a beach holiday, was a great idea. Davis had been bugging her about getting away together, away from the city and their crazy, hectic schedules, ever since he proposed six months earlier. She’d suggest it when she saw him that night after work. They often met up late for a light meal, since she worked when most people were done for the day. He didn’t like it, but what could she do? It was her career. He’d said they should take a vacation, but they hadn’t spoken of it since. Perhaps it was time to raise the subject together. They could both do with some time off. And more than that, she missed Nan.

  Keep reading…

  Also by Lilly Mirren

  The Waratah Inn Series

  The Waratah Inn

  Wrested back to Cabarita Beach by her grandmother's sudden death, Kate Summer discovers a mystery buried in the past that changes everything.

  * * *

  One Summer in Italy

  Reeda leaves the Waratah Inn and returns to Sydney, her husband, and her thriving interior design business, only to find her marriage in tatters. She's lost sight of what she wants in life and can't recognise the person she's become.

  * * *

  The Summer Sisters

  Set against the golden sands and crystal clear waters of Cabarita Beach three sisters inherit an inn and discover a mystery about their grandmother's past that changes everything they thought they knew about their family...

  * * *

  Christmas at The Waratah Inn

  Liz Cranwell is divorced and alone at Christmas. When her friends convince her to holiday at The Waratah Inn, she’s dreading her first Christmas on her own. Instead she discovers that strangers can be the balm to heal the wounds of a lonely heart in this heartwarming Christmas story.

  Emerald Cove Series

  Cottage on Oceanview Lane

  When a renowned book editor returns to her roots, she rediscovers her strength & her passion in this heartwarming novel.

  * * *

  Seaside Manor Bed and Breakfast

  The Seaside Manor Bed and Breakfast has been an institution in Emerald Cove for as long as anyone can remember. But things are changing and Diana is nervous about what the future might hold for her and her husband, not to mention the historic business.

  Glossary of Terms

  Dear reader,

  Since this book is set in Australia there may be some terms you’re not familiar with. I’ve included them below to help you out! I hope they didn’t trip you up too much.

  Cheers, Lilly xo

  Terms

  Afternoon tea - afternoon snack

  Boot - car trunk

  “Love” - a term of endearment for friends and lovers alike

  Tea - used to describe either a hot beverage made from leaves, or the evening meal

  Unit - apartment or condo

  Mobile - cell phone

  Morning tea - morning snack

  Proby - Probationary Constable

  Sarge - Sergeant

  Senior Connies - Senior Constables

  Biscuits - Crackers or cookies (could be either)

  Sea Change - Moving to the beach from the city for a change of lifestyle

  Smoko - taking a break from work

  Tea towel - dish towel

  About the Author

  Lilly Mirren lives in Brisbane, Australia with her husband and three children.

  Lilly always dreamed of being a writer​ and is now living that dream. She is a graduate of both the University of Queensland, where she studied International Relations and Griffith University, where she completed a degree in Information Technology.

  When she's not writing, she's chasing her children, doing housework or spending time with friends.

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  Website: lillymirren.com

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  * * *

  Copyright © 2020 by Lilly Mirren

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Emerald Cove is a fictitious town, as are the characters who live there.