Her mind whirling with options, she barely noticed where she was going as she walked down the hallway, out the front door, and along the sidewalk next to the manicured landscaping that led to the parking lot.
Bookings were down at Tides and the inn needed repairs, but it had once turned a tidy profit. Maybe she could do some advertising or have some sort of sale like her friend Claire had done for her bakery. If she could fill the inn with guests and maybe find some additional income, she’d be able to pay for Addie’s room at Tall Pines and—
Oof!
Jane squeaked as she toppled backward into a fat, leafy bush. A big golden ball of fur leaped after her, a wet nose touched her chin, and she found herself staring into a pair of deep-brown eyes that shone with an eagerness to make friends. A leash dangled from the dog’s collar, and Jane grabbed it so the golden retriever wouldn’t take off.
“Cooper!” called a man. “Cooper, come back here!”
Jane scrambled out of the bush. Cooper seemed happy to stay by her side, staring up at her with soulful brown eyes. His happy demeanor made her smile.
“I’m so sorry.” The man expertly hooked his fingers into the red collar around the dog’s throat and tugged him back.
“It’s no problem.” Jane handed him the end of the leash then brushed herself off and picked a leaf out of her hair.
Cooper strained at the hold on his collar, trying desperately to reach her again. Jane crouched and rubbed Cooper’s neck, dodging his wet kisses.
“Cooper, stop that!” The man, tall and in his late thirties or maybe early forties, flashed her a chagrined smile. “I’m sorry. He’s usually much better behaved than this or I wouldn’t bring him.”
Jane looked up at the man. “Is he yours?”
He shook his head, and his smile widened. He had a very nice smile, probably the most noticeable thing about him aside from his height and curly brown hair. “He belongs to my grandpa. I’m Mike Henderson.”
He stuck his hand out, and Jane stood and shook it. “Jane Miller. Is your grandfather here at Tall Pines?”
Mike nodded. “He’s one of the oldest residents. Lived on his own in Lobster Bay until he hit ninety-five. Now he needs more help.”
“Oh.” Jane blinked, mulling over the name in her head. It was slightly familiar. “I run the bed-and-breakfast in Lobster Bay.”
“Small world,” Mike said with a grin. Cooper had retreated to Mike’s side, who reached down and gave the canine a pat. Cooper wagged his tail at Jane as if to suggest that it wouldn’t be a bad idea for her to pet him too.
“I just moved my mother into this facility. Has your grandfather been here long? How do you like it?”
“He hasn’t been here long. The transition has been tough. That’s why I’m staying in town for a while, to get him settled and make sure he gets to see Cooper. Cooper’s visits really help.”
“You don’t live near here?”
“No. Seattle,” Mike said. “We don’t have family any closer to help Gramps, and I can telecommute. How does your mother like it so far?”
“She seems to be adjusting well.”
“Good. It’s a nice place.” Mike glanced at Tall Pines. “Well, I suppose I better get in there. Nice meeting you.”
Jane watched them walk to the door. Cooper looked back at her as if to say, “See you later.” Jane hoped he would. Something about the golden retriever made her problems seem a little smaller.
She walked to her car, her spirits revived. She was on her way to meet her two best friends for morning coffee, and that always picked up her mood. She was sure they’d be able to help her figure out what to do about the fees at Tall Pines.
Things were looking up… until her phone chimed with a text from her sister. She’d left Andie a message about their mother a few days ago, and they’d been playing phone and text tag ever since. Jane wanted to talk to her in person. She owed her that, and the information was too much to pass back and forth in messages.
She threw the phone onto the car seat. It had taken Andie long enough to respond, and she could wait a few more hours. Jane had to stop at Tides to take care of a few things before meeting her friends for coffee, and she didn’t want to be late. They had a lot to talk about.
Chapter 2
Andie Miller glanced down at the phone on her desk. Jane hadn’t returned her text yet. The lack of communication had her worried. Jane’s last message about their mother had had a ring of foreboding to it. There was something she wasn’t telling Andie. Should Andie go home? But why? Jane would handle everything, and that was the way her sister wanted things, wasn’t it? It sure seemed that way since Jane never asked for her opinion or her help.
But was that really the way Jane wanted things, or was it because Andie had practically abandoned them by taking off right after high school and only going back when something bad happened? Like when Jane’s infant son had died… and then her husband. And when their father had gotten sick. Even on those horrible occasions, Andie had provided comfort as best she could and then taken off back to her career as soon as possible.
It wasn’t that Andie didn’t like her family—she loved them dearly. But there just wasn’t much for her back in Lobster Bay. Her career as an antiques appraiser necessitated that she live in a city where antiques collectors and auction houses were prevalent, not in a small seaside beach town. Besides, the last time she’d gone home, her mom had been doing fairly well. A little more forgetful, but she was able to manage, and Jane was helping out at the inn.
