Out on the street, Deena walked Sam to her car. “It’s nice that you and Cole are getting along now.”
“Yeah, he’s not so bad. Chuck seems to be a good guy too,” Sam said.
Deena frowned. “Yes. Well, things aren’t always as they seem. Oh, I better run. Almost late for my appointment.”
As Sam drove to the Beachcomber, her stomach grumbled. Apparently, those chocolate turtles hadn’t done the trick. She’d seen Gina getting a tray of coffees and a bag of muffins at Ocean Brew. Maybe she was putting out a continental breakfast at the hotel.
She parked in front of her room and then headed over to the lobby, but it was empty. There were no muffins set out, only the ancient Mr. Coffee bubbling away on the counter.
Gina came out of the storeroom. “Oh. Sam. I didn’t know anyone was in here.” She glanced behind her nervously.
“I thought you might be having a continental breakfast in here,” Sam said. “I’m starving.”
“Breakfast? Nope. No breakfast. If you’re hungry, I have pie in the kitchen, though.” Gina hurried over toward the kitchen as if she couldn’t get away from the storeroom quickly enough.
“I think I’ll pass on the pie. I just ate some candy and don’t want to get too much of a sugar high, but thanks.”
Sam headed toward the door, feeling as if Gina was watching her. It was almost as if Gina didn’t want her nosing around the motel lobby, almost as if she were hiding something.
CHAPTER22
“I’m really glad to have my wallet back.” Chuck smoothed his fingers over the familiar worn leather and then slipped it into his pocket. “It’s not just my license or the credit cards. This wallet is sentimental because you gave it to me.”
Cole’s heart warmed at his father’s words, but it was overshadowed by his suspicions about the missing wallet suddenly turning up. “Yeah, it’s weird, though, that it was in the office the whole time.”
Chuck’s expression darkened. “I guess. Maybe I didn’t look as well for it as I thought.”
“I’m glad you have it now.”
Cole hoped his father didn’t pick up on the tone of suspicion in his voice. It was weird how Sam had suddenly dropped the candy on the floor and come up with the wallet. And Deena had been acting strange too. Maybe his initial suspicions of them had been right after all.
He hoped not. He was getting used to the idea of Sam not being the enemy—maybe even being a friend… or more.
He flashed back to when he’d seen her at her car earlier this morning. He could have sworn she was getting into the car and changed direction when he called out to her. But what would she have been doing here if she wasn’t coming to Ocean Brew? Had she been in Saltwater Sweets? But if so, why not say so?
Should he mention it to his father? He already looked like something was on his mind.
While Cole was mulling over whether or not to tell Chuck, the door opened, and the three senior citizens he’d met at the town celebration came bustling in.
“Hello there,” Rose said. “Did you all enjoy yourselves at the town celebration?”
“Of course,” Chuck said.
Cole nodded. “I did. You have a nice little town here.”
“Where is Deena?” Pearl asked, craning her neck to look in the back.
“She went to get her hair done,” Chuck said.
“Oh, I see. I’d like some nonpareils. I know you can box them up as well as Deena can,” Pearl said.
While Chuck was scooping out the candies, the door opened, and a woman with dark hair came in. Cole recognized her as the woman he’d seen on the back porch of the Beachcomber, talking to Sam and Gina.
“Ellie! How are you doing, dear?” Rose asked the woman.
“Good, and you?” Ellie hugged Rose and Pearl then turned to Leena. “Hi, Mom.”
“Hi, El. Have you met Chuck’s son, Cole?” Leena gestured to Cole.
