I’ve gotten settled into Diamond Cove. My research is progressing, and I’ll keep you updated as I go along. My grandson is coming into town for Christmas next week, so you won’t hear from me until next month. I’ll email as you suggested—
The letter was cut off at that point, and nothing else had been written. “Asher, did your grandpa write this?”
She handed it to him, and his eyes scanned the page, his brows furrowing the farther he read. He turned the paper over to check out the back, but it was blank. “It’s his handwriting.”
“It looks like he never sent it,” she said.
“He would have written this right after he moved here,” Asher said. “I was just finishing my undergrad.”
“Are wesureyour grandpa wasn’t an undercover cop?”
Asher ran a worried hand over his beard. “He was military until he retired.”
“I’m sure there’s an explanation that makes sense.”
“Or the one person I thought I knew best in this world was really a stranger to me.”
She grabbed his hand. “He loved you, Asher. We know that for sure.”
“I don’t know anything for sure anymore.” He stood, dropping her hand and the letter. “I need to cook.”
He moved into the kitchen, and something told her to give him some space. It couldn’t be easy to learn a secret like this about your grandparent. Thankfully her grandparents were open books. If only she had more answers for Asher.
Her phone was still buzzing, so she pulled it out of her pocket to check her messages.
Her agent. Her publisher. Giselle. Her sister. Logan. Whoa.
She opened up her agent’s text first:Heads up, the publisher wants to pull up your release date. They’ll need a first draft in three weeks. I told them you were almost done.
Her stomach sank. She had only fifty pages written, and she wasn’t convinced they were any good.
She opened up the text from her publisher next: Great news! We were able to squeeze your book into a prime release spot with better sales opportunities. This means we’ll need a finished manuscript much sooner than anticipated. Your agent assures us you’re on track to finish early. We’ve attached the updated contract with the abbreviated timeline.
Eliana broke into a cold sweat.
Did she even want to open the rest?
Giselle:Did you get the updated contract from Big House Publishing? Florida looks divine.
She opened Julia’s next, needing something good. Something happy to get her mind off the dumpster fire that was her career.
Julia:Hey.
Julia:Want to come see Miss Havisham today?
Julia:She’s adorable.
Julia:Did Logan just text you?
Julia:I’m totally fine, for the record. No worries. You just keep working.
Julia:It’s alllllll good.
Uh oh. That was a lot of l’s on that all. She opened up Logan’s text next.
Logan:There’s been a slight issue with the wedding and Julia is freaking out.
Logan:Do you have a minute to come to the Wildlife Center? She doesn’t want to bother you because you’re under deadline, but I convinced her you could come see Miss Havisham.
