They found Maddy and Trinity desperately trying to pick up pieces of a broken vase that had crashed to the floor. Duke and Brandy sat nearby, looking suspiciously innocent.
“I’m sorry, it was me,” Trinity said quickly, clearly lying to protect the dogs. “I’m so clumsy. I was showing Maddy this one ballet move, and I knocked itover with my arm.”
“Uh-huh,” Jack said with a knowing smile. “I think we all need a walk along the beach and some fresh air. And then you can show us all your ballet moves properly.”
“Really?” Trinity asked, her face brightening.
“Yup,” Jack said, his heart swelling. He remembered her calling him “Granddad” earlier, and the warmth of that moment filled him again. He hadn’t realized how much he’d longed to be called that. “Come on, let’s get us all out of this house. And I heard Mrs. Patterson has set up her homemade ice cream van outside the inn.”
“Seriously?” Maddy and Trinity said in unison, their eyes going wide with excitement.
Jack grabbed the dogs’ leashes, and the four of them headed out the back door of the house toward the beach.
The December air was crisp and cool, perfect for a walk. Duke and Brandy bounded ahead, their leashes pulled taut as they sniffed everything in sight. Trinity and Maddy chatted about the lamp-decorating event.
They stopped at Mrs. Patterson’s vintage ice cream van. Despite the winter weather, she was doing a brisk business with inn guests and locals who’d stopped by.
“Four, please,” Jack said. “What flavors do you have today?”
“Peppermint stick, gingerbread, eggnog, and my special Christmas cookie dough,” Mrs. Patterson said with a smile.
They each chose a flavor, and Jack paid for them all.
They walked along the beach for forty minutes, eating their ice cream and watching the dogs play in the surf. Duke would charge into the waves, then retreat when they rolled back in. Brandy was more cautious, staying at the water’s edge.
“You won’t believe how intelligent Brandy is,” the girls gushed as they walked back toward the house. “She sits on command. Duke barely listens to anything.”
“That’s because Detective Bruce had her trained,” Jack explained.
“Can we train Duke?” Trinity asked hopefully.
“We can try,” Jack said with a laugh. “But Duke’s pretty set in his ways.”
They arrived back at the house, and they’d no sooner taken off their coats when Julie appeared in the living room. She greeted the girls and dogs fondly, then told them there were treats waiting in the kitchen.
“Treats?” Holly said with mock horror. “Julie, we just had ice cream.”
“It’s Christmas,” Julie said with a smile. “Rules don’t apply.”
The girls whooped and ran toward the kitchen, the dogs bounding after them.
Julie’s expression grew more serious as she turned to Jack and Holly. “Jack, Holly, Charlie wants to see you both in thelibrary. Now.”
Jack’s heart sank. He didn’t like the look on his mother’s face. Something was wrong.
“Oh no, what’s happened?” Holly asked before Jack could.
“Just keep an open mind when you go in there. Both of you!” Julie told them, her eyes moving between them. “Promise me.”
“Mom, what’s going on?” Jack’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.Was this the other shoe dropping already?
“Promise me,” Julie repeated firmly.
“Okay,” Jack said slowly. “I promise.”
“And you, too, Holly!” Julie’s brows shot up as she stared at Holly.
Holly looked between them, worry evident on her face. “Okay, I promise.”
