How long had it been since Cadence had seen her niece outside of a funeral? Ever since Sophie moved from their home state to Hawaii with her husband, visits were rare. “How’s she doing?”
“She’ll be starting preschool this fall. Can you believe it?” If Cadence wasn’t mistaken, she heard a sniffle on the other end of the phone.Do people even get colds in Hawaii?The usual pep in Sophie’s voice seemed dimmed as well.
“Is everything okay?” Cadence asked in the most delicate way she could. There wasn’t a soul more selfless than her younger sister. Sophie would run herself into the ground attending to everyone else before she could even acknowledge she had an issue at all.
“Yep, fine.”
Cadence hopped off the bed and paced the spacious room. She was always drawn to the windows and the landscape below. She swore she caught a glimpse of Ed at the edge of the trees. But he wasn’t doing anything too odd, so perhaps it was a different moose. “I bet Caroline would love it here.”
“Yeah, she’s obsessed with moose for some reason. Not too many chances of seeing one here.” Sophie gave a weak laugh, and it only made Cadence worry more. “But you’re leaving day after tomorrow, aren’t you?”
Cadence peered out the window toward the bay. It would be such a shame to leave before she had chance to visit all her old spots. “Do you remember digging up clams with Aunt Patty?”
“Do I?” Sophie moaned through the phone. “To this day, her clam chowder is the best I’ve ever eaten. Please tell me she left the recipe somewhere in that kitchen. We need to confiscate it.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“How are you coming on figuring out a listing price?” Unlike their oldest sister, Sophie asked in a casual sense, not an urgent one. Tessa was all about getting things done, not putting them off. Right now, Cadence yearned for every excuse she could find to procrastinate.
“There’s a recent appraisal in the packet of paperwork the lawyer gave me.”
“Sounds like there’s abutin there from the tone of your voice.”
“It’s a good number,” Cadence admitted, “but I’m not convinced it’s therightone. I want to do some more research first.” She spun back around, facing the bedroom. Taking in the vaulted ceiling and the way the daylight illuminated the logs in a caramel kiss. She wanted to ask so badly what Sophie thought of keeping the place, but the words wouldn’t come together.
“I trust you, you know.”
“Thanks.” Seemed her sister had more confidence in her abilities than Cadence did in her own. “I just—”
“Hey, I’m sorry to cut you off, but I have to go. The sitter just showed up, and I need to get ready for work.”
“Work?”
“I’ll talk to you tomorrow morning, okay?” The call ended before Cadence could press further. Last she knew, Blake’s job as a surgeon allowed Sophie to stay at home with her daughter. In fact, Sophie lived a rather glamorous life in Hawaii. Red flags shot up everywhere. Something was definitely off with her sister.
A knock sounded at the door. “Hey,” Rilee said. “I’m supposed to tell you dinner’s ready.”
“Thanks.” Cadence followed Rilee downstairs to the kitchen, lost in thoughts of her own.Is Sophie’s family in some kind of financial trouble?That had to be it if her sister was going to a job at this hour. It dawned on her that they might need the money from the sale of the lodge to stay afloat.
“We’re eating in the kitchen. Is that okay?” Rilee asked.
“Of course. It’s the only place I’ve ever eaten while here.” Though there was a formal dining area for the guests, family always ate at the round table tucked into a window nook off the kitchen. It offered a serene view of the flower beds with a backdrop of mountains.
“Has the best view, don’t you think?” Ford asked, meeting them at the table with a platter of grilled steaks. The aroma nearly made Cadence dizzy. Riggs sat beside Ford’s seat, his entire body at attention. The pose reminded her of the Great Sphinx.
“Smells wonderful,” she said, offering Ford a grateful smile. “I can’t remember the last time I had a steak dinner. I’m sure it’s been years.” With the hours she kept working for Janine, most nights she was lucky to put together more than a ham and cheese sandwich. When she started at Walden Real Estate, the broker hadn’t sugarcoated what life would be like working for the top agent in the state. But the reward dangled in front of her kept her going. Someday she planned tobethat top agent.
“Then you’re in for a treat,” Rilee boasted. “Ford’s ribeyes are the best.”
Once everyone was seated, Cadence cut into her perfectly cooked steak and savored the first bite. Rilee wasn’t exaggerating about her brother’s talents. This cut of meat was tender, juicy, and flavorful. “This is amazing.”
“You really haven’t had a steak dinner in how long?”
Cadence shrugged, looking up to the left. “Couple years?” Rilee’s stunned expression made her feel like an explanation was necessary. “I work a pretty demanding job. Dinner’s like this—well, let’s say I don’t have much time to cook.”
The pointed tips of furry ears broke the plane of the table, soon followed by wide, attentive eyes. Riggs moved slowly, with stealth. If he simply sat, he’d have an easy view of everything on the table. But he was easing his way to that position like a hunter in the wild, setting his sights on his prey.
“Riggs, lay down.” The dog obeyed, instantly dropping to the floor. He gave out a grumble, no doubt expressing his annoyance at his cover being blown. “What do you do?” Ford asked.
