Lila’s face brightened. “That’s a great idea. Maybe we could ask Nolan to join us and get to grill him some more.”
Eve laughed despite the unease settling in her chest. “That might not be such a bad idea.”
Lila’s phone rang as they got to the inn. The ringtone was one Eve knew well; it meant that her friend Angie was calling. Lila’s face lit up. “Do you mind if I take this?”
“Of course not, go.” Eve smiled. “And while you’re in your room, maybe you can get ready too. We’ll leave in twenty minutes.”
Lila rushed off toward the stairs, her phone already pressed to her ear.
Brian emerged from the dining room, pulling on a jacket, clearly heading out for the morning.
“Brian,” Eve called, stopping him before he reached the door.
He turned. “Oh, hello again.” His tone was warm and friendly
“You said that William Moore lives in the same gated community as you?” Eve asked him.
“Yes.” Brian’s brow furrowed slightly. “Why?”
“Do you know if his house is being renovated?” Eve couldn’t let the way Williams’ tone had changed after asking about his house go.
Brian blinked, then laughed. “Not that I know of, and we would know since we live next door to him.” A car horn sounded outside, drawing Brian’s attention before he looked back at her. “Sorry, I’d better go. My grandfather’s here to fetch me.” He gave her a quick smile. “Have a great day.”
He was out the door before Eve could respond.
She stood in the lobby, staring after him, suspicion growing like frost across glass.
Why would William lie about his house being renovated?
Only one thought came to mind. Maybe he didn’t want them there. Especially Mia.
Eve had always just accepted it. The fact that Mia didn’t remember her father. That she never asked about him. ThatMary never once mentioned him. Eve didn’t even know the man’s name.
Mia hadn’t even been in Florida for twenty-four hours, and her memories were already starting to seep through.
Something wasn’t right here.
And then there was William Moore. Another mystery. How was he such a close family friend? He’d been in Mary and Mia’s lives since Eve had known them. Always there. Always helpful. Always caring. But how was he such a good family friend? Neither Mary nor William had ever explained what his connection was to Mary, Mia, and now Lila.
Something was going on here, and Eve was going to find out what.
8
DAVID
David hated crowds.
He stood in the middle of the St. Augustine Festival Fair, surrounded by families and couples and screaming children, his arms laden with bags filled with purchases he hadn’t wanted to make. Farm-fresh vegetables poked out of one bag. Artisan bread from another. A jar of local honey that Milly had insisted he needed because “store-bought is full of chemicals, David.”
He shifted the weight of the bags and resisted the urge to walk straight back to the parking lot.
Milly was like a nagging little sister. Always looking after him. Always making sure he ate something other than takeout and microwaved leftovers. She liked to say it was a full-time job looking after him and Dan, that they didn’t know how to look after themselves.
She was right.
Without her, David would be living off fast food and too much coffee, and he’d probably be fat by now. His Achilles’ heel was chocolate. Any kind. Dark, milk, white. Truffles, bars, thoseterrible gas station candies that tasted more like wax than cocoa. He didn’t discriminate.
Milly kept him in check. Made sure he ate vegetables. Drank water. Went outside occasionally instead of hiding in his workshop for days at a time. Then there was Chaos. A present from Dan and Milly to replace the dog he’d lost many years ago, and never got another one. Chaos ensured David got a lot of exercise. The dog seemed to operate on high-octane adrenaline and was never still. Even when Chaos slept, he was moving like he was running in his dream. A morning run and another two walks a day kept David in shape. Someone bumped into Dan, who growled an apology, stepped aside, and scowled.
