Julie sighed as the breeze released her and slipped away, the room falling still once more.
She opened her eyes and looked at the dress laid across the bed.
Her hands were steady as she picked it up, even though her heart had begun to beat a little faster.
“And I know just who it followed here,” she said quietly to the empty room.
The words hung in the air, heavy with certainty as she went to get ready.
10
EVE
The walk from the Inn to the rental car felt lighter than it had any right to.
Mia practically glowed, her face softer than Eve had seen it in months, maybe years. She’d spent the entire day with Nolan, learning about composition and light and how to capture moments instead of just images. When she’d returned to the Inn earlier that evening, her eyes had been bright, her shoulders relaxed, and she hadn’t touched her locket once while telling them about her day.
“You know,” Mia said as they climbed into the SUV, “you two really should’ve been honest with William about not liking pasta.”
Eve laughed, starting the engine. “It’s fine. I’ll order chicken or something.”
“Can I order pizza?” Lila asked from the back seat, her voice hopeful.
“Of course,” Mia said, turning to smile at her daughter. “You can order whatever you want.”
The drive into St. Augustine took twenty minutes, the streets quieter now that the sun had set and the tourists had retreated to their hotels and rentals. Christmas lights still glowed in windows and along rooflines, casting warm pools of color across the cobblestone streets.
Salvatore’s sat on a corner near the historic district, its facade painted a warm terracotta, with ivy climbing the walls and soft light spilling from the windows. The kind of place that had been family-run for generations, where recipes were handed down like heirlooms, and the owner knew half the customers by name.
Eve parked on the street, and they walked to the entrance. The interior was exactly what Eve had hoped for. Exposed brick walls, dark wood beams across the ceiling, tables covered in red-checked cloths with candles flickering in glass holders. The scent of garlic, tomatoes, and fresh bread wrapped around them like a welcome.
They spotted William and Julie immediately, seated at a table near the back corner where the light was softer and the noise from the kitchen more distant.
William stood as they approached, his face lighting with genuine pleasure. “Eve, Mia, Lila. I’m so glad you could make it.”
Julie rose as well, her smile warm. “It’s wonderful to see you all again.”
They exchanged greetings and settled into their seats, menus appearing almost immediately courtesy of a server who looked like he might be the owner’s son or nephew.
This should have been a nice family meal. Easy. Comfortable. The kind of evening that left everyone feeling full and content.
But Eve couldn’t shake the feeling that something was just slightly off.
“So,” Eve said, once they’d ordered drinks and were browsing the menu, “how are the renovations to your house coming along, William? You must be eager to have your house back to normal.”
Julie’s head came up sharply, her eyes darting to William with a frown that appeared and disappeared so quickly that Eve almost missed it.
William smiled, but the expression didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Oh, you know how these things go. Contractors, schedules, delays. Nothing worth boring you with.” He turned to Mia. “I heard you spent the day learning photography. How did that go?”
Mia’s face lit up, and she launched into a description of light meters, aperture settings, and the way Nolan had taught her to see shadows as opportunities rather than obstacles.
Eve watched William redirect the conversation with the skill of someone who’d been doing it for decades. Smooth. Practiced. Completely natural unless you were looking for it. Eve was definitely looking for it now.
“I didn’t know you were renovating,” Mia said during a pause in her story, as she had just caught up with the conversation, which was not like Mia at all. She was usually very sharp. “What are you having done?”
William waved a hand dismissively. “Just some updates. The house is old, you know. Things need attention.” He turned to Lila. “And what about you, young lady? What have you been up to today?”
Lila launched into her own story about the fair and the rides and meeting Milly and Dan, and just like that, the subject of William’s house evaporated like steam.
