As Eve slid into the driver’s seat, she glanced back at the Inn one last time and frowned.
Preston stood at the dining room window, his figure framed by the glass, watching them.
Their eyes met for just a second before he turned away, disappearing back into the room.
Her skin prickled at the look in his eyes, then she shook it off. She was being completely ridiculous. All this mystery and investigation was getting to her. Preston was probably staring out at the sea, and they got in his way. It was a lovely winter’s day, after all.
She turned the key in the ignition and pulled out of the parking lot, Brian and Lila chatting animatedly.
But as she drove away, Eve couldn’t shake the feeling that they were about to go down a treacherous rabbit hole. One that they were already partway down with no turning back.
15
DAVID
David tightened the last connection on the pipe beneath the sink and tested the handle.
Water flowed smoothly, no leaks, no strange noises. Perfect.
He’d gotten to the historical society early, specifically to finish this job before opening time. The manager, Mrs. Patterson, had called Milly yesterday afternoon in a panic about the broken sink in the women’s bathroom, and David had volunteered to come in first thing.
It was a simple fix. Twenty minutes, tops.
He gathered his tools and was about to go find Mrs. Patterson when he heard voices in the main hall.
David froze instantly, recognizing them.
For one awkward moment, he seriously considered slipping back into the women’s bathroom and hiding until they moved on past the bathroom. But then he could be caught in the bathroom if one of them needed to use it.
But before he could decide what to do, it was already too late. Eve, Lila, and Brian were coming down the hallway.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he watched Brian lean close to Lila, pointing at something on a pamphlet they were looking at together. The teenage boy seemed to be getting rather close to her.
A pang of protectiveness hit David square in the chest, completely unwelcome and entirely inappropriate.
He had no right to feel protective of Lila. None at all.
He shook it off, annoyed with himself. But David knew why they had surfaced. Since he’d met Eve and Lila, he couldn’t stop wondering if he was a grandfather. Would his grandchildren be younger, the same age, or a bit older than Lila? David knew if he did have a granddaughter, just how protective he’d be over… the exact same amount, if not more, than he was over his own daughter. The idea that his life might be able to return to whatever its new normal was soon had him constantly wondering about his daughter, Morgan. In fact, David had spent most of the night staring at the photo of Nancy and young Morgan, talking to his late wife’s image as she could somehow hear him across the years and the distance. Telling her about Eve. About how he felt something he had no business feeling. About how twisted fate was to put this woman in his path now, at the worst possible time. He chuckled to himself. He was officially that weird old man who lived in the woods and talked to pictures of his deceased wife and estranged daughter. Even Chaos had given him strange looks before finally giving up and going to sleep on the rug.
“David!” Lila’s voice rang out before he could duck back into the bathroom.
His heart gave an unwelcome jolt when his eyes met Eve’s startled ones across the hall.
There was no choice now but to approach them.
David walked forward, tools in hand, and arranged his face into what he hoped was a pleasant, casual expression. “Good morning.”
“Good morning,” Eve said, her smile warm but surprised.
“This is a nice surprise,” David said. “Are you looking into the history of our beautiful town?”
“We are,” Eve answered before either of the teens could speak. Her eyes dropped to his tools. “Are you working?”
“Yes,” David nodded. “I came in early to fix a sink in one of the bathrooms.”
“Now I know where I know you from,” Brian chirped, snapping his fingers. “You do some work for Mrs. Christmas at the Inn every now and then.”
“I helped out at the beginning of this year.” David nodded. “I’m not the regular plumber there.”
