“We need to keep an eye on her tonight,” Seraphina said quietly.
The party continued—people mingling, laughing, enjoying the food. My mother had gone back out to the patio. I could see her through the window talking with Gillian on one of the outdoor sofas. I found myself in a conversation with Alex and Grady about Willet Cove. Neither had grown up here, so they had questions for me about the town’s history.
A few minutes later, the kids returned, all ravenous from their time on the beach. The women sprang into action, guiding them to the buffet, getting them settled at one of the patio tables. I helped Margot fill her plate and walked her over to where the older kids were already eating and talking over one another.
Margot stilled beside me, her little hand reaching for mine.
“Do I sit there too?” Margot whispered.
Before I could answer, Bella got up from her place at the table and came over. “Wanna sit by me?”
“Yeah, okay.” Margot nodded. She let go of my hand and took Bella’s instead. Soon they were seated side by side. For a moment, I just stood and watched my daughter become part of the gang. These kids were so welcoming and big-hearted that it gave me hope for humanity.
After dinner, the kids returned to the beach. Lila and I sat with the other adults, enjoying wine and cheese. The ladies asked questions, but nothing obtrusive. They genuinely seemed to want to get to know me better. After about thirty minutes, I glanced at my watch. “Do you think Margot’s okay down there?”
“Let’s go check on her,” Lila said.
“Give me a moment to use the restroom,” I said.
“I’ll be here.”
I headed inside and down the hall. The office door was ajar, and I noticed a shadow. Something made me stop. Kenzie stood at Seraphina’s desk, photographing something with her phone.
A framed photo of Tyler and the other kids.
“Kenzie?”
She jumped, spinning around.
“Oh, Vance. Hi. I was just—the bathroom was occupied, and I needed to take a call. Network emergency.” But her phone was angled toward the desk, not her ear.
“The bathroom’s down the hall,” I said. “Not in Seraphina’s private office.”
“Right. Of course.” She moved toward the door, but I blocked it slightly.
“What were you photographing?”
“What? Nothing. I was just checking messages.”
“I saw you taking a photo.”
Her smile turned cold. “The lighting in here is beautiful. I was capturing it for design inspiration. Beautiful home Seraphina has. Lila’s lucky to have such supportive friends.”
It wasn’t what she said but the way she said it. Like she was cataloging information. Like she was building a file.
“The bathroom’s down the hall,” I repeated, my tone firm.
“Right. Of course.” She moved past me, but not before I caught the look in her eyes.
Cold. Calculating. Dangerous.
A few minutes later, Lila and I walked down the beach path together, hand in hand. I hesitated to tell her what I’d seen. She was having such a nice time, and this would kill the mood. But I had to.
“I saw Kenzie just now—in Seraphina’s office. She was taking photos of the kids’ group picture on Seraphina’s desk.”
“What? Why would she do that?”
“I don’t know. Something’s not right. I think you should go to Carol,” I said.
