“Maybe my dream job isn’t what I thought it was,” Liam replied quietly. “People change. Goals change.”
Mark exhaled loudly. “All right, suppose I humor you. What’s the plan?”
“I’ll send you the proposal I’ve been working on,” Liam said. “It outlines the story, the historical significance, potential markets—everything.”
“And you think a publisher will bite?” Mark asked skeptically.
“I do. This will be more than a book about the Prohibition era. Eleanor was a strong, determined woman who was a successful artist. She lived on her own terms and stood up for what she believed in. If her involvement with a future president of the Great Northern Railway is as contentious as we think, it’ll be an incredible story.”
Mark was silent for a few moments. “Okay, send me the proposal. I’ll take a look and see what we can do. But Liam, I have to be honest—this might be a tough sell.”
“I understand,” Liam said. “I appreciate you giving it a chance.”
“Just don’t burn your bridges with Wanderlust,” Mark cautioned. “At least consider keeping that door open.”
“I’ll think about it,” Liam agreed, although he knew what he wanted to do.
“I’ll call you when I’ve read your proposal,” Mark told him. “In the meantime, send me the rest of the book you’re working on.”
“Thanks, Mark.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” he replied. “We’ll talk soon.”
Liam set the phone down and leaned back in his chair, letting out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. The conversation had been as challenging as he expected, but he felt a weight lift off his shoulders.
Turning back to his laptop, he attached the proposal to an email and hit “Send.” His gaze drifted to a photo pinned on the cork board above his desk—a candid shot of Chloe laughing with Oscar at the park. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
His phone buzzed with a text message. It was from Chloe.
Any news from your agent?
He typed back,Just sent him the proposal. Fingers crossed.
A few minutes later, she replied,I’m sure he’ll see how amazing your idea is!
Liam smiled.Thanks for the vote of confidence.
Chloe added a smiling emoji to the beginning of her reply.Dinner at my place tonight? I want to hear all about it.
Wouldn’t miss it. See you soon,he texted back.
Liam stood and stretched. If the publishing house who’d bought his current book were interested in Eleanor’s story, it’d be perfect. He’d have money to look for somewhere more permanent to stay, a book that many people would find interesting, and he could spend more time with Chloe and Oscar. It was a win-win situation for everyone, including Trixie.
Grabbing his jacket, he decided to take his Golden Labrador for a quick walk before heading to Chloe’s. As he locked hisbedroom door behind him, he said hello to two of the volunteers working in The Welcome Center.
For someone who’d arrived in Sapphire Bay expecting to stay for a few weeks, he’d settled into the town better than he thought. All he had to do now was find out what had happened to Eleanor.
Chloe maneuveredaround the tables at The Lakeside Café, carrying a tray of coffee mugs. The familiar hum of chatter and the clinking of cutlery filled the air.
“Order up!” called Kathleen from behind the counter, sliding two plates of blueberry pancakes onto the pickup shelf.
Chloe delivered the coffees to a group of regulars and made her way back to the counter. “It’s busier than usual for a weekday,” she remarked, grabbing the plates.
Kathleen flashed a knowing smile. “I have a feeling we can thank Liam for that.”
Chloe’s eyebrows rose. “What do you mean?”
“You didn’t hear?” Kathleen leaned in conspiratorially. “I caught Liam’s interview with Theo on the community radio station this morning. He was talking about the hidden cellar you guys found in the old steamboat museum.”
