She hesitated for just a moment. “Actually, my grandparents used to own the inn.”
Levi’s eyes sharpened on hers in the mirror. “The Bluebell Inn?”
“Yes. My mom grew up there.”
“Was your grandfather Governor Jennings?”
“No, he was Paul Livingston.”
Levi smiled. “Paul and Dorothy. They owned the inn from ’63 till ’86.”
Mia perked up. “You know of them?”
“Of course. They’re part of the inn’s history. Wait. I was always under the impression the Livingstons didn’t have children.”
“My mom was an only child. She left home at eighteen, and she was estranged from her family. My grandparents died before I was born, but I’ve always wanted to visit Bluebell.”
Estranged. Levi supposed that was why Dorothy had never mentioned her daughter in her journal. Too painful.
“Did you know your grandmother kept a journal? We have it in our library.”
She briefly met his gaze in the mirror, a spark of interest in her eyes. “What? Are you serious?”
It made him feel a little heady to feed that hungry look in her eyes. “Dead serious. I’ll pull it out for you.”
“I’d love that.”
A glance in the rearview mirror afforded him his first view of Mia’s smile.
He stopped at the bookstore, and she returned moments later with a small bag. Once in the car she pulled off her ball cap and ran her fingers through her hair.
The drive home was quiet. Mia was on her phone, texting someone. There might as well have been a glass partition between them for all the conversation they were having.
He gave a quiet sigh of relief when he finally pulled up to the inn. He helped her out and began removing the bags from the trunk.
“I can get those.”
“It’s no problem.”
They walked up the steps onto the porch, and Mia held the door open for him. Grace was behind the front desk, wielding a duster, and Molly was watering the peace lily just off the foyer. He happened to know both chores had been done the day before.
He scowled at his sisters as Mia closed the door.
“Hello,” Molly greeted Mia, her smile wide, her eyes a little too excited.
“Hi,” Mia said.
“Hi. We met earlier. I’m Grace, one of the owners.”
“I remember. Breakfast was great, thank you.”
“I’m Molly!”
Levi recognized that look.Take it down a notch or ten, Molly.
“Nice to meet you,” Mia said cautiously.
Molly was biting her lip, making her face twist in a weird way, and her cheeks were slightly flushed.
