Zoe pressed a hand to her chest. “Okay, that one might go on the wall. Seriously, Joe, this is incredible.”
“It was an amazing project,” he said simply. “I just captured it.”
They lingered over the photos, then moved on to Isabel’s journal. Krista flipped to the page they’d flagged. “We’re trying to figure out where Isabel and Jonah used to meet. It’s somewhere with water.”
Joe added, “Singing water, apparently.”
Zoe arched an eyebrow. “Singing water?”
Krista nodded. “Like echoing or changing pitch?”
“That could be a few places,” Zoe said slowly. “There are coves and inlets around the lake. Rock crevices near the ridge—some of them whistle when the wind hits right.”
Krista perked up. “You think one of those might be it?”
“Maybe,” Zoe replied. “When Jackson and I were searching for the Moonlight Kiss, we found so many strange little spots where the wind does funny things.”
Krista traced the margin of the diary. “Could you make a list? Or a map?”
“I can,” Zoe said, twirling a stem of eucalyptus. “But hey, if you want company, I can play guide. Jackson too—he knows every rock and trail within twenty miles.”
“Really? You’d come?”
“Of course.” Zoe shrugged. “You’re hunting down a secret lovers’ hangout from the past. That’s a dream day for me. Just say the word.”
Krista grinned. “We could explore tomorrow morning before we get to work. If you guys are free?”
“I’ll check with him,” Zoe said. “Though, if you want to go alone…Mrs. Bishop mentioned your…wet and wild kiss yesterday morning.”
“Zoe!” Krista felt her face go scarlet.
Joe coughed into his fist. Krista pressed on. “We’ll text later and pick a time.”
“Deal,” Zoe said, waving. “Now go. I’ve got bouquets to finish, and you two have—whatever it is you’re doing. Mystery solving. Photography taking. Summer loving…” Her voice trailed off with a smile.
Outside, the sunlight hit full-on, warm and bright, carrying lake air and something sweet from Emily’s bakery. Krista couldn’t wait to catch up with Emily when she came back from her vacation in a couple of weeks. She envied her a bit, being able to take time away during the height of the summer season. For now, she would just have to live vicariously through her and the rest of her friends as they went off on their grand vacations and travel adventures.
Joe slipped the strap from around his neck and held out his small camera bag. “Here,” he said. “For documenting Maple Falls for my piece and for Elsie’s content, while I’m running the Hideaway.” He pressed the bag lightly into her hands. “She wants promo shots for the updated website and socials. I wantto see the town through your eyes. Have fun. I’ll be elbows-deep in your ice cream and coffee chaos…”
Krista smiled, shouldering the bag. “You’ll be fine.”
Joe raised a brow. “You’re not going to check on me?”
Krista slipped the camera bag over her shoulder. “Don’t worry,” she said lightly, stepping backward toward the sidewalk, “I’ll keep an eye out for smoke signals across the lake.”
Joe’s laugh followed her down the street—low, warm, and curling right through her, the kind that made her pulse skip, just like the memories of last night…
TWENTY
JOE
Friday, Day One of the Summer Swap
Joe considered himself a confident man. He’d backpacked the Appalachian Trail alone, interviewing fellow hikers who smelled like campfire, sweat, and bad decisions. He’d gone whitewater rafting in Colorado, then camped in country where bison, wolves, and grizzly bears all competed for the title ofMost Likely to End Your Day.
Surely—surely—he could manage a quaint midwestern ice cream-coffee-cocktail stand.
But what he wasn’t counting on…was Mrs. Bishop.
