“Don’t turn this around with logic.”
He almost smiled. “Give Seth your encouragement. That’s all he needs.”
“You know I support others. I gave him a few ideas, but I’m sure Zach realizes I’m not a believer.”
“You’re creative. Help Seth. Soupy is a way to ingratiate yourself with him and everyone else. Dealing with loss isn’t easy. I think we are all offering support by embracing Soupy.”
“I don’t need a way to make friends, thank you.”
“I know you don’t. But Soupy isn’t a business. Seth is quite sincere about Soupy.” Christopher leaned forward, interlacing his hands. “While he has only come forward recently, he didn’t launch the creature out of nowhere. Talk to him. Learn more. You’ll change your tune.”
“I can’t imagine I’m the only person in town that doesn’t believe in Soupy.” She exhaled a heavy sigh. “Elise isn’t a believer. I’m sure.”
Christopher bit the inside of his cheek. He didn’t want to burst his wife’s bubble. Nor did he want to get into a discussion about Elise.
Ashley widened her eyes. “She is? The one time I actually hoped I could count on her. Ugh.” She groaned. “Why must I always adapt?”
Christopher would have snorted if he hadn’t spotted genuine frustration in the set of her tight mouth. She had spent her childhood in a kingdom of which she was the ruler. Coming back might be an adjustment, but she had never experienced the typical growing pains of becoming part of a community. She’d been adored.
“How does Soupy stack against your ghost?” He leaned his chin in a palm.
Her cheeks reddened. “Initially, the ghost was fake. But I’m telling you, the lighthouse is really haunted. It’s always been a creepy spot.”
He laughed. He wasn’t sure he’d ever disagreed about something more. But he’d give her a win. This time, it didn’t take away anything from him. If only they weren’t trapped in a zero-sum game playing each other, they’d actually have fun.
ChapterTen
Ashley slept in the next morning. Or, at least, she flipped the door hanger to “do not disturb” on the outer door and firmly bolted both locks. She pretended to not hear him knock. She probably had someplace to be according to his get-to-work schedule.
Too bad.
She was sorting through an influx of information, none of it particularly good or helpful. She was worried that the shopkeepers planned some sort of uprising. Maybe they weren’t out sharpening their pitchforks and threatening death and dismemberment, but as a group, they had more collective power than they might currently be aware.
But that truth wouldn’t remain hidden for long. And if they caught wind that she was working with Christopher to learn the saboteur’s identity? She would be their next target.
Unless his implication about finishing their business meant meeting with a lawyer and starting divorce proceedings, then everyone would know exactly where she and her husband stood.
Her heart slammed into the front of her chest. Under the covers, she rubbed the heel of her hand over the general area housing that useless organ. She’d been lying awake for hours now. As long as she remained here, she gave him plenty of time and opportunity to ambush her.
No thank you.
She slipped out from under the covers and dressed quickly. She gave his schedule a half-hearted glance. He’d given her time off today forrest. She rolled her eyes. Peace wasn’t to be found alone with her thoughts.
He’d floated the idea of her helping with the lighthouse renovation project. That seemed as good a place as any to head. At least then she’d have a purpose for her wandering and wouldn’t give the appearance of the truth.Lost, lonely soul. She needed to conduct her own investigation of the sight.
But something else bugged her from yesterday’s revelations. She wasn’t the only imaginative person in town. Maybe Christopher was right to call her out for not supporting Seth’s lake legend dream. Seth deserved friendship and not skepticism. She found her cell phone. Pulling up the print shop’s website, she called the number.
“It’s a great day to print your way,” Seth greeted. “How may I help you?”
“Hi, Seth. It’s Ashley Hale-Lewis.”
“Hi, Ashley. I’m almost done with the latest batch of menus if Christopher is having you check up on me.”
Did everyone know her husband put her to work doing grunt jobs? “Oh, that’s great. I’m sure he’ll be glad to hear. But no. I was calling about that other thing.” She cleared her throat. She’d let Christopher into her head and couldn’t escape until she made amends. “Soupy?”
“Really? You seemed like a skeptic yesterday.”
She frowned. She hated the truth in his words. “I’m sorry about that. I was sort of taken by surprise. And I had a few ideas about Soupy. I was wondering if you wanted to meet up?”
