Colleen Coble (4 page)

Pearl held her gaze. “Honey, there are sick people in the world.
People who like to hurt others. This sounds to me like that kind of person. Did you show the police?”

Amy dropped the note to her lap and stared into her coffee. “Yes. They think it’s a prank. They traced the IP address to a library in Richmond. They checked the log-ins, but the name used ended up being fake. I think that’s suspicious all by itself. If someone had nothing to hide, why not use his real name?”

“Pranksters don’t want to be caught.” When Amy opened her mouth to protest, Pearl held up her hand. “I’m not saying you shouldn’t investigate. I’ll admit it’s troubling. But it doesn’t say someone killed him. Maybe Ben was involved in something that led to his death in another way. He may have been so distraught over it that he took his own life.”

“He was surfing.” Amy should have known better than to talk about it yet. Not until she had something concrete to go on.

The doorbell rang and Amy rose. “I’ll be right back.” When she threw open the door, she didn’t recognize the young woman standing on the porch. She appeared to be in her late teens. Her long blond hair streamed over a white tank top that showed toned arms. There was a sullen slant to her full lips, but behind the insolent expression in her dark blue eyes, Amy saw desperation. “Can I help you?”

The girl swayed and put her hand on the door frame. Her color went to pasty. “I—I wondered if I might have some water?”

Before Amy could answer, the girl swayed again and Amy caught her and managed to break the girl’s collapse to the porch floor. The girl’s eyes were closed, and Amy checked the pulse in her throat. Rapid.

Pearl stepped into the entry. “What’s wrong with her?”

“I think it’s heat stroke or dehydration. Would you get a glass of water? I think she’s coming around.” Amy helped the girl into a half-seated position. “How do you feel?”

The girl’s eyelids fluttered, then opened as she put her hand to her head. “Woozy. Did I pass out?”

“Don’t get up yet,” Amy commanded when the girl made a move to rise. She supported the young woman’s shoulders with her arm, then took the glass of water Pearl handed her and put it to the girl’s lips. “Slowly now.”

The young woman drank a few sips. “I don’t know what happened.”

Amy saw no car parked outside. “Where did you come from?”

The girl waved vaguely. “I walked to Tidewater Inn and was on my way back when I started feeling funny. I saw your house and headed here.”

“Come in out of the sun.” Amy helped her to her feet and guided her inside. Pearl followed.

“Cute cottage.” The girl’s gaze took in the boxes and suitcases against the living room wall. “Looks like you’re just moving in or out.”

“I’m moving in.”

“I’m looking for a room to rent.” The young woman looked hopeful. “Any idea where I might find a place? I tried Tidewater Inn, but I was told they were full and the owner wouldn’t be back for several days.”

Pearl had started to sit down, but she immediately straightened. “Oh? I thought she was just upstairs.” Her green eyes were avid.

Amy bit her lip and glanced toward the stairs. It wasn’t her news to share. There had been no sound from the second floor since she’d come down, but she was tempted to make an excuse and slip up to the bedroom to tell Libby and Alec that Pearl was here.

Pearl frowned. “Amy? Where’s Libby?”

“Upstairs. I’ll let her know you’d like to see her. I’ll be right back.” Amy took the stairs two at a time. The door to her bedroom
was open, and Libby sat up in the bed nursing the baby while Alec looked on. Amy paused and absorbed the heartwarming scene.

Libby looked up and smiled. “I can’t get over how beautiful he is.”

“Handsome,” Alec corrected with a grin.

Amy hated to interrupt them. “Pearl is here. I didn’t want to be the one to tell her about Noah’s arrival if you wanted to.”

Alec looked to Libby, who smiled again and nodded. “Send her up. She can meet our son.”

“I thought you’d want to.” The smile still lingered on her lips when Amy stepped into the living room and faced Pearl. “Libby is upstairs and would like to speak with you.”

“I wondered why she hadn’t come down.” Pearl heaved herself off the sofa and moved fast for her size.

Amy turned back to her unexpected guest. “I should introduce myself. I’m Amy Lang.” At the mention of her name, a strange expression flitted across the girl’s face. Amy couldn’t decide if it was fear or elation. Or maybe she was feeling faint again. “Are you all right?”

The teenager wetted her lips. “I’m fine. I—I’m Heather. Heather G-Granger. Could I have more of the water?”

“Of course.” Amy retrieved the glass from the coffee table and handed it to her. “So you’re feeling weak again?”

“A little.” Heather sipped the water slowly. “You live here by yourself, or does the old lady live here too?”

Amy managed not to grin. Pearl wouldn’t appreciate being called an old lady. “I live here alone.”

“I don’t suppose you’d consider renting out a room? I’ve been told there is
no
place to stay on the island because of the stupid festival. I’ve got to find somewhere to stay, or I’ll be sleeping in a field or on a park bench.”

Amy watched the girl pick at a piece of lint on her jeans. Panic lay just under the surface. There was much the girl wasn’t saying. Where was her family? What had brought her here?

Amy studied her expression. “You don’t live on Hope Island? How did you get here?”

She looked up again, her blue eyes hopeful. “I came by the ferry. I have a job and everything. Just no place to stay.”

“You’re too young to be out on your own.”

“I’m eighteen.”

When Amy lifted a brow, Heather grabbed her purse and dug out her driver’s license. “See—eighteen! Please, I need a bed. Even the attic.” Her eyes glistened with tears, and her soft mouth trembled.

The desperation in Heather’s voice tugged at Amy’s heart-strings. And she wasn’t looking forward to listening for Ben’s footsteps and hearing echoes of his voice in these empty rooms. What could it hurt to give the girl a place to stay, at least until the festival was over? “I’ve got a spare room.”

Libby and little Noah were just down the hallway, but the cottage still felt empty. Amy sat on the edge of her bed and listened to the sea wind whistle through the eaves. Her eyes burned and her muscles ached as she pulled on her short nightgown. She pulled back the comforter and sheets, and the faint scent of rose petals wafted from the bed.

Tears moistened her eyes as she climbed onto the smooth cotton sheets. Closing her eyes, she inhaled the aroma of roses. Who knew it would be his last gift to her?

“Amy?” Libby’s voice outside her door sounded panicked.

Amy threw back the covers and sprang to open the door. “What’s wrong?”

Libby wore a blue nightgown and held her sleeping baby. Tears rolled down her face. “I—I’m scared, Amy. I don’t know how to be a mother, and what if I hurt him?”

Amy drew her into the room and guided her to a seat on the
bed. “Oh, honey, you’ll be fine. Babies aren’t as fragile as they seem. All they need is lots of love. He’ll let you know when he’s hungry and needs to be changed.”

Libby sniffled. “My mother was a drunk. What if I fail Noah somehow too?”

“Every parent makes mistakes, but kids survive. Look at you. Even with the problems in your family, you turned into a caring, wonderful person. Trust yourself, Libs. Noah is lucky to have you for a mommy.”

Libby’s smile came then. “You always know the right thing to say.” Her eyes sobered. “You doing okay? It’s your first night.”

Amy blinked quickly but not soon enough to hold back the tear that escaped. “Smell the roses? Ben always put petals in the sheets when they were folded. Even when they’re shaken before making the bed, the fragrance stays.”

“I wish I’d known him better. You loved him very much.”

Amy nodded. “He was eight years older than me and I idolized him. And he knew me better than anyone. He was the one who knew I’d never make a good lawyer. He saw my love of children and told me to follow my heart.” She smiled and shook her head. “I don’t think he realized I would take it quite this far. I’m sure I drove him crazy when I was small. I followed him around everywhere until he went to college when I was ten.”

Libby brushed her lips across Noah’s soft, dark hair. “Tell me more about him. I only met him a couple of times.”

Amy loved nothing better than talking about Ben. “He was so smart. I don’t even know how many things he had on his plate, but he knew so much about business. I think he would have ended up richer than Dad if he’d lived.”

“He was engaged, wasn’t he?”

Amy nodded. “Poor Elizabeth was devastated by his death. She still isn’t dating.”

“Such a tragedy. I’m so sorry, Amy. Did you get to see him a lot?”

“Not nearly enough. Mostly just the two weeks we spent here every summer.” She fell silent. There had been plenty of times he’d begged off meeting for dinner or dessert, but she hadn’t faulted him for that. He had a lot of friends and was always on the go.

And losing him wasn’t something she’d ever dreamed would happen, or she would have pushed harder to spend every minute with him.

Curtis couldn’t remember the last time he’d been to Rosemary Cottage. Probably last summer. Libby’s family crowded around the rocker where she sat to meet little Noah. The rest of the Coasties team hadn’t come by yet, but Alec had called him to ask him to bring by some things he’d left in his locker. Curtis suspected the small box in his pocket was a gift for the new mom.

Vanessa, Libby’s younger sister, demanded to hold the baby, so while Libby was distracted, Curtis motioned for Alec to meet him in the kitchen. “Here’s what you wanted. I think you should give it to her in front of everyone.” He handed over the small white box.

Alec’s eyes crinkled in a grin. “Want to see me embarrassed, is that it? Did you peek at it?”

Curtis shook his head. “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out a jewelry box. What is it?”

“It’s a mother’s ring.” Alec’s gaze went over Curtis’s shoulder. “Anything wrong, Amy?”

Curtis turned to see Amy standing in the doorway from the living room. Something about her always set him on edge. Guilt, maybe.

“I thought maybe you fellows needed something.”

Alec grinned. “Nope, just some sneaky stuff going on.”

He gave her the box Curtis had passed to him, and her smile
lit up the room. Or so it seemed to Curtis. She always seemed to be alight with an inner spirit that drew everyone to her.

She handed the box back to Alec. “When are you going to give it to her?”

“In a few minutes. Once Brent and Zach get here. Zach was out fishing, and I asked Brent to pick him up.”

Amy was in no hurry to meet Libby’s half brother. She’d heard how he treated his newfound sister at first. She moved toward the counter. “I think I’ll make fresh coffee.”

“Can I help?” Curtis followed her. “Alec needs to go back and worship at the shrine of mother and child.” He nudged his friend and grinned.

Alec smiled back. “Says Uncle Curtis, who is curled around Raine’s little finger.”

Amy tilted a brow his way. “You have a niece? I didn’t know.”

Curtis’s face heated, and he turned away to open cupboard doors in search of cups. “Yes, Gina’s daughter. I’m raising her.” He found the cups and pulled them out.

“I’m sorry about Gina.”

“Me too. And sorry about Ben. We both had tragedy strike and not too far apart.” When he glanced at her, her expression was hard to read.

She put coffee beans in the grinder and turned it on, then filled the carafe with water and poured it in the coffeemaker. “Gina was struck by a boat, is that right?”

“Yes. Idiot was going too fast.”

“Did he stop after he struck her?”

“No. I turned the island upside down looking for him too. It’s hard to believe he didn’t realize he’d hit her. It was probably some young kid who panicked and rushed off without stopping.”

“Um-hmm,” she muttered under her breath.

He read the skepticism on her face. What was she getting at?