Kaleidoscope Summer (Samantha's Story) (40 page)

He
toyed with the folder
he’d brought with him
. “Sarcasm noted.”

“What’s going on
?” I pointed
to the file stuffed under his arm.

“I’m
res
igning
. Thought you should know
before I filed t
he paperwork.” He set the papers
on the small table next to me.

“You better sit. What’s this foolishness?”

“
My
mind
’
s made up
.” He slumped in a chair.

“Oh, this i
s about me getting shot. C
ome on—these things happen. It’s law enforcement.”
But no one could
prepare you for the day
.
Although, getting
shot wasn’t my
issue—I’d
fail
ed
as
a cop
.
My men had to clean up my mess
.

“Being his sister…” She nodded toward me. Alec glanced up with a surprised look. Apparently, neither of us
had noticed when she’d co
me back outside
, I waited for her to continue.
“It wouldn’t disappoint
me if he quit the forc
e. But a
s a citizen
,
I’m proud of Logan
for serving
Serenity
Cove. I’m proud of you
,
too.
” She nodded toward
Alec
.
“
You’re responsible
for
the criminals being caught. I
don’t have to
start worrying
each morning as
I
open my shop
doors
.
”

I motioned
at
Alec
.
“
I only know the condensed ver
sion
—how’d it go down?”

Alec leaned b
ack and balanced an ankle
on
his
opposite knee.
“After the medics arrived
,
I contacted
Ted
and Nicole
who were already
search
ing the area. I j
umped in
my pa
trol car, and joined them
. Spotted
a guy messing with a screen on one of the
summer cottages—
he was hold
ing
one arm pressed
to his chest and
I
could see blood dripping
.
”
Alec
squirmed in his chair. “
Since
the Grant
s were
n
ot
yet
in residence
for the season
,
I sneaked
around the other side and two other crooks
were worki
ng on the back windows. I signaled
Ted
and Nicole
, and
the three of us
moved in and
made the arrests.”

Page by page,
I
shredded
the forms in the folder
Alec
had handed me
. I sat in silence, the words
lodged in my throat.

“Boss,
I don’t…
” He began tapping his fingertips on his knee.

Alec
drumming his unheard tune
meant
the crisi
s had ended. “I’m proud of you
.
M
an.
If getting shot helped bring
criminals down—I’d give my other leg to
the cause
. It’s what we’re sworn to do—protect and serve our town.
”
And it had rightfully been a team effort.

“Hi.” I heard
the sweetness of
Sa
m
’s voice a
s
she walked
onto the deck.
Ah, there was
an up button.
The day
looked brighter.
Sam
’s
outward loveliness g
lo
wed when she smiled, but the beauty
from a deeper source
stirred my soul.

I’d
learned a big lesson—
e
ach day we’re given counts
.
M
y grandmother was wise
. I
’d
walked over coals and came out stronger on the other side.
F
irst on my list—
recuperating
.
I glanced over at Sam, enamored
by
her smile.

Chapter
Thirty
-three

My heart votes to stay in
Serenity
Cove—but I still need answers. In some ways
,
g
oing back to
Stone
Valley
seems the easiest choice.
Yet, I can’t ignore my feelings for Logan. Thank you, God
,
for giving me another chance. Please
—show me
the way and give me courage. A future and
ho
pe—is it here in Serenity Cove
? ~
Journal entry

In the back of the bookshop, I sat with my Bible open
ed staring
at the pages. I held
my br
eath, wanting to
stop the
storm inside me
.
Lord
, please help m
e to be still before You.

Goldie laid her paw on my knee
.
I
tur
ned to see
Audra enter the shop, her appearance
both
stunning and professional in a
black pencil skirt topped with a raspberry twin sweater set.
With
a slight smile
,
I waved
.
“Join me
.”

“Hi, i
s this a good time to talk?
” She
removed her long
-
sleeved,
sweater
and draped
it on the back of her
chair
,
revealing
the knitted
shell underneath with
its
delicate
crocheted trim.

“
Sure.
How’s the revamping on your home?”

“Fantastic
. Also
,
I
found a location for my office,
near
Farmer’s
market.
” She pointed toward the rear of the shop, which was the opposite direction of
Farmer’s
.
Being a person who was also directionally challenged,
I smi
led as she continued her story.
“
T
he
shopping district here on Main Street
is unique
and lovely, but since
becoming more
acquainted with the town, it isn’t
a good cho
ice
for a real estate office
.
”
She swept
her fingers across the neckline of her sweater.

“
Sounds
as if you found an ideal place
.” What else did
she want?

“Another thing.
You’re right. This should remain a
bookshop. It’s
the perfect mix with
the other shops
here. When you’re ready
,
I’d be happy t
o help you find the right buyer
.”

“Thanks, I would like that
.”
I studied Audra’s
features. “Y
ou seem familiar,
like I should know you.”
S
omething
about her—

“
Yeah, I think it’s the eyes. You’re
the only
other
person
I’ve met,
outside my father, who has azure
eyes.”
Audra tilted her head and l
ines formed across her forehead.

I’d gone this far—I rushed on.
“
You
mentioned you
’
r
e
restoring your
gra
ndparents
’
house. I’m curious about their
last name—if we’re
somehow connected.
”

“It was
Donnelly.
I don’t recall any Forresters in our family.
Must be that everyone has a twin thing.
What are the odds?
”
She
grinned and
pulled her cardigan
from the back of the chair.
“
I better get on the road
.
I’m driving to
Mariner Bay
to pick up wallpaper samples.”

I walked behind her, imagining how her heels sounded clicking across the wood flooring.

“I’ll be in touch about
listing the shop.” W
atching her leave
,
I was distracted by
another woman approaching
the bookshop
.

With
a
n
extra
wave
in
Audra’s direction
,
I
focused on the lady walking toward me
. “
What can I do for you?”

“
I’m
Betsy
.
Roger
’s cousin.
He
asked me to speak with Elizabeth about
Anne
’s writings
.” She handed me a leather portfolio
tied with
a ribbon
. “Elizabeth wants you to have these. She hopes you
’ll
enjo
y reading Anne’s stories
. Said it’s
important you don’t attempt
to return them.
John
might
be
come distraught
if he found out
.”

One never could
tell
when the
course might change
.
“Please, come in
.”

She clu
tched
the strap on her purse ha
ng
ing
against her blue floral dress,
and stepped inside. I le
d the way u
ps
tairs
,
where we sat in the cushioned slipper chairs flanking
the fireplace.

“I’m so glad you’re here
.
I’d love to hear about my grandmother.”

“Elizabeth?
She’s the gentlest soul I’ve ever met. She loved her daughter. When
John
’s not a
round
,
she enjoys sharing her memories
about
Anne
.
Too bad
John
won’t listen to his wife
.” I noticed her sensible shoes as she crossed her legs.
No
-
nonsense shoes—it fit
.

“
John refuses to see me
.
Does Elizabeth agree
?”

“I doubt it. But
she’d never go against h
is wishes.” She straightened
the scar
f she’d added to the neck of her
dress
.

Betsy hesitated
as we said goodbye at the door.
“
By the way, I heard about
Logan
being shot
.
I’ve been praying for him.
”

“He’s
resumed his
duties
as the police chief
,
part
-
time.”

“Glad he’s better.
I’m sorry to rush, but I promised John I’d stay with Elizabeth this afternoon.
” She hefted her purse to her shoulder.
“
If you want to send
Elizabeth a message
,
I’ll see she gets it
.”