Chapter 5
Morgan’s heart skipped a beat. Whoever had booked suites at Locke Pointe at the last minute had rattled the unflappable Ronni and cool-as-a-cucumber Greg.
Loud voices and then the tinkle of a woman’s laughter echoed from the front of the house. As Morgan drew closer, she recognized the gravelly male voice. She picked up the pace, reaching the grand foyer where Greg, David Wynn and a striking blonde woman, close to her own age, stood chatting.
David noticed her first, a wide beaming smile lighting his face. “Morgan.”
“Mr. Wynn…David.” Morgan’s smile matched his own. She offered him her hand. Instead, he gave her a warm hug, as if greeting an old friend. “You’re looking well.”
“Thank you, and I might say the same about you,” Morgan said. “What a wonderful surprise!”
“It was Harlow’s idea. After you weren’t able to make it to Mackinac Island when Brett visited, we’ve been tossing around the idea of coming to see you instead.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t make the trip. An unexpected issue came up at the last minute.”
“I understand. Like I said, Harlow also wanted to see Locke Pointe.” David Wynn, with a look of both adoration and pride, slid to the side. “Morgan Easton, please meet my daughter, Harlow.”
The woman stepped forward, extending her hand, with a gracious yet guarded smile on her face.
“Dad speaks highly of you. We had a few down days before the holidays and started talking about the plans for Wynn Harbor Inn. He’s told me all about Locke Pointe, and I suggested we book a night so I could see it for myself. ”
Morgan shook her hand, finding her grip firm, assured, the grip of someone who knew who they were. “Welcome to Locke Pointe.”
“Thank you.” Harlow released her hand and spun in a slow circle. “I have to say Dad described this place almost to a ‘t.’ First impressions are it’s charming and elegant…or should I say upscale, yet welcoming.”
“Which is precisely the feeling we’ve worked so hard to create. Most of what you see is original from when my grandparents were alive, right down to the pictures on the walls.” Morgan shifted her feet. “Greg can show you to your rooms. When you’re settled in, I would love to give you a tour.”
“If it’s not too much trouble.”
“Not at all.”
Greg caught Morgan’s eye, giving her a wide-eyed look of panic. “I would…uh…what suites are they in?”
“The Bluff Suite and Artist’s Retreat.”
“Got it.” Taking the short trek to the elevator, the trio disappeared inside.
As soon as the doors closed, Ronni placed a light hand on Morgan’s back, whisking her into the living room. “You had no idea Mr. Wynn was planning a visit?” she whispered.
“Nope. Not a clue.”
“I have to admit I feel a little…a lot…out of my league. We’ve never had a famous person stay with us before. What should we do?”
Morgan grinned. “Treat them the same way we treat every other guest who stays with us, like VIPs.”
“Right. Right. Do you think they’ll mind if we snap a few photos of them? I mean, think about how awesome of a publicity piece we could create, boasting about how Harlow Wynn stayed here.”
“I’m sure David won’t mind. We’ll play it by ear as far as Harlow is concerned.” Morgan excused herself to swing by the kitchen and let Tina know the new guests had arrived. “I found out why Ronni seemed out of sorts.”
“Why?”
“David and Harlow Wynn are here. They’re spending the night.”
Tina’s jaw dropped. “Here…under our roof?” she squeaked.
“Yes.”
“I hate to admit I’m starstruck, but I’m starstruck. What special dish should I make? What do famous people eat?” Tina flung the refrigerator door open, muttering under her breath.
Morgan calmly strolled over to the door and shut it. “You’ve already prepared the social hour’s appetizers.”
“I have.” Tina rattled off the dishes. “It’s not fancy food, more of comfort food. Locke Pointe B&B is all about comfort.”
“Which is what David and Harlow are expecting. If they wanted Michelin-level food or fine dining, they would have booked a stay somewhere else. Harlow doesn’t strike me as snooty, and of course, David…Mr. Wynn is about as down-to-earth as they come. We’ll treat them like we do any other guest.”
“Okay,” Tina said in a small voice. “You’re right. I guess I just freaked out for a second.”
Ronni appeared in the doorway. “David is in the living room, waiting for you and Harlow.”
“I’ll go keep him company. C’mon, Chester.” Morgan, with her pup by her side, breezed down the hall. She reached the formal living room and found her guest standing in front of the Christmas tree.
Chester sprinted across the room and pawed at David’s pant leg.
“There’s your little pup.” He reached down to fluff his ears. “What’s his name again?”
“Chester.”
“Hello, fella.” Wynn slowly stood. “You’ve dressed Locke Pointe up for the holidays. Harlow is right. This place is charming, classy, the whole shebang.”
“Thanks. I hadn’t done much until Greg, your driver, who is also my handyman, found boxes of decorations belonging to my grandparents. We put them up only hours ago.”
“Harlow and I have started decorating,” David said. “It’s the first Christmas in a long time I’m actually looking forward to the holidays.”
“Same for me.”
Wynn’s expression sobered. “I bet last year was tough on you.”
“Very,” Morgan said. “It was exciting finding my grandmother and brother but sad because it was my first Christmas without my mom.”
“I would like to tell you it gets easier, but from my experience, it merely becomes more bearable.” He thumped his chest. “The pain never goes away. The memories live on.”
“And cherishing those who are still here with us.” Morgan lowered her voice. “Your daughter is beautiful. She strikes me as a woman who knows what she wants and can hold her own.”
“Thank you.” David’s eyes shone with pride. “Harlow takes after both me and her mother as far as holding her own.”
“You must be very proud of her.”
“I am.”
Morgan glimpsed movement out of the corner of her eye. Harlow glided into the room. “And I am proud of my dad. He’s a great person, and I’m blessed to have him as a father.”
“I wholeheartedly agree,” Morgan said. “I never knew my father. My mother left Easton Island when I was young and never returned.”
“I’m sorry.” Harlow offered her a small smile. “I didn’t mean to bring up painful memories.”
“You didn’t. This house. Looking Glass Cottage, the home I inherited from Mom. The memories are all around me.” Morgan motioned to the tree. “Even the ornaments, along with almost every stick of furniture you see, are reminders of my parents and grandparents.”
Chester ran over to greet her.
Harlow knelt on the floor and patted his head. “What an adorable pup,” she cooed.
“Chester. He’s my rescue pup. My best friend Quinn and I found him on Chester Court, which is how he got his name.”
“I bet he and Mort would like each other,” she said. “I can’t wait for the tour. I’m sure you already know Dad has decided to rebuild our inn on a smaller scale, similar to what you have here.”
“It works for me.” Morgan gave them a brief rundown of what she’d experienced since welcoming visitors to her bed-and-breakfast. “I’m sure you know the drill, the ins and outs of hosting guests, but on a much larger scale.”
“Which is why I’ve decided to downsize,” David said. “The goal is to make it a little more manageable, but large enough for me to pay you and your brother back on your investment.”
“It sounds like an excellent plan.” Morgan led the way through the rest of the living room, pointing out various works of art, including her mother’s painting of Locke Pointe. She started to move on when Harlow stopped her. “Is this the painting?”
“The one that held the secret to the Shifting Sands Medallion?” Morgan nodded. “It is. The clue was hidden in the back of the frame.”
“The story is fascinating. Would it be possible to show me where you found it?”
“I told Harlow all about the medallion, how you gave me a tour and showed me the room,” David said. “Hopefully, we aren’t putting you on the spot.”
“Not at all. As you know, the only access is through the main suite. As luck would have it, no one is staying there right now.” Morgan excused herself to track down the key. She caught up with them in the hall and led the way to the second floor. “Before I forget, how are your rooms?”
“One hundred percent on point,” David said. “Not to brag, but I have an eye for detail. You haven’t missed a beat, right down to the upscale toiletries in the bathroom.”
“Dad’s right. The amenities are exactly what I expect from a high-end bed-and-breakfast.”
“I appreciate the feedback. Our social hour starts soon. I hope you’ll join the other Locke Pointe guests. Tina, my cook, is top notch, the best in the business. We’ll have a variety of tasty comfort food.”
“Comfort food is right up my alley,” Harlow joked. “Dad and I packed in a hurry and barely had time to grab a quick bite to eat on our way out.”
“Then you’ll be glad you saved your appetite.” Morgan reached the end of the hall. She gave the door a light rap. Easing it open, she peeked inside to confirm it was empty. “The coast is clear.”
Cutting through the bedroom, the trio entered the primary bathroom and crossed over to the walk-in shower.
David followed Morgan in. Harlow hesitated. “The shower?”
“Believe it or not, yes, the shower,” Morgan laughed.
Chester scooted past them and plopped down in front of the secret entrance.
“Chester knows where we’re going,” David chuckled.
“He loves the attic.” Morgan scooped her pup up and slid the star-shaped key into the cutout, giving it a light twist. The door slowly opened, revealing a narrow set of stairs.
“This is James Bond 007 level awesomeness,” Harlow gasped. “A secret door.”
“Lead the way, buddy.” Morgan gave Chester a gentle nudge, following her pup to the top of the stairs.
Harlow and her father were close behind. They crossed the catwalk and took a quick look inside the room currently being used for storage.
“I noticed the half-moon windows when we pulled up. They give the house a kind of spooky yet mysterious vibe.”
“They were the key to solving the mystery.” Morgan backtracked, leading them into the room at the other end of the catwalk. “Over here. This is the spot.”
Harlow scooched in next to her father. “The medallion was hidden beneath the floor.”
Morgan tapped the floorboard with the tip of her shoe. “We found it under these.”
“But how…” Harlow shook her head.
“The note behind the painting was the clue. My boyfriend Wyatt helped me figure it out. On a specific day in December, the full moon shines down through the window, creating a pattern and casting a shadow on the floor.”
Harlow picked up. “Pointing you to the location of the medallion.”
“Correct.”
“This would make a great movie. Drama, adventure, beautiful scenery.”
“Maybe you could pitch it to your producer-friends,” David suggested.
“Maybe I should. Morgan could take up acting.”
“Oh, no.” She began shaking her head. “I have enough on my plate. Besides, I’ve already had my moment of fame with the documentary, speaking of which, Brett is trying to get his hands on a copy.”
David frowned. “You didn’t get one yet?”
“No.”
“I’ll take care of it right now.” He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and tapped the screen. “I’m sending a message to the producer. What’s your email address?”
Morgan rattled off both her address and Brett’s.
“If you don’t have it by tomorrow morning, let me know.”
“Thank you. We’re planning a special screening at Grandmother’s house. I have the popcorn ordered and everything,” Morgan joked.
“You have such a cool house,” Harlow said. “I would wake up every day pinching myself.”
“I’m sure you could afford dozens of these.”
“But not like this. Your house has…character. Like it fits in its skin, if that makes sense. I’ve visited houses where you look at the outside and think you know what the inside looks like, but then you walk in, and you’re like…is this even the same house?”
“As I mentioned, most of what you see at Locke Pointe is original. Hopefully, I’ll be able to pass it on to my own children someday.” Morgan followed them down the stairs and closed the secret door behind them.
They reached the main level and toured the rest of the rooms, wrapping it up where they began. “We have a carriage house, a private beach and, thanks to Greg, the guy who picked you up at the airport, meticulously manicured gardens during the summer months, when they aren’t covered by snow.”
Tina appeared in the doorway. “I’ve finished setting up for social hour, appetizers, and drinks in the dining room and parlor.”
Morgan introduced the Wynns to Tina.
“I’m famished.” Harlow patted her stomach. “But first, I need to freshen up.”
“Ditto,” David said. “We’ll be down to enjoy some delicious dishes in a minute.”
“Take your time.” Morgan followed Tina into the dining room to inspect the spread—a charcuterie grazing board, hanging pretzels with individual dipping sauces, fried chicken and waffle bites in silver paper cones, along with an assortment of chips and dips.
“How did I do?” The cook nervously licked her lips.
“It’s perfect.” Morgan plucked a chip from the bowl and reached for a dipping tin. “The guests will love it.”
“I hope so.”
“You worry too much.” She polished off her snack. “I have no doubt each dish tastes as yummy as it looks.”
“Do the…do the other guests know about Harlow and her father being here?”
“No, but they will soon enough. Something tells me this will be a very interesting social hour.”