Chapter 7 Eve #2
“Uh...” Brian stammered, clearing his throat. “I’ll get you some menus.” His eyes didn’t leave Lila. “Would you like something to drink?”
“Just some apple juice, please,” Lila told him.
“Sure,” Brian said. “I’ll be right back with some menus.” He repeated himself, then disappeared toward the side table.
Eve hid her smile behind her coffee cup.
“Such a nice young man,” Eve said.
“Who?” Lila asked, looking a little confused.
“Brian,” Eve said. “The young server who was just here. I would’ve thought you’d have noticed him. He’s very handsome, tall, and so polite.”
“Oh.” Lila turned and looked to where he was pouring apple juice at the long table. “I suppose he is.” She looked back at Eve with narrowed eyes. “Are you trying to set me up?”
“What?” Eve looked at her, genuinely startled. “No, sweetheart, not like that anyway. I just thought it would be nice for you to have someone your own age here to chat to.”
“Oh,” Lila nodded, her expression relaxing. “Sorry. I just thought that since you and Mom have already met potential holiday romances, you were trying to set me up, too.”
“What do you mean?” Eve’s brow furrowed.
“You met that man, David, yesterday, and Mom has this photographer, Nolan,” Lila reminded her.
“Oh, sweetheart, David was a chance run-in,” Eve pointed out, though she had to admit her mind had wandered to him a few times since yesterday. His card was still in her purse, tucked into the side pocket where she wouldn’t forget it. She changed the subject quickly. “What do you want to do today?”
Lila’s face brightened. “I’d like to go look at the fair we passed in St. Augustine yesterday. It looked fun.”
“That’s a great idea,” Eve agreed.
Brian came back as they were talking, setting menus in front of them.
“If you’re going to the fair, you should also check out the beachfront here on Anastasia Island.
There’s an ice rink and a fake-snow arena.
There’s not a lot of festivities going on since Christmas has passed, but there are still a few things for the lead up to New Year. ”
“Thank you, Brian,” Eve said. “That sounds wonderful.”
They placed their breakfast orders, and Brian disappeared back toward the kitchen.
Lila leaned forward, her eyes dancing with mischief. “Should we go to the boardwalk and take a covert look at this Nolan guy?”
Eve laughed. “I have a better idea.”
She called Brian back over.
“Do you know anything about the photographer staying here? Nolan, I think his name is?”
Brian’s face lit up. “Oh yeah, Nolan’s a great guy. He arrived yesterday, about an hour before you did. I’ve served him a few times since then, and he seems really nice. He’s doing a photography shoot on St. Augustine and Anastasia Island’s New Year celebrations.”
“Thank you, Brian,” Eve said, feeling slightly better but not entirely convinced.
After breakfast, unable to help themselves, Eve and Lila bundled up and headed for the boardwalk.
The morning was cool and bright, the ocean stretching endlessly under a cloudless sky. They spotted Mia and Nolan almost immediately, standing near the railing with a camera between them.
Mia’s face was lit with genuine joy, her laughter carried on the breeze as Nolan showed her something on the camera screen.
Eve’s chest tightened with relief.
They approached casually, and Mia looked up with a smile that made her look ten years younger.
“Hello, Eve, Lila, sweetheart,” she said, surprised but pleased. “Nolan, this is my daughter Lila, and my Aunt Eve.”
“Hi,” Nolan said, offering his hand. “It’s such a pleasure to meet you both. Mia has told me so much about the two of you.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too,” Lila and Eve chorused.
“What are you taking photos of?” Lila asked, and Nolan eagerly showed her while Eve stepped closer to Mia.
“We came looking for you,” Eve said. “Because we’re thinking of going to the festive season fair in St. Augustine and wanted to know if you’d like to come with us.”
Nolan turned to them with an easy smile. “I’m actually going there later this morning to take pictures of it.” He glanced at Mia. “Would you like to join me?”
Mia’s expression shifted, torn between family and this new thing that had brought her back to life.
“Oh, Mom, I think you should go with Nolan,” Lila said before Mia could answer. “We can meet you there.” She grinned conspiratorially at Eve. “Why don’t you and Nolan meet us for lunch there at twelve? I’ll message you where we are.”
Mia looked hesitant. Eve felt her protective instincts flare; every part of her wanted to keep Mia close and safe.
But she’d also seen how happy Mia looked. The shadows in her eyes had lifted. In the ten minutes they’d been standing there, Mia hadn’t touched her pendant once.
“That sounds perfect,” Eve heard herself say.
Mia’s smile was radiant. “Okay. Twelve o’clock.”
“Wow, Mom,” Lila breathed as Nolan showed her a few pictures on a second, smaller camera. “These photos you took are really good.”
Mia lit up like a Christmas tree at her daughter’s compliment. “Thank you, sweetheart.” She glanced shyly at Nolan. “I couldn’t have done it, though, without Nolan’s direction.”
“Nah…” Nolan said, smiling warmly at Mia, and Eve suddenly felt like she was intruding on an intimate moment. “You have a good eye and are a natural at this.”
“Lila, we’d better get going,” Eve said, pulling Lila away.
She wasn’t sure about Nolan yet. He seemed nice.
But what she was sure of was how happy Mia was.
Something she hadn’t seen since long before the incident with the child, going back to when Mary had passed away.
And that was worth stepping aside to let Mia navigate her own way.
Although Eve was going to keep a watchful eye.
Eve and Lila left them there, walking back toward the Inn in companionable silence.
Eve’s phone rang as they drew up toward the inn.
William’s name lit up the screen.
“Hello, William,” Eve said, smiling as Lila’s face lit up, hearing who it was.
“Eve, good morning,” William’s warm voice came through. “I wanted to invite you, Mia, and Lila, for dinner tonight. Julie will be joining us as well.”
“Oh, how lovely,” Eve said, and then on impulse added, “Are we finally getting invited to your house so we can see where you live? We’ve heard so much about St. Augustine from you over the years.”
There was a pause. Brief, but noticeable.
“I’d love nothing more,” William said, his tone still warm, but something underneath it had shifted. “But I’m afraid the house is undergoing renovations at the moment, and it’s a terrible mess. Maybe the next time you come to Florida?”
“Sure,” Eve said, her sense telling her he was not being honest with them. “Where are we going then?”
“There’s a wonderful Italian place in town, Salvatore’s on St. George Street. Shall we say seven o’clock?” William rattled on jovially, but there was still a slight strain in his voice now. Maybe Eve was imagining it, but it had crept into his voice when she’d mention seeing his house.
“That sounds perfect,” Eve said, pushing down the odd feeling in her chest and the suspicion creeping up her spine. “We’ll see you then.”
“Wonderful. I’m looking forward to it,” William told her.
They said their goodbyes, and Eve slipped the phone back into her pocket.
“William invited us to dinner tonight,” she told Lila.
Lila’s face brightened. “That’s a great idea. Maybe we could ask Nolan to join us and get to grill him some more.”
Eve laughed despite the unease settling in her chest. “That might not be such a bad idea.”
Lila’s phone rang as they got to the inn. The ringtone was one Eve knew well; it meant that her friend Angie was calling. Lila’s face lit up. “Do you mind if I take this?”
“Of course not, go.” Eve smiled. “And while you’re in your room, maybe you can get ready too. We’ll leave in twenty minutes.”
Lila rushed off toward the stairs, her phone already pressed to her ear.
Brian emerged from the dining room, pulling on a jacket, clearly heading out for the morning.
“Brian,” Eve called, stopping him before he reached the door.
He turned. “Oh, hello again.” His tone was warm and friendly
“You said that William Moore lives in the same gated community as you?” Eve asked him.
“Yes.” Brian’s brow furrowed slightly. “Why?”
“Do you know if his house is being renovated?” Eve couldn’t let the way Williams’ tone had changed after asking about his house go.
Brian blinked, then laughed. “Not that I know of, and we would know since we live next door to him.” A car horn sounded outside, drawing Brian’s attention before he looked back at her. “Sorry, I’d better go. My grandfather’s here to fetch me.” He gave her a quick smile. “Have a great day.”
He was out the door before Eve could respond.
She stood in the lobby, staring after him, suspicion growing like frost across glass.
Why would William lie about his house being renovated?
Only one thought came to mind. Maybe he didn’t want them there. Especially Mia.
Eve had always just accepted it. The fact that Mia didn’t remember her father. That she never asked about him. That Mary never once mentioned him. Eve didn’t even know the man’s name.
Mia hadn’t even been in Florida for twenty-four hours, and her memories were already starting to seep through.
Something wasn’t right here.
And then there was William Moore. Another mystery.
How was he such a close family friend? He’d been in Mary and Mia’s lives since Eve had known them.
Always there. Always helpful. Always caring.
But how was he such a good family friend?
Neither Mary nor William had ever explained what his connection was to Mary, Mia, and now Lila.
Something was going on here, and Eve was going to find out what.