The Summer Inn on Plum Island (Cobble Beach Romance #6)

1. CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 1

D awn, her heart heavy, stood on the balcony of her hotel suite overlooking the ocean as the sun slowly stretched over the sea, awakening Plum Island with its golden yawn. The cool morning breeze carried the salty tang of the sea, mingling with the scent of blooming wildflowers from the cliffs. She sipped her green smoothie, a concoction she’d perfected over the days to keep her energized yet calm—a necessary balance for the hours of writing she had planned.

As the horizon bled into a canvas of orange and pink, Dawn’s thoughts meandered to the wedding festivities that had filled the Summer Inn with laughter and love just the day before. The double familymoon that followed meant that her best friends, Alex and Harriet, along with their new families, would be absent for the next few weeks. The sudden quiet was stark, making the island feel more like an isolated retreat than ever.

With a soft sigh, she set her smoothie down and turned back into the suite, the plush carpet soft under her bare feet. Plum Island felt empty without the cheerful chaos of her friends and their children. On a whim, she decided to start her day with a morning walk on the beach, thinking it might inspire some new ideas for her script. She reached for her watch on the bedside table, a habitual gesture to ensure she kept track of time, only to find it missing.

Perplexed, Dawn searched around the table, lifting papers and peering behind the lamp. Nothing. Her brow furrowed as she considered the last time she’d seen it—a vivid memory of placing it on the table the previous night sprung to mind. A chill prickled at her spine, not from the morning coolness but from a budding suspicion. The watch wasn’t just a timepiece; it was a vintage collector’s item, a gift from her late mother, making it irreplaceable. The question of its sudden disappearance hung in the air, adding a layer of intrigue to the morning’s tranquility.

Deciding to widen her search, Dawn checked the bathroom, the living area, and even under the bed. With each passing minute, her unease grew; it wasn’t like her to misplace things, especially not something of sentimental value. After a thorough yet fruitless search, she was forced to consider the possibility that her watch had been taken.

But who would take it? Her mind raced with possible scenarios.

Determined not to let this disruption stall her day, Dawn dressed for her walk, choosing comfort over style with a light sweater and capri pants. As she laced her sneakers, her resolve hardened; she would need to alert the hotel management about her missing watch, though the thought of theft in such a secure environment was puzzling.

Stepping out of her suite, Dawn headed for the beach, her mind now occupied with more than just scripts and character arcs. While the possibility of theft nagged at her, she pushed the thought aside, focusing instead on the rhythmic sound of the waves and the soft sand under her feet.

Dawn’s missing watch created an unexpected twist in her morning routine, which was just what she needed to spark new creative ideas, even if it came with a bit of inconvenience. The familiar comfort of the beach, her usual creative sanctuary, reassured her amidst the uncertainty of the missing watch.

Dawn made her way past the Beach Hut and down to where the waves kissed the shore. The rhythmic sound of the ocean usually soothed her, but today, Dawn’s mind was preoccupied with her missing watch. She tried to remember if maybe she hadn’t put it down, or perhaps she left it in her car.

As she walked toward the rocky part of the long sandy beach, her internal debate was interrupted by a familiar voice. “Dawn!” Liam called as he emerged from the ocean.

Water cascaded off him in the early morning light as he emerged from the ocean, his surfboard under one arm. The unexpected sight of him, a friend she hadn’t expected to see so early, brought a spark of anticipation to her morning walk. Dawn stopped and smiled as Liam jogged toward her.

“Hi!” Dawn greeted him. “You’re up early.”

“I usually get the waves to myself this time of day,” Liam told her and teased, “Going for a solo walk to get fitter than me, eh?” His blue eyes twinkled with humor as he approached her.

Dawn gave a soft laugh, momentarily distracted from her worries. “I just needed some fresh air to clear my head,” she replied. “I’ve got a busy day ahead. I’m fetching Harper from Boston airport in a few hours, and I have some rewrites of the next episode of the Cobble Cove Mysteries that I need to get to.”

Liam’s expression softened. “Sounds like a full day. Anything interesting planned for her visit?”

“Just hoping the change of scenery will help her,” Dawn said, thinking about her niece’s recent troubles. “She’s been acting out a bit lately, and my brother thinks a summer here might settle her down.”

“That’s a good idea,” Liam agreed, nodding as he glanced back at the waves. “This place has a way of calming even the wildest spirits. Plus, Lila will be thrilled to have someone her age around as her friends are all out of town for three weeks.”

Dawn appreciated his supportive tone. “It would be great if we could introduce the girls, as I think it’ll be good for Harper to have a friend like Lila.” She shook her head as worry creased her brow. “My brother tells me that Harper’s friends are very pretentious and a bit over the top when it comes to designer labels, the best hair and nail salons, and so on.”

“I get it,” Liam said with a nod. “I’ve seen it happen with some of my colleagues’ teens. There is a lot of pressure to fit in.”

They both looked out over the waves as they spoke. “Harper was never like that until she started at her new high school.” Dawn shook her head and sighed. “Now Harper and her mother, Tracy, who always had a great relationship, fight all the time. Scott, my brother, reckons they both need a long break away from each other for a while.”

“I bet your brother needs the break too,” Liam guessed. “I know what it’s like being in the middle of a mother-daughter feud.” He raised his eyebrows and blew out a breath. “It’s not nice. You’re trying to keep the peace and don’t want to take sides as you love them both and can see both points of view.”

“Then end up being the villain in both their stories,” Dawn finished for him. “There is no winning in that battle.” She agreed with Liam. “Scott and Tracy are going to take a cruise while Harper and I spend the next three weeks together.”

“What time are you back from Boston?” Liam asked.

“I’m leaving at ten, so I should be there by noon,” Dawn told him. “Harper’s flight arrives at twelve-thirty. I thought we’d have lunch and go shopping in Boston, then head back in time for dinner at around seven tonight.”

“I see you have your whole itinerary planned.” Liam laughed. “Why don’t we meet for dinner at the Beach Hut this evening?”

“That sounds like a marvelous idea,” Dawn accepted his invitation, and a thought struck her. “If Lila is here on her own, she can come with me to Boston if she wants to, and if that’s okay with you?”

“Really?” Liam looked at her in surprise. “I’m sure she’d love that. Last night she was whining about not having anything to do with all her friends gone. Even Carly, Ethan, Reef, and Shay have gone away for a few weeks while the filming has been paused.”

“I don’t know how we’re going to get this season of the Cobble Cove Mysteries finished on time with all the character changes we’ve had to make.” Dawn blew out a breath. “We need a leading man that’s not going to quit on us so I can stop having to come up with plot lines. Especially as it coincides with Caroline’s new books that are coming out when the series starts, so it’s not only the scripts that have to change.”

“Who’s going to be the male lead after the current one gets killed off?” Liam asked.

“We’re not killing him off this time,” Dawn answered. “We’re sending him away to take over his family business after his father dies suddenly, and his mother is left holding a mess of a failing business.”

“Ah!” Liam nodded. “Nice one. So the new male lead will become the new police captain in the series?”

“Yes, and the lead actress’s new love interest,” Dawn told him. “But we’re going to keep that at bay for now and just have a growing chemistry between them. Or the lead actress will look too flighty in her romances as she’d just started one with the police captain that’s leaving.”

“Good thinking,” Liam said, impressed. “I don’t know how you do it.”

“It’s a joint effort between Caroline and me,” Dawn said modestly. “I’m really enjoying writing with Caroline. She’s so creative, and we always seem to be on the same wavelength.”

“Caroline always had an overactive imagination.” Liam smiled as he reminisced. “She was great for spooky campfire stories.” He laughed as he admitted, “And we’d always get an A on our English assignments as she’d help us.”

“Isn’t that cheating?” Dawn’s eyes narrowed as she teased him.

“No.” Liam shook his head. “When I say helped us, I mean she’d make us come up with an idea and then feed us ideas to pull our creativity out of us.”

“Good for her,” Dawn said. “Caroline showed you that with the right prompting, anyone could tell a story.”

“Now you sound just like her.” Liam grinned and shivered. “I’d better get out of this wetsuit.”

“I must finish my walk and get ready to fetch Harper.” Dawn turned toward the Beach Hut with Liam.

“I’ll speak to Lila and call you about her going with you to Boston,” Liam told her. “Thank you, Dawn. I have so much to do today with the hotel and my finance business in Boston.”

“Oh, how is the sale of your Boston firm going?” Dawn asked.

“Just a lot of paperwork and getting everything together,” Liam told her, running a hand through his wet hair. “That’s why it’s such a relief that Lila will be occupied today, and I don’t have to be constantly worrying about her mooning around the house all day.”

“It’s not a problem,” Dawn assured him. “It will be nice to have company on the drive to the city, and I’m sure Harper will love having another teen around to go shopping with.”

Before they parted ways, Dawn hesitated, then mentioned her missing watch. “Liam, sorry, before you go.” Her eyes met his. “Can you ask your staff who look after my hotel suite if they found my watch? I can’t find it. I was sure I put it on my nightstand last night, and this morning, it’s just gone.”

Liam looked at her thoughtfully. “You think someone took it?”

“I don’t know.” Dawn sighed. “I wouldn’t usually say anything, but the watch is a family heirloom that’s been in my mother’s family for a few generations. It has a lot of sentimental value and is special to me.”

“The watch you always wear?” Liam’s eyes darted to her bare wrist. “The gold Cartier?”

“Yes.” Dawn nodded in confirmation.

“I’ll speak to my staff,” Liam promised, clapping a comforting hand on her shoulder. “I’ll ask the maid service to keep an eye out for it.”

“Thanks, Liam. That would be great,” Dawn said, grateful for his help.

With that, they went their separate ways. Liam walked toward the Beach Hut, turning to wave before jogging off. Dawn watched him for a few seconds before turning and continuing her walk, feeling a little lighter and more confident about finding her watch.

Two hours later, Dawn and Lila headed to Boston in Dawn’s rental car. As the SUV sailed over the road, Lila chatted excitedly with Dawn.

“Thank you so much for letting me ride along with you,” Lila told Dawn. “I love going to Boston. We used to live there until a few years after my parents got divorced.” She sighed.

“I’m sorry,” Dawn said, glancing at the teen. “That must’ve been difficult for you.”

“Not really,” Lila surprised Dawn by saying. “My mother is a fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force, so we hardly saw her. She was always away. Then, when my mother applied to be a pilot for the U.S. Marines, it meant she’d have to move even further away. My parents split up.”

“Oh wow!” Dawn said. “I didn’t know your mother was in the military.”

“Yeah,” Lila nodded. “Her parents were also military, so I guess it was in her blood.”

“Do you see your mother?” Dawn asked.

“Yes, she drops in whenever she can,” Lila told Dawn. “She always sends me gifts on my birthday, Easter, Christmas, and even New Year.”

“But you must miss her,” Dawn pointed out.

“I get asked that a lot,” Lila told Dawn and frowned. “But I basically grew up with just my father, and my mother was the one that was barely around, so I got used to that.”

“I see.” Dawn nodded. “Your Aunt Jennifer and Great-Aunt Betty are good female role models.”

“They are,” Lila agreed. “They’ve both always been there for me and Dad.”

“It’s nice to have a close-knit family,” Dawn stated. “My Aunt Faith was the one who stepped in for me and my brothers when my mother died.”

“Oh no.” Lila’s eyes widened. “I’m sorry your mother died.”

“It was a long time ago,” Dawn told her. “And I was already an adult when she died. My older brother, Scott, was twenty-eight, and my younger brother was only nine.”

“That’s quite an age gap between your younger brother and older brother,” Lila noted.

“Yes,” Dawn agreed. “Wade was a bit of a surprise to my parents. My mother battled with all her pregnancies. Especially with Wade.”

“Where is your younger brother?” Lila asked.

“He captains luxury yachts for a company that hires them out to celebrities and other high-profile people,” Dawn answered. “So he’s usually sailing around the world somewhere.”

“How awesome,” Lila said. “It sounds like such a cool job.”

“Not if you get horribly seasick just thinking about getting on a boat.” Dawn shuddered. “Like me.”

“You get seasick?” Lila looked at Dawn questioningly. “I’ve been out on Uncle Finn’s boat a few times, and it was such fun.”

“Yes, I get horribly seasick,” Dawn confessed. “I’ve tried everything to keep it at bay because I actually enjoy sailing.”

“Just your body doesn’t cope well with it.” Lila sat back in the seat and looked out the front windshield. “I get motion sickness on rides at the fair.”

“Well, that’s something you’ll have in common with Harper.” Dawn grinned. “She gets horribly sick on those rides.”

“Tell me a bit about Harper,” Lila prompted.

“Well, let’s see…” Dawn thought about it. “She has shoulder-length brown hair and blue eyes. She’s a bit shy but tries to overcompensate for it by barging through her shyness.” She laughed. “It can sometimes come across as her being very abrupt or even rude.”

“We all deal with being shy in different ways,” Lila said. “I tend to just go quiet until I feel I have something to say. That’s why my friends sometimes call me mouse.”

“We just call Harper brat!” Dawn laughed. “No, we don’t really, although lately, I’m sure her parents have thought it on more than one occasion.”

“Is that why Harper is spending the last of her summer vacation with you?” Lila was quick to ask. “Because she’s been acting up?”

“Something like that,” Dawn admitted. “Although, I’m pleased to have her come to stay as I’ve missed her this past year while I’ve been in Plum Island.”

“Are the two of you close?” Lila turned to look at Dawn curiously.

“We were,” Dawn told her. “When I was at my apartment in New York, Harper would often come to spend a long weekend or holiday with me.”

“I hope Harper likes Plum Island,” Lila said. “It’s so quiet at the moment with everyone away on summer vacation.”

“With you there, I’m sure she’s going to love it,” Dawn assured her.

The time passed quickly, and two hours later, they arrived in Boston. Dawn was a bit worried about seeing Harper again and not knowing what to expect. But to Dawn’s surprise, her niece seemed to be the same young girl she’d been the last time Dawn had seen her a year ago.

As Dawn suspected, Lila and Harper, being the same age, hit it off right away. They had lunch at a shopping mall in Boston, and the girls chose to start the journey home instead of shopping. The car was full of teenage girl chatter as Lila and Harper didn’t seem to stop chatting from the moment they met. Dawn was sure by the time they got to Boston, the two girls would know each other’s entire life stories.

They were fifteen minutes away from Newbury Port when Lila and Harper nearly gave Dawn a heart attack as they screamed, “Stop the car!”

“What the heck?” Dawn hissed, pulling to the side of the road and skidding to a stop.

She’d barely pulled up the parking brake when Lila and Harper sprung from the car and ran a few feet back the way they’d just driven.

“Where are you two going?” Dawn asked, jumping out of the car and sprinting after the girls.

Dawn watched them run down the slight embankment and followed them, stopping when she saw they were carefully approaching a large white tabby cat with silver stripes. Its gold eyes watched them wearily as they walked toward it. Dawn sucked in her breath when she saw the cat had blood smeared through its white fur near its back legs.

“It’s okay,” Lila cooed. “We’re not going to hurt you.”

Harper took off her sweater and walked slowly with Lila. “We’re going to wrap you in this and get you to a vet.”

The cat seemed tamed and to understand the girls were trying to help him. Luckily, the cat didn’t put up a fight, and soon, Dawn, Harper, Lila, and the large tabby cat headed to a vet in Newbury Port.

“Please, can you help us?” Dawn asked as they rushed into the vet’s office. “My teenagers found this cat on the side of the road.” She looked at Harper, who was gently cradling the tabby in her arms, while Lila cooed at him. “He’s badly injured.”

“Oh, my word!” The receptionist stood as soon as she saw the cat. “Where did you find him?”

Harper explained to the woman, and her eyes widened further.

“That slimy no good man,” the woman hissed through gritted teeth. “Quickly, let’s get him into an examination room, and Doctor Nicol will be right with you.”

They followed the woman into a room where the woman instructed Harper to lay the cat on the examination table.

“Do you know the cat?” Dawn asked the woman.

“Yes, his name is Tiger and he belonged to Mrs. Peters, who passed away a few weeks ago,” the receptionist explained. “Her grandson, Daniel Peters, was supposed to take the cat to his parent’s house in Boston as it was a stipulation in Mrs. Peters’s will that Tiger get taken care of.” She shook her head in disgust. “She left quite a sizable sum for the care of Tiger.”

“What a weasel,” Lila blurted. “He must’ve dumped Tiger on the side of the road.”

“And by the look of his injuries,” the receptionist gently examined Tiger, pointing to where some of his fur near his back was scraped, “he didn’t bother to stop the car.”

“Did I hear right?” A deep voice boomed as the vet rushed into the room, stopped, and glanced around. “Oh, hello,” he greeted them. “I’m Chris Nicol, the vet.”

“Hi,” Dawn, Lila, and Harper chorused.

His attention turned back to Tiger. “I told you we shouldn’t have let Daniel Peters take the cat. That man had no interest in taking care of Tiger, just getting the money, including Tiger’s care money.”

“Do you want me to call Mrs. Peters’s attorney?” the receptionist asked the vet.

“Yes, please,” Chris nodded and got to work cleaning Tiger’s wounds. When he was done, he looked at Dawn. “We’re going to need a foster home for Tiger until we can sort this mess out with Mrs. Peters’s will. Would you be able to look after him?”

“Yes!” Harper and Lila said in unison before turning to Dawn.

“Please, Aunt Dawn,” Harper pleaded with her. “I’ll look after him.”

“I’ll help,” Lila offered. “And don’t worry about keeping a cat at the hotel. My father won’t mind.”

“Shouldn’t we ask him first?” Dawn looked from one teenage girl to the other.

“Nah!” Lila shook her head. “When my father sees Tiger, he’ll say yes.”

“Can I take that as a yes?” Chris grinned as he stood next to Lila and Harper.

“Okay!” Dawn surrendered. “But if your father gets angry,” she addressed Lila, “I’m blaming the both of you.” She glanced at Harper.

“Deal!” the girls said in unison.

The vet clinic didn’t accept payment for Tiger’s treatment and even gave them a cat cage for Tiger to travel comfortably in the car, a cat bed, food, bowls, a blanket, and toys. As Dawn drove off toward Plum Island, she glanced at both of the teens sitting in the back with Tiger between them and sighed.

It looks like I’ve just adopted a cat!