Chapter 1 Sneak Peek #2
A family photo hanging behind Lizzy caught my eye. The frame was enchanted and switched out the photos to match the mood of the day. In this one, all five of us sisters squeezed together on a fallen log. We wore matching violet shirts, and the two youngest had their hair in pigtails with bows.
I missed those younger days. The house buzzed with life. Lizzy skipped from one diversion to another, and Kitty and Lydia played dress-up in old clothes. Mary and I could quietly read from dawn to dusk if our parents let us.
But it was never perfect.
Mom endlessly attempted to manage all the details of our lives. I followed her around the bakery and kept her company so she’d let my sisters play. Dad loved us all, but often shut himself in his office for hours to avoid the chaos.
I opened my mouth, to point out today’s photo to Lizzy. But Lydia squealed from the kitchen, making my body tense. She and Kitty laughed hysterically about something.
“Dare I ask?” I raised an eyebrow at Lizzy.
“Definitely not. They’re still decorating Dad’s cake and I’m sure they’re trying to use magic to make it look like it belongs on a baking show.
” She rolled her eyes and shook her head.
Since our family ran a bakery, most of us decorated cakes with ease.
But our youngest sisters always went overboard.
They were probably trying to mix glowing frosting or something.
“Maybe I should go see if they need help.” I looked toward the kitchen.
“No. It will be fine,” said Mary, making both Lizzy and me jump. We looked to see her curled up in an armchair in the corner with a book. Mary’s fae ability allowed her to blend into the background unless she wanted her presence to be known.
“Oh, Mary! Let us know when you’re in the room. I nearly had a heart attack.” My heart pounded like I’d been jump-scared at an amusement park.
“I’ve been reading here the whole time.” Mary shrugged. “Figured you saw me. Oh, yeah. I forgot I was hiding from Mom. So that’s why I was camouflaged. Sorry.”
“Party time!” Kitty shouted, ending our conversation.
With the help of his walking stick, Dad made it to the dining table. Though there was a limp in his step, his smile was as bright as ever. “Oh, what a lot of fuss you’re all making over my birthday.”
I wrapped my arms around him. “You’re going to have to humor us, Dad.”
“Kitty and I decorated your cake,” Lydia announced, pointing at the towering confection. They’d managed some kind of enchantment because it was decorated like a mountainside and had an actual moving waterfall running down the side.
Dad’s eyes widened. “Remarkable. Makes me want to go on another family camping trip.”
“We put something together for you.” I turned off the lights and pushed play on the old projector. To make Dad’s sixtieth birthday party special, Lizzy and I put together a slideshow with pictures of family memories going all the way back to our parent’s wedding over thirty years ago.
Mom laughed at the photo of herself in her wedding dress, smashing cake into Dad’s face. She’d always said whoever got married first should wear her gown. As the oldest, I’d assumed it would be me, but lately, I wondered if it would ever happen.
A photo of Dad swinging Kitty around at a park made his lip tremble, and happy tears swell in his eyes. He’d been such a handsome young man. I was thoroughly blonde, and Kitty and Lydia landed somewhere between, but Lizzy and Mary got their silky, dark hair and defined jawlines from him.
I snapped photos of everyone together, of Dad attempting to blow out sixty candles, and of him opening his gifts. Whenever I wasn’t needed, I stole a look at my phone to see if I’d gotten a response about the job. Since it started in two days, I’d need to know immediately.
Despite the festivities, Dad wasn’t entirely himself. He thanked everyone, smiled, and promised to read the mystery book I gave him, but he didn’t joke like he used to. After an hour, he grew tired and was ready to lie back down.
Lizzy and I walked back across town together, to our basement apartment. She was quieter than usual.
“You’re worried about Dad, aren’t you?” I asked as we crossed a street and entered Regency Meadows Park. The sun had set, but lamp posts lit the area well enough to be safe.
Lizzy nodded. “Yes, I’m worried about Dad…and Mom, and everyone else.”
“Agreed.” I silently scolded myself for wanting to move out of town.
We made it out of the park and down a cobbled sidewalk to the cottage where we lived. I pulled my sweater close against the cold as Lizzy fished her latchkey from her handbag. My phone dinged as we walked inside and unloaded our coats and bags.
It was a message from Haven Corp’s human resources department. “This might be interesting.”
“Hmm,” Lizzy nodded and headed to the kitchenette to turn the kettle on.
I read it aloud.
“Jane, thank you for your interest. We would love to have you come shoot for our convention. We have an immediate opening this Thursday, if you are willing to travel to the Grand Lakes Hotel? Regards, Armond Moreau, CFO, Haven Corporation.”
For a moment, I stared at the screen, wondering if I’d read the message correctly. Apparently, they didn’t even need to do a quick phone interview.
“That was a fast response,” Lizzy said.
I paused, then sat down at our kitchen table. “It is creepy that their last photographer was murdered. But I think a hotel with a lot of people should be safe, right?”
“I would think so, and you said her ex was a suspect. I mean, the Grand Lakes is pretty upscale. Just stay out of trouble.” She brought over a couple of mugs of warm apple cider and sat next to me.
“It’s unnerving, isn't it?” Something wasn’t quite right, but I couldn’t let vague feelings stop me. I needed the job.
From Chapter Three:
A concierge in a tan and black uniform scurried down the red carpet toward us, sidestepped a porter, and opened my car door.
“You must be Jane Bennet, photographer for Haven Corp.?” The young man’s disarming smile caught me off guard.
“Good guess,” I answered, stepping out of the limo. “How did you know?”
“I helped them arrange your ride. My name’s David. I hope you’ll let me know if you need anything during your visit. For now, I’ll have a porter take any luggage you have?”
“Yes, thank you.” I nodded and handed him a tip as the limo driver opened the trunk.
“Naturally.” David smiled. “Oh, there’s Mr. Bingley now. I’ll turn you over to him.”
“What?” My heart stopped, and my stomach dropped to my knees. I must’ve misheard him. “Sorry, repeat the name for me?”
“It’s Charles Bingley.” He shrugged like I’d asked for the time or something. “You know, Haven Corp’s CEO.”
I couldn't tell if my blood pressure dropped or my heart rate skyrocketed, or both, but my knees turned to jelly. I had to lean against one of the marble pillars to keep myself upright. Now I remembered why Haven Corp. sounded familiar.
Charles Bingley, my Charles, in all his glory, emerged from the hotel carousel door and hurried toward me. I’d recognize his turquoise eyes, chestnut red hair, and dimples from a mile away. This couldn’t be happening.