Chapter 5 Lori #2
“Well, I’m glad he could help,” Carrie said. “But I’ve been meaning to get that old system changed since I moved into that cottage ten years ago. It’s ancient. I just kept putting it off because, you know, if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. But I guess it is broken now.”
“I really don’t mind supervising the replacement work,” Lori told her. “Jake is here right now looking at everything.”
“Jake’s there?” Carrie’s voice perked up with interest. “Oh, he’s such a nice young man. And so handy. If anyone can figure out what needs to be done, it’s Jake.”
“He seems very capable,” Lori agreed.
“Thank you for being so understanding about this,” Carrie said warmly.
“I’m sorry to have repairs being done while you’re on vacation.
That’s the last thing you need to deal with.
But I just don’t want another blackout because a fuse blows again.
Especially with Tessa there too now. The last thing I want is for you two to be stuck in the dark. ”
Lori felt relief wash over her like a wave.
Carrie didn’t know anything else. Jim had only mentioned the blown fuses and the blackout.
Nothing about surveillance or attacks or any of the truly frightening things that had been happening.
That meant he probably didn’t know. Which made sense, as Lori didn’t think that Mitch or Ryan would make public in Nantucket what was going on at Pelican Bay.
Mitch hadn’t even called the police when they’d found the dead seabird displayed on the porch.
When Ryan had called the police, it was to a friend who did him a favor.
A wave of shock zapped through her. She’d forgotten about that.
Tim Moore, who was standing in as Chief for Carrie, had been the one to look after the houses the night Mitch had been injured.
Thank goodness he hadn’t said anything to Carrie either.
Lori made a mental note to tell Ryan to thank Tim for her.
Once this was all over and sorted out, Lori would tell Carrie all about it.
“It’s really not a problem at all,” Lori said. “I’ll make sure everything goes smoothly with the upgrade.”
They chatted for a few more minutes before saying their goodbyes. Lori promised to send photos of her paintings, and Carrie promised to call more often. Then they hung up, and Lori stood in the study for a moment, letting out a long breath.
One crisis averted. Carrie didn’t know about the danger. That was good. That meant they could keep her safe by keeping her in the dark.
Lori had no sooner set her phone down on the desk when Misty gave a bark, shot up from where she was lying in front of the desk, and shot out of the room toward the front of the house.
Lori walked to the front door and observed that Misty was once again wagging her tail and sniffing excitedly at the door.
Whoever was on the other side was definitely a friend.
She opened the door to find Ryan standing on the porch with Piper beside him.
“Hi,” Ryan greeted her with that easy smile of his. “Is Tessa here?”
“We want to know if she wants to come with us for a ride to drop me at camp,” Piper finished for him with a big smile.
She stepped forward to hug Lori before she dropped to her knees to pat Misty, who was beside herself with joy at seeing Piper again.
Piper’s head turned toward the pickup truck in the driveway, and her smile faded slightly. “Is that Jim’s truck? Is he here?”
“No,” Lori told them, “Jake, his son, is here.”
“Jake’s here?” Ryan asked, and the abruptness of his tone drew Lori’s full attention. “Why?”
She looked at him more carefully and realized he didn’t seem happy about Jake being there. His jaw was tight, and that easy smile had become rather fixed.
“He’s here to take a look at the fuse box,” Lori told him, frowning slightly. “To give Carrie a quote on upgrading it. Tessa took him to the basement.”
“Of course she did,” Ryan muttered under his breath, so softly that Lori nearly missed it.
But she didn’t miss it. And suddenly everything clicked into place. Ryan was jealous. That’s why he’d been so abrupt, why he looked so unhappy. He was jealous of Jake. Lori hid a smile, finding this development rather endearing.
Ryan seemed to shake himself, and his expression cleared. “Well, if she’s busy—”
“If who is busy?” Tessa’s voice came from behind Lori.
Lori turned to see Tessa walking toward them. She must have left Jake in the basement to work.
“Tessa!” Piper stood up and ran to her for a hug, which Tessa returned warmly. “Do you want to come with us for a ride to drop me at camp?”
“Uh...” Tessa’s eyes moved to Ryan, and something flickered in her expression that Lori couldn’t quite read. “I don’t know. Jake is here working on the fuse box. I should probably stay and make sure he has everything he needs.”
“That’s okay, Tessa,” Lori interrupted quickly, sensing an opportunity. “I’ll look after Jake. You go ahead.”
“Are you sure?” Tessa asked, looking relieved.
“Absolutely,” Lori assured her.
“Okay then,” Tessa said, a smile spreading across her face. “Let me put my sandals on and let Jake know I’m leaving.”
“Great,” Ryan said, though his smile had tightened considerably. “We’ll wait for you at my pickup.”
“Okay,” Tessa agreed, then turned and ran upstairs.
Ryan looked like he wanted to say something else, but he just nodded and started to turn away. Then he seemed to remember something and turned back.
“Lori, my father said to tell you to please give him a call to let him know when you have some time this morning,” Ryan said. “He wants to introduce you to his friend who has come to visit for a while.”
That must be Marcus, Lori realized. Mitch wanted to introduce her to Marcus.
“Okay, I’ll call him as soon as Jake leaves,” Lori told him, smiling.
“I’ll see you later, Misty,” Piper said, giving the dog one more enthusiastic hug. “Have a nice day, Lori.” She waved and bounded out the door with all the energy only a ten-year-old could have.
“Bye! Have a good day at camp,” Lori called after her.
“See you later,” Ryan said to Lori, then followed his niece down the porch steps and across to his pickup truck.
Lori stood at the door, watching them go. A few minutes later, Tessa came hurrying down the stairs, sandals in hand. She hopped on one foot as she slipped them on, then grabbed her purse from the hook by the door.
“Thanks for this,” Tessa said, giving Lori a quick hug and peck on the cheek. “I won’t be long.”
“Take your time,” Lori told her. “Enjoy yourself.”
Tessa flashed her a grateful smile and rushed out the door.
Lori watched from the front door as Tessa climbed into Ryan’s pickup. Piper was already buckled in the middle of the bench seat, and Tessa slid in beside her. Ryan said something that made both Tessa and Piper laugh, and then they pulled out of the driveway.
Lori stood there at the door, a genuine smile on her face for the first time that day.
Despite everything that was happening—the surveillance, the danger, the fear, the realization that she and Tessa might both be targets—despite all of that darkness, there was still some light.
There was still the possibility of joy. Of connection. Of love.
Looking at Ryan and Tessa, seeing the way they orbited each other even when they tried not to, seeing Piper light up around Tessa and Tessa soften around Ryan, Lori realized something.
There might be a love story unfolding through all this danger and mystery this summer after all.
And that thought, more than anything else, gave her hope.