“How did Cal know your favorite snack, Livy?” Ruby asked her daughter.
“I told him,” she said in that matter of fact way that the young can. She stuffed another chip in her mouth and used her tongue to find the stray humus on her lip.
“Have a seat and help yourselves to the snacks. Pizza is in the oven, loaded with all kinds of toppings.” He checked the timer. “Another fifteen minutes and we’ll be in business.”
Hannah set her bags on the table. “Do you have glasses? I brought beer and wine.”
Olivia piped up, “And dessert. Don’t forget the candy canes.”
Cal raised one eyebrow as he set glasses on the table. “Candy canes. How did you know my favorite dessert?” he teased.
“Well, none for you, then, with that tone,” Hannah teased right back.
Hannah poured herself a beer and a glass of wine for Ruby, letting Cal make his own beverage choice. He grabbed a beer, twisted off the top, and took a long swallow. He held the bottle up in Hannah’s direction. “Thanks. For the beer and the company.”
When Hannah slid onto the bench next to Ruby, her hand crunched on top of some papers. As she picked them up to move them out of the way, she couldn't help but see, in big black bold letters, ‘EVICTION NOTICE IF RENT IS NOT PAID BY THE END OF THE MONTH.’
She held the paper up and glanced at Cal. “Chase is going to evict you? How far behind is your rent? If you don’t mind my asking,” she hurriedly added.
Cal waved his hand, dismissing the question. “I’ll be fine. Kelley contacted me to do some work for her on the Inn now that she is its sole owner. I informed her it was out of the question because of Vern’s unpaid bill and she said she’d take care of it. So,” he raised both hands, palms up, “money problem solved. My sister will be happy to hear that and she might even stop nagging me about my career choice.” He smiled. “Don’t worry, your work is still at the top of my list.” He set his empty beer bottle on the counter and helped himself to a second one.
Ruby knocked her knee into Hannah’s. Hannah didn’t dare look at her sister. She knew what was going through her head because Hannah had the same thought. With Vern dead, Cal would get paid. Did he kill Vern to get his money? Possibly, if he was desperate enough, and this eviction notice certainly could be seen as a motive. She tried to push the thought aside, telling herself it was most likely a coincidence.
“Who wants the grand tour of my boat?” The corners of Cal’s eyes wrinkled.
“I do. I do,” Olivia shouted and crawled over her mother to get out of the seat. “Is there an upstairs?”
“Sort of,” Cal replied. He took her hand. “Climb up this ladder and you’ll be in my bedroom.”
Olivia scooted up the ladder like a little monkey. “Wow. I can see the ocean through the windows.” Her face got serious. “Do you ever get sick when the boat bounces around? I got sick once when Mommy took me on a boat and I threw up all over her.”
Cal laughed. “No, the bouncing doesn’t bother me, but I’ll be sure to remember to keep you on dry land when there’s a storm.”
Olivia held up a stuffed teddy bear. “Is this yours?”
Hannah laughed out loud when she saw Cal’s face turn a deep shade of pink. The teddy bear in question was so thread bare, he only had patches of fur on his cheeks.
“That’s Theodore and he’s just as old as I am. Thirty. I think I’ve aged a bit better, though.” He tilted his head, looking at Hannah and Ruby for confirmation, his blue eyes catching the light coming from the strand of white Christmas lights strung above their heads. “I take him everywhere.”
That admittance from the handsome, rugged man looking at her, made Hannah smile and rethink if he could possibly be a murderer. Who keeps their childhood stuffed animal forever? A sensitive person, not a killer.
“Don’t laugh, Hannah. Theodore knows everything about me. I worry that someone will steal him and force him to reveal all my secrets.” Cal’s face was serious, but his lips twitched at the corners. “Actually, my biggest secret is that I still have him. I don’t share that with many people. It makes me look kind of wimpy.”
Olivia was talking to Theodore, whispering
her
secrets to the stuffed bear. “I hope we stay here. I like Cal and the boat and the chocolate candy canes and Nellie and most of all, I like holding Hannah’s hand.”
Hannah’s eyes misted over. She hugged her sister and whispered in her ear. “You are
so
lucky.”
Ruby squeezed Hannah’s hand.
The timer buzzed, bringing them back to the subject of their rumbling stomachs. Olivia climbed down the ladder with Theodore tucked under her arm.
The pizza smelled amazing and looked phenomenal. Cal had mounded mushrooms, broccoli, and diced tomatoes over pesto and mozzarella. A sprinkling of feta cheese topped it all off.
“Hope you girls like a veggie pizza. I needed to use up what was in my little fridge.” He pushed his pizza wheel through the crust, cutting it into eight slices. “It’s hot. I’ll slide a piece onto your plates.”
Cal slipped into the space next to Olivia and Theodore. “Dig in so we can get to those delicious candy canes for dessert.” He winked at Olivia.
Ruby took a bite and cheese stretched between the pizza to her mouth. After she managed to get it all where it belonged, she prompted Cal, “Hannah told me she met you on the beach yesterday morning.”
Hannah jabbed Ruby’s side with her elbow.
Cal smiled. “Lucky me. It’s not often that I run into a cute,” he paused to sip his beer, “a cute puppy during my morning beach walk.” He took another sip and locked his eyes into Hannah’s. “Followed by a beautiful woman jogging barefoot in December. Yes, it was my lucky day for sure.”
“You walk on the beach every morning?” Ruby asked.
Cal kept his eyes on Hannah. “I try to, and after Jack told me about his new neighbor, I was hoping to bump into that new neighbor.”
Ruby ignored Hannah’s not so subtle jabs and continued her line of questioning. “What about the murder? Did you hear the gunshot?”
“No. I think with the constant crashing of waves and the sand and rocks between me and the cottages, the sound must have been muffled.” Cal turned his attention to Ruby. “Where are you staying tonight? Did you get a room at the Paradise Inn?”
“Oh dear,” Ruby said. “We got busy doing other things. Do you think there will still be a vacancy?”
Cal picked up his phone. “I’ll give them a call for you. How many nights?”
“I’m not sure, but two anyway.” She looked at Hannah. “What do you think?”
“Two is a good start.”
“Reception is spotty here at the marina but I know where the hot spot is. I’ll be right back.” Cal jumped from the boat to the dock and walked halfway to shore before stopping to make his call.
Hannah glared at her sister. “What were you doing asking all those questions?”
“You were turning into a big piece of mush with all his talk about Theodore and meeting a beautiful woman. We have to find out more about him. And the only way to do that is to ask direct, no nonsense questions.”
Hannah rolled her eyes and said under her breath, “Two days may be one too many.”
Before Ruby could respond to the comment that was made just loud enough for her to hear, Cal ducked back inside the boat.
“All set. Meg is working tonight and she’ll take care of you when you get to the Inn.”
“Meg? Have I heard that name already?” Hannah said, more to herself, wrinkling up her lips as she tried to remember.
“I think I told you about her. She used to work for Caroline. Fantastic person. I don’t think she likes working at the Inn, so if you’re planning to hire any help, she’s the person for you. At any rate, you can meet her and see what you think when Ruby checks in.”
The pizza was gone and they all sat back and sighed contentedly. Except for Olivia. “Where did you put the candy canes, Aunt Hannah?”
Hannah stacked the plates and put them in the small sink. “I’ll wash up and then we can have dessert.”
Cal tried to push her away. “Don’t worry about that. We can take our dessert and walk around the marina. I’ll clean up later.”
Hannah gave Ruby a look as if to say, can you believe this guy? She took the candy canes and followed the others off the boat to the dock.
“Who wants milk chocolate and who wants dark?”
Olivia reached up. “The sweetest one, please.”
Cal said, “I’m with Olivia, milk chocolate, please.”
Hannah tilted her head. “Dark for you and me, then, Ruby.”
Cal led the way, nibbling on his chocolate covered candy cane while Olivia held his other hand and skipped along his side.
Ruby whispered to Hannah, “You’ve been replaced. Are you jealous?”
“Not in the least. A man who loves kids? Nothing wrong with
that
picture!”
Cal led them to a bench with a view between the boats to the ocean beyond. It was a peaceful and beautiful spot. Cal broke the silence. “This is what makes living on the boat worth it.”
Olivia yawned and climbed onto her mother’s lap. “We’d better get to the Inn before she falls asleep.”
Cal walked them back to the rental car. “See you tomorrow? Bright and early?”
Hannah nodded.
It was only about ten minutes to the Inn but Olivia couldn’t keep her eyes open. Hannah carried Olivia, and Ruby lugged their bags to the office.
A sturdy, middle-aged woman looked up when they opened the door. “Hannah Holiday?”
“That would be me,” Hannah answered. “This is my sister Ruby and her daughter, Olivia. Cal called earlier about a room for Ruby? He talked to Meg.”
“Yes, I’m Meg and I’m thrilled to meet anyone related to Caroline.” She vigorously shook Hannah’s hand. “Caroline was a wonderful person, and she was always talking about you, Hannah. It’s too bad you didn’t make it here before she died.” She took a key off a rack. “Follow me, I’ll show you to your room.”
As they trailed behind Meg, Hannah asked, “Are you working for Vern’s wife, Kelley, now?”
Meg stopped dead in her tracks. “That’s an odd question for a newcomer to town. Why are you interested in Kelley?” She continued up the stairs to the second floor of the Inn and unlocked the door to room number twenty. “This room on the end has the best view of the ocean,” Meg said, as she opened the drapes and looked at Ruby. “I’m sure you and your daughter will be comfortable here.”
Olivia, eyes suddenly open wide, bounced on the bed and Ruby put her suitcase on the dresser. “Pick us up in the morning for breakfast?” Ruby asked Hannah.
“Yeah. I’ll swing by around eight.”
Hannah followed Meg out. As they walked down the stairs, Meg quietly said, “I need to talk to you about Vern. He was up to something at the cottages.” They continued to the office door. Meg pulled it open, turned, and asked, “Where are you staying?”
“In Caroline’s cottage.”
“I’ll pick you up when I get off work in an hour.”
Hannah felt a shot of adrenaline surge through her body. Did Meg know who killed Vern?
Chapter 10
Hannah drove through town, back to her cottage on the beach. She walked the short distance to Jack’s house, excited to see Nellie. Nellie’s carefree personality was the perfect antidote to the seriousness of the situation Hannah found herself being sucked into. What she wouldn’t give to be able to sit back, relax, and read a riveting mystery. Instead, she was
in
a mystery.
When Hannah knocked, Jack hollered, “The door’s unlocked.”
Nellie woofed but turned into a wiggly fur ball as soon as Hannah made it inside. “Did you miss me?” Hannah crouched down and asked Nellie.
Jack replied, “Not really. I was almost asleep in my comfy chair.”
“Sorry.” Hannah looked at Jack, wondering why he was being such a grump.
“Not me. I was telling you what Nellie was saying.”
Hannah chuckled. “Oh, right. Shall I take her home with me?”
“She’s your dog.”
Hannah sat across from Jack. “What’s going on? And don’t say ‘oh nothing’, like a typical man, I can tell something’s bothering you.”
Jack’s eyebrows disappeared under the brim of his baseball cap. “A typical man? What do you know about
that
subject, young lady?”
“Umm, well, that slipped out by accident, I guess. I sounded like my mom when I said it. And I’m not
her
so forget I even said what I said.”
“You’re forgiven. Now, tell me about your dinner with Cal.”
Hannah realized Jack, very tactfully, diverted the discussion away from his problems but she wasn’t going to pry since it probably wasn’t any of her business anyway. “Dinner was a treat. Cal is now Olivia’s new best friend. Or, maybe he’s in second place to Theodore.”
“Theodore? Who’s that?”
“Ha. You’ll have to ask Cal.” Hannah didn’t have to share everything either. She reached down to stroke Nellie’s soft fur. Nellie leaned all her weight against Hannah’s legs.
“Actually, I’m worried about Noah,” Jack said, more to himself than to Hannah. “I know he and his buddies were hanging around those cottages after Caroline died.” He rubbed his forehead. “What was his medallion doing in the sand? I saw him the day before Vern was shot, and Noah had it around his neck then.”