Darius smiled down at his great-niece. “I’m glad you made a new friend so quickly.” She linked her hand to his. “Now you won’t get so bored.”
“I wouldn’t be bored without one,” Emma assured him. “I have my iPad and phone.”
“You can’t be playing on that all the time,” Isabel warned her. “You need to go outside and get some sun as well.”
“Well, now I will be in the sun more,” Emma told them with a big smile. “I have a friend who lives just down the road.”
“Darius, do you really think it’s such a good idea for us to be going to the festival with complete strangers?” Isabel asked, her eyes filled with concern as she glanced at him sideways while adjusting her wide-brimmed hat.
“I don’t think you have anything to worry about,” Darius assured her. “Linda seems harmless, and she’s a local. I could get her checked out if you want me to.”
“Like a background check?” Isabel looked at him in astonishment. “No, that’s intrusive, and I’d never be able to look her in the eyes.” Her brow crinkled in annoyance. “You used to do that to all my dates, and it was horrible.”
“I was just looking out for my kid sister,” Darius pointed out. “And checking her out might put your mind at ease,” Darius told her.
“You mean it will put your mind at ease?” Isabel lobbed back at him. “No. Linda seems lovely, warm, and kind. She comes across as the type of person who makes you feel welcome the moment you meet her.”
“She does,” Darius agreed, keeping his voice casual. “Small towns have that effect on people.” He watched her. “But that doesn’t mean we still can’t run a background check on her just to make sure.”
“No,” Isabel was adamant. “Most certainly not.”
“Okay,” Darius relented, but he made a mental note to find out what he could on Linda… He frowned. It struck him that hedidn’t get her last name. But he knew where she was staying, so it couldn’t be too hard to find out.
They turned and began walking back toward the Bay View Beach House, the wet sand cool beneath their feet. Emma skipped ahead, collecting shells and chattering about the summer festival Sophia had mentioned. Darius listened with half an ear, his mind still lingering on the woman he had met twice now in less than twenty-four hours. Yes, he most definitely needed to find out who she was for his sister and great-niece’s sake.And yours, an irritating voice at the back of his mind whispered. But Darius shut it down before he could give it any more thought.
“She said she’s staying at Hearts Hotel for the summer,” Isabel remarked, as if reading his thoughts. “With her grandchildren. I wonder where their parents are?” Her brows shot up. “I hope her story is not the same as ours.” Grief darkened her eyes again.
Darius nodded. “I’m not sure. Maybe you can find out tomorrow.”
“I think it would be rude to ask something so personal,” Isabel told him.
“Not if you talk about your grandchildren,” Darius pointed out.And it will be really good for you to finally talk to someone properly about your own grief.He didn’t dare voice that part.
Then his sister would know that he’d been keeping an eye on her at her grief counseling session. He knew that while Isabel said it was really helping her, the person who ran the group reported to him that Isabel never talked. Other than sharing a brief summary of her story when she first joined, she hadn’t said anything else.
“I guess,” Isabel nodded.
“And, having a new friend for the summer might just be good for you, too,” Darius pointed out.
Isabel gave him a long, thoughtful look but said nothing more. They continued along the beach in a comfortable silence until they reached the private path leading up to the house. Emma spotted Penny waiting on the porch with a reusable shopping bag over her shoulder.
“Penny!” Emma called, running ahead. “Are we going into town now?”
Penny smiled at the girl. “I thought we could go grab some groceries and explore a little. I’ve been waiting for you to come back, as I know I promised we would go together last night.”
Emma’s eyes lit up. She turned to Isabel. “Do you mind, Gran?”
Isabel’s eyes warmed as she looked at Emma. “Of course, sweetheart. Stay close to Penny and be good.”
Penny turned to Darius. “I have to take your car if that’s all right. Is there anything specific you need?”
Darius shook his head. “No, everything we need is already on the list we made together. Have fun, you two.”
Emma gave him and Isabel a quick hug before dashing off with Penny. Darius and Isabel watched them go, then walked up the porch steps and into the cool, airy interior of the beach house.
The moment the door closed behind them, Isabel turned to face him, arms crossed.
“Darius,” she said, her voice quiet but firm. “You said this was a vacation. You promised no work. But on the beach, you mentioned having things to do tomorrow. Tell me straight. Areyou up to something? Is this really another one of your business trips disguised as a family vacation?”
