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“No, but I'm–I'm not sure what my status is.”
Marie's eyebrows rose. “You’re not sure?”
“I'm in a relationship.” Elizabeth’s heart lurched as she said the words.
“You don't sound too sure of that.”
“I'm not sure of anything, actually. Can we leave it at that? I don't really want to get into it. I want to focus on work and forget about my life on the Cape for just a little while. This trip couldn't have happened at a better time.”
“Well, I’m sure we’ll findplentyof things here to distract you. And you know, what happens in Beaufort stays in Beaufort.”
Elizabeth chuckled. “You have yourself a grand time, and I won't tell a soul.”
Marie smiled devilishly. “Weare going to have ourselves a grand time. If you want to talk about it, I'll lend an ear, but if not, that's cool. I intend to have some fun while I'm here. All work and no play makes Marie a dull girl.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “Maybe you should have taken a single room.”
“I won't be dragging anyone home, don't worry.”
Their conversation was interrupted when they heard voices from the living room.
“Oh, that must be the people from Maine. Let's go meet them.”
The newcomers, Lisa and Paul, looked to be in their early thirties. It was plain to see they were an established couple; he had his arm wrapped around her shoulders, and she had hers tucked around his waist. They were both excited to be in South Carolina.
“Our driver is from the basin. He just went back out to the car to grab some information for us,” Lisa told them. “Apparently, he's one of the lead researchers for the eutrophication study. Maybe tonight we can all get together and look over everything so we're prepared for tomorrow.”
Elizabeth smiled. “That sounds great.”
“Better yet, we can look over everything while we have an ice-cold beer,” Paul said, and everyone agreed. “I'll have to ask Jason where the closest liquor store is. Hopefully it's within walking distance.”
Elizabeth started when she heard the name of their driver, then gave herself a mental shake.There are a million Jasons in the world.
The sound of the front door opening again caught her attention, and she quickly glanced toward it as the driver walked in. The tall, blond man looked up from the papers he carried, and when his eyes locked on hers, her heart dropped into her stomach.
“Hello, Elizabeth.”
