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Not the person who was talking about selling Mama’s coffee shop.
I studied him, searching for any signs that he was ill, butCarmella was right. He looked the picture of health, especially since he had lost a few pounds—weight he’d been trying to take off for years.
Dad glanced at his watch. “I hate to be a boorish host, but I have an appointment at eleven I cannot miss, so forgive me for rushing us along.”
“What kind of appointment?” I immediately asked, hoping for a clue as to what was going on in that head of his. There had to be areasonbehind his behavior. All these changes weren’t based on whim, his usual way of making decisions.
“The kind that is none of your beeswax,” he answered with a cheeky smile. “Now, Ava, Maggie has filled me in on the job posting that brought you to town. I have to say I was quite surprised, as Iemphatically expressedto my daughter that I was uninterested in a housekeeper or caretaker or however she phrased it.”
“Uninterested,” I put in, “doesn’t meanunnecessary. And, Daddy, I told you I took down the job listing, threw it away. I don’t know how Ava ended up with it. It’s part of the mystery.”
“Right, right,” he said. “The mysterious letter. My condolences on the loss of your friend, Ava. I should’ve started with that. Please forgive my rudeness.”
“No need for apologies,” she said graciously. “This is an unusual situation, and I recognize we caught you off guard today.”
“Unusual, yes. Quite. Do you have the letter? May I see it?”
Ava handed it over while giving him a quick rundown on what had led her here to Driftwood.
My cheeks heated as he read.Hoo boy. Never before had I ever wished so hard for a splash of vodka in my sweet tea. This moment called for alcohol fortification. Pulling in a deep breath, I sat tall, ready to stand my ground.
Dad glanced my way, a bushy white eyebrow lifted.“Peculiar?”
I shrugged.
His eyes widened. “She-devil?”
I flicked a glance at Molly. “I fully stand by that one.”
His voice rose. “Bats in the belfry?”
I couldn’t stop the grin if I’d tried. “I’d be happy if you proved me wrong.”
Huffing, he rolled his eyes, then turned his full attention to Ava. “Do you believe in ghosts, Ava?”
Suddenly the air around us exploded with the scent of seaweed.
The curtains stilled.
The world around us fell eerily quiet.
Molly let out an unnervingmeowand darted into the house.
Slowly the air cleared of the briny scent and stirred with life once again. I rubbed goose bumps from my arms.
Ava glanced around. Her eyes widened at the sight of a butterfly perched on one of the deck chairs. “I’m starting to believe.”
Dad had straightened, his gaze darting. Then he laughed. “Don’t that beat all. Ava’s got herself a ghost.”
She paled. “I don’t—”
I gave her a barely perceptible head shake, a warning not to finish that sentence. The ghost was her ticket to landing this job.
She snapped her mouth closed.
“You believe it was your ex-boyfriend who sent this note?” Dad said, leaning toward her, fully invested. “How long did you date?”
She fidgeted in her seat. “Not very long, only three months. But Alexander and I were friends for a year before that.”
