AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What? Who was that?” Charlie asked, her eyes wide.
“Theotherthing I wanted to talk to you about. But not now. Charlie, I need you to keep an eye on the place while I'm gone. Please ask Darcy if he can help with any guest requests while I’m gone,” Ariel said, already heading toward the door. There wasn’t any time to waste—at least, that’s how her suddenly racing heart made her feel.
She had to follow Emily—and find out what she was up to.
Charlie stumbled as she rushed to follow Ariel. “Hold up. Who was that?” her sister put out a hand to stop Ariel, and Ariel paused.
“Miles’s ex-wife,” Ariel blurted.
Charlie’s face went through a kaleidoscope of expressions—surprise, confusion, interest, and finally a determined, stubbornness.
“No wayam I staying here,” Charlie said. “Are you kidding? This is juicy! I’m coming with you!”
Ariel was conflicted, but there wasn’t much time to decide if they were going to make it outside in order to find out what direction Emily had gone. Was Emily somehow in cahoots with Stanton, or somehow involved in a plot to sabotage Ariel’s new restaurant? She definitely could use a witness to whatever she discovered.
“Fine.” Ariel held her phone out to Charlie. “Text Darcy and tell him we’ll be back in thirty minutes.”
Charlie grabbed the phone, and as Ariel led the way to the exit on the far side of the dining room, her mind raced ahead with all kinds of scenarios. Maybe the woman was trying to win Miles back, or worse, maybe she was working with the mayor and his construction team to sabotage Ariel's business from the inside. Ariel certainly wouldn’t have put it past Stanton to dig up something personal like Miles’s ex to use against her—he had, on more than one occasion, taken personal jabs at Ariel’s long-lost father.
With a million possibilities, all of them ratcheting up her stress level, Ariel snuck out the door and onto the porch, Charlie close behind. They exited just in time to see Emily getting into her car.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Ariel and Charlie's plan to stalk Miles's ex-wife was in full motion.
Initially hesitant about following Emily once she’d gotten into her vehicle, Ariel had been convinced because Charlie was insistent. That was Charlie all over—the bold one, the brave one, the one with all the wild ideas and schemes. Which was why it had been so out of character for Ariel to pack up and come back here to Maine from Miami after her breakup, and even more out of character for her to have committed to the crumbling Victorian house that was now her home and business.
But this? This was so far afield of her normal that Ariel was growing increasingly nervous with every mile.
"Come on, Ariel, this is like a spy movie! We're following the enemy," Charlie said, wearing a pair of oversized sunglasses that she had found in Ariel’s glove box, and the large garden hat that she’d swiped from the porch—all to disguise herself as they cruised toward Endless Harbor.
Ariel rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help but laugh at Charlie's antics. She hung back and made sure to follow the speed limit and drive extra carefully as they followed Miles's ex-wife, who was driving a silver BMW sports car, into town. Ariel maintained a safe distance, sometimes letting a car or two slip between them, but Charlie was too excited and kept urging Ariel to get closer.
“Haven’t you ever seen a movie? A TV show? You have to hang back, or it looks suspicious,” Ariel said. “You don’t want to be spotted, do you?”
“Oh. Right,” Charlie said. “Not that she would recognize me. You should have worn a disguise.”
After a few minutes of driving, they noticed that the ex-wife had pulled over into a parking spot along a quiet side street near downtown. Ariel parked her car a few spaces behind, and they watched as the ex-wife got out of her car and walked toward a building.
"Let's follow her," Charlie said, jumping out of the car before Ariel could object.
“Charlie!” Ariel whispered, but her sister was already on the sidewalk, hiding behind a tree. Ariel couldn't help but feel a little silly for doing this, but Charlie was enjoying every moment of it. Charlie zigged and zagged between trash cans, bushes, and signposts, and Ariel just tried to follow as best she could—regretting the strappy sandals that she had left the house in and wishing that she had opted for sneakers.
Oh, well.It wasn’t as though Ariel had planned to undergo this spur-of-the-moment mission. They waited outside the building, which Ariel recognized as a lawyer’s office, until Emily emerged again. But she didn’t head to her car—instead, she turned and walked toward the marina. Straight toward where Ariel and Charlie were loitering.
Ariel and Charlie quickly hid behind some nearby bushes, watching as Emily walked past them, completely unaware of their presence.
Charlie stuck her head out and watched Emily’s retreating form. “The marina! Walk or drive?” she asked.
“Walk,” Ariel said. “And if we go around by tenth street, we can get there before her. She’s following the tourist route.”
They were off—and they did, indeed, arrive before Emily. She was nowhere to be seen.
The marina was bustling with activity on this warm summer day. The air was thick with the smell of saltwater and boat fuel. The sound of seagulls filled the air as they circled overhead, looking for scraps from the tourists. The sun was shining brightly, casting a warm glow on the whole scene.
The docks were crowded with boats of all sizes, from small fishing boats to large luxury yachts. Some were tied up at the docks, while others were out on the water, their sails billowing in the breeze. People bustled about, loading and unloading gear, chatting with their slip neighbors, and preparing to set out on their own adventures.
The marina was a colorful place, with boats of every hue lining the docks. Some were brightly painted, with bold stripes or designs that caught the eye. Others were more subdued, with sleek lines and polished wood that gleamed in the sunlight. Each boat had its own name, its own personality, its own story to tell—Ariel thought of Miles and his restoration project, wondering what the old boat would look like once he was through.
