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CarolineShaw’sheartracedwith exhilaration after her meeting with Travis Danes. As she strolled through the bustling streets of New York alongside her lifelong friend, Jennifer Gains, palpable excitement filled the air. Travis had wholeheartedly agreed to her terms, and within three to six months, a film crew would descend on Plum Island to bring her beloved “Cobble Cove Mysteries” to life on screen. It was a dream unfolding before her eyes.
“Can you believe it, Jen?” Caroline gushed, her hazel eyes sparkling with joy. “He actually agreed to everything! The film crew will be on Plum Island soon, and we’ll be making magic together!”
Jennifer, who had been Caroline’s unwavering source of support since childhood, beamed in response. “I always knew you could do it, Caroline. Your writing is brilliant, and now the world will not only read your work but see it come to life.”
Their destination was Jennifer’s favorite coffee shop in Soho, a haven of creativity and conversation. Just as they arrived at the charming spot, Jennifer’s phone rang, and she sighed regretfully.
“It’s work,” Jennifer said apologetically. “I’m so sorry, Caroline. I have to take this.”
“No worries,” Caroline replied with a reassuring smile. They were close to the cafe entrance, and she gestured for Jennifer to go ahead. “I’ll have a coffee and write while you handle business. We can catch up later at your place for our celebration dinner.”
Jennifer made sure the owner of the coffee shop noticed them and guided Caroline to her usual table by the window before rushing off to attend to her call. Caroline settled into her seat, and Simon Newbury, the cafe’s owner, greeted them warmly.
“Good afternoon, ladies,” Simon said with a charming smile. “You both look lovely today.”
“Thank you, Simon,” they chimed in unison, and Caroline took a menu.
“Why are you still standing?” Simon inquired with a quizzical look at Jennifer.
“Because I have to get back to work,” Jennifer groaned, and then she added, “Please put Caroline’s order on my tab.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Caroline protested.
She felt her cheeks flush as she accepted Jennifer’s offer. The cafe’s prices were exorbitant, and even though Simon’s coffee and treats were top-notch, they didn’t warrant such costs.
“Nonsense,” Jennifer insisted. “Consider it my treat. Besides, consider it a business expense, with you being my top client.”
Simon turned to Caroline. “Can I get you your usual coffee while you peruse the menu?”
“Yes, please, Simon,” Caroline replied with gratitude. Simon nodded and excused himself to fulfill their orders.
“I’d better get going,” Jennifer said, her tone apologetic. “I’ll see you back at my place this evening.”
Caroline bid her friend farewell and Jennifer left the cafe, disappearing into the bustling city. As Caroline settled in, her coffee arrived, and she decided to forgo any food and instead set up her laptop. The cafe’s creative ambiance was infectious, and she was eager to dive back into her writing.
With her laptop screen glowing before her, Caroline’s thoughts drifted back over the past three years. Her father had passed away from a heart attack just two months before she’d discovered her husband, Robert Parker, was cheating on her. Two weeks after that revelation, she lost her job as the head of NYU Libraries.
Robert had insisted on keeping their house, a brownstone on the Upper West Side of New York, leaving Caroline and their twelve-year-old daughter, Jules, with nowhere to go. Jennifer had graciously taken them in, and they had lived in her three-bedroom Soho apartment for nearly six months, depleting Caroline’s meager savings as she desperately searched for new employment.
However, there weren’t many opportunities for a forty-four-year-old librarian in New York City. During Jules’s school hours and between interviews, Caroline had begun writing “Cobble Cove Mysteries.” Writing had become her refuge, a way to escape her shattered marriage, fading career, and the resentment of her now fourteen-year-old daughter.
Jules had been furious when Caroline uprooted their lives and moved them back to Plum Island, her small hometown in New England. She held Caroline responsible for the divorce and blamed her for everything that had gone wrong. However, their bond had recently started to mend as they collaborated on Caroline’s new book, and the prospect of the TV series had brought them closer.
Caroline sighed contentedly and turned her attention back to her writing, eager to immerse herself in the world of her characters once more. However, her solitude was short-lived as a tall, impeccably dressed man approached her table. He appeared slightly flustered but politely asked if he could share her table.
Caroline surveyed the crowded cafe and realized that every seat was taken. She offered a friendly smile and gestured to the empty chair. “Of course, please have a seat.”
The man smiled gratefully and settled into the chair across from her. He seemed like a creature from a different world, with his expensive attire and an air of sophistication that contrasted sharply with the cafe’s casual atmosphere.
A server promptly arrived at their table, and the man ordered a sugary designer coffee concoction, which didn’t take long to arrive. Caroline couldn’t help but suppress a shudder at the sweetness overload. The man seemed to notice her reaction and chuckled as he took a sip.
“I have a sweet tooth,” he confessed, striking up a conversation. “My parents are always on my case about it. Even my sixteen-year-old son shakes his head at me when I have to satisfy my sugar cravings.”
“My teenage daughter has a sweet tooth, too,” Caroline mused.
“Really?” He chuckled. “Teenagers and their sweet tooth! It’s a universal struggle, it seems.” He held out his hand. “I’m Brad.”
“Caroline.” She shook his hand and noticed his handshake was firm but not rough.
