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CHAPTER 14

Abby hen the sun was just beginning to filter through the curtains She checked her watch—just after six

Jess and Sarah would still be sleeping, but Abby knew that she ake for good Quietly she got up and slipped into shorts and a tank top She wanted to run theher weeks away

The air was crystal clear as she shut the door behind her and let her muscles warm up as she walked to the end of Foster Lane Once there she began to jog, drinking in the scent of grass and wildflowers and the uns, she’d discovered a path that looped around the su up to where the old Prescott house had been All that was left noas the stone foundation It made her a little sad, but it made her feel connected, too Her family had lived here She wished she’d had a chance to know them

The path also afforded a wonderful view of the town below The rainbow of buildings glowed in the early ine the s fronature chocolate croissants theywent better with a hot latte from the coffee shop next door

Down the street, Breezes Café would smell like coffee and bacon Men in hats and sun-bleached T-shirts would be at therods for a day on the water In a few hours the shops would open, the wood-and-screen doors letting in the fresh breeze, clacking against wooden door frames as tourists wandered in and out The water truck would cran Main Street, a local teen working the wand to water the hanging baskets hung on lamp posts

When had she becos-on in this town? She paused at the suht her breath It wasn’t supposed to be this way She was supposed to re about Jewell Cove that spoke to her She couldn’t put her finger on it Didn’t want to But as she inhaled deeply and started running again, she realized that she was going to miss this place when she left

She arrived back at the house just after seven, opening the door as quietly as she could so as not to disturb her guests She needn’t have bothered Sarah and Jess were already up and, from the sounds of it, in her kitchen She shut the front door andthe sound of voices and general shuffling and clanging

There was a frying pan on the stove and Sarah had a spatula in her hand while Jess was scooping frozen orange juice concentrate frolasses

“Good ”

Sarah bearinned “

Up early, I see”

“I went for a run I ht be a little sweaty”

Jess ht have sounded a little like “people being a ”

“Little hair of the dog, sis?” Sarah waved the wine bottle