“Think she’ll stick around?” he asked, suddenly. He hadn’t realized he’d turned his thoughts back to Evelyn. “I mean, from what I hear, she’s got a decent job in the city.”
His father shrugged. “Choosing to stay in the city and work a job for the man or come home and deal with that…” His father motioned to where the cars had disappeared.
“Right.” Dylan couldn’t explain the sadness that surfaced at the thought of losing the one person on the island who had caused a spark to ignite in him for the first time in years.
Gone before he could explore it. He should have known it was too good to be true. He couldn’t really afford to spare any time for someone other than Palmer anyway. He glanced down at his daughter’s dark head and smiled. She was all he needed. Still, he couldn’t deny that his heart ached for the rest of the night, making him feel unsteady and shaken. And he’d only had one conversation with her. What would it be like if he spent more time with Evelyn?
4
A plan
Eve stepped into her grandfather’s rooms, totally drained. A massive pounding had started in her head halfway through the meal from all the shouting her family had started at the lawyer’s office.
She didn’t know how they had ended up at the pizzeria, or even if she’d eaten anything. But the one thing that was clear to her was her time with Dylan and his daughter, Palmer. The duo had been the highlight of her entire day. Okay, her entire week. Hell, maybe even the month.
She couldn’t explain it but seeing the man’s sea-green eyes flood with concern over her had touched her. Then she’d spotted the matching sea-green eyes in his beautiful daughter. Those had been flooded with curiosity and a touch of shyness.
She’d snapped out of her mood for a moment, allowing her to think clearly for the first time since receiving the news that she was basically the sole beneficiary of her grandfather’s will. Sure, her grandfather had left a few trinkets to each of his children and grandchildren, but that was all.
Logan was extremely upset that all Reggie had left him was a pocketknife. Eve remembered the old thing her grandfather had carried with him everywhere. There wasn’t a time that he hadn’t had it in one of his pockets.
But her cousin had apparently been expecting a chunk of the inn, just as the rest of her family had. She hadn’t known that her grandfather would leave the entire place to her. They’d never talked about it. She knew Reggie had been proud of her for going to college, the first one to do so in her family. But she hadn’t expected this.
She had been in shock at first. She took a moment alone in her grandfather’s rooms and pulled out the letter the lawyer had given her outside the presence of her family.
“This will explain everything. He wanted this to be…”—the man’s eyes moved over to where her family had been yelling at one another— “for your eyes only. You understand?”
She’d nodded and tucked the letter into her jacket pocket, knowing she would read it later.
Flipping the lock on the door behind her, she leaned against the door and pulled the letter open slowly.
Seeing her grandfather’s handwriting caused her to sink to the floor and tuck her legs up to her chest as her eyes scanned over the words.
Eve,
My dear girl. I’m sorry for leaving you in this position. I hope that this letter doesn’t reach your eyes until I’ve had time to straighten out the mess that is the Candlewood legacy. But if God wills it and I’m unable to stand my ground firmly, then you’ve just inherited a mess from me. For that, I’m deeply sorry.
You’re probably asking yourself, why you? I think if you dig deep, you’ll understand clearly. If not, spend a week at the inn and then you will understand all.
You are the only Candlewood who has had the power to stand up to the mob. Even I haven’t been able to in these past few years since you’ve moved out and started your own life and career. Which brings me to reason number two.
I’ve followed your career and am extremely proud of you. I know in my heart that if you put your mind to saving Candlewood Inn, you could do so.
So, my dear, the choice is yours. Know this— because of my inability to stand firm, finances are not what they should be. No, I probably won’t leave you in total ruin, but unless something is done and done soon, Candlewood will be nothing more than a money pit.
The inn is a wonderful opportunity for someone with a backbone and a head on their shoulders, which is why, my dear, I’ve left it all to you. In the hands of anyone else, the family’s legacy would surely fail.
Ever since you were a young girl, I could see the drive and love in you, something the rest of the family is seriously lacking.
A warning: Don’t trust any of them. They have done their best in these past few years since you’ve been gone to bring ruin to the inn and to everything, I’ve spent my entire life building.
I’ll leave this last thought for you…
Remember what I always told you.
Reach for the moon, but if you miss, grab hold of a star and enjoy the ride.
I hope Candlewood Inn will be that star that takes you everywhere you want to go.
Love always,
Grandpa Reggie
* * *
With tears in her eyes, Eve flipped over the letter and read an excerpt dated less than a month ago.
Eve,
A quick update. I’ve finally made a stand. I’ve told the family that I’ve cut every member off financially as of today. I’ve given them until the end of the month to move out of their rooms at the inn or start paying rent.
I’ve done it, girl. I’m hoping to update this will again soon. Maybe I’ll be able to leave you with a little more than the mess the place is currently in.
All my love,
Grandpa R
* * *
Eve felt her entire body start to vibrate. Her grandfather had cut her family completely off. That meant… as of the end of the week, they were supposed to move out of their rooms.
Then a thought had all the blood draining from her. Had someone killed Reggie because of this?
She didn’t even really know what had happened to him.
Her eyes darted around the dark rooms. She’d spent so much time here as a child and not once could she remember being afraid of… well, anything.
Standing up, she flipped on all the lights in the two-room suite. As with most of the inn, the rooms needed fresh paint, new carpet or flooring, and, well, pretty much everything else. The furniture was from the mid-nineties and in desperate need of refinishing or just being hauled to a junkyard.
Her mind whirled as she thought of the possibility that someone had killed her grandfather. Then it dawned on her. Her mother had told her that he’d died in his sleep. Peacefully. Surely someone would know if there was foul play involved. Right?
Wouldn’t they examine the body before… whatever. Did her family plan to cremate him? She’d been so preoccupied with the shocking news; she hadn’t paid any attention to all the other talk they’d had over dinner. She paced the floor for half an hour, spending the rest of her energy, and then realized that she was starving.
She decided a quick trip to the kitchens was in order. After all, she’d spent a good chunk of her childhood begging the staff for treats down there or learning to cook with her grandfather or Aunt Ramona.