Chapter 28

“Hey, ladies,” Lexie said, “mind if I take a seat?

“Please,” Cameron responded, sliding over in the booth where she and Julie were seated at the LMK. While she and Lexie were getting situated, Julie took a forkful of the double-layer lemon cake they’d been sharing. It was so rich that Cameron hadn’t taken more than a few bites, but it was delicious, and she knew she’d want more later after she drank her tea. It felt so good to be back in Star Harbor, especially after such a long couple of weeks. More and more, she considered this little town to be home.

“Is Cole on duty tonight?” Lexie asked Julie.

“Yes,” Julie said. “And Val’s away, so we decided to do a girls’ night out.” She smiled at Cameron. “I love being with Cole, but I’ve really missed these.”

Cameron smiled back. “Me too. Next time let’s invite Avery and make it official. Do you think she’ll mind giving up a night with Theo to spend time with us?”

“I think she’d love it,” Lexie said. “It’s good to have some time away from the men. Lord knows how intense those Grayson boys can be.”

They all laughed. “Intense” was right. Every time Cameron and Val had spoken over the past few days he’d sounded stressed out. She’d actually debated going back to Boston, but had decided not to after one phone call during which Val was more than distracted. He clearly needed this time to focus on his work, and the last thing she wanted to do was distract him.

Lexie and Julie started talking about the town’s big Labor Day weekend celebration, so Cameron let her mind drift for a moment. She and Val had overcome quite a few obstacles already—his issues, her issues, her parents’ issues, Junior’s issues, and oh, yes, a federal investigation! It had to be smooth sailing from here on out, right?

Another thing that weighed on her mind was Junior himself. He’d been texting and leaving her voicemail messages, wanting to know how she was and asking to get together. She’d finally texted him back that she was in Star Harbor and wasn’t returning to Boston for a while. Though it was necessary, Cameron really wasn’t looking forward to telling him they were off again—permanently.

Just then, the bell on the door jingled as a handsome man wearing navy-blue pants and a stylish blazer walked in, his salt-and-pepper hair movie-star perfect. It was her uncle, looking as dapper as ever.

“Uncle Nigel!” she called out from her seat, waving at him. Lexie slid out of the booth to allow Cameron to greet him.

Nigel came right toward her, followed by Branford Weld. “Cameron,” her uncle said, embracing her and giving her a kiss on the cheek. “I was about to call you to let you know I just got into town. I’m here with Bran, and we were just about to get something to eat.”

“Professor Weld,” she said, shaking his hand. “Wonderful to see you.”

“Same here,” he said. “Please call me Bran.”

Cameron nodded her head in acknowledgment. “Bran.”

“I want to thank you for letting Nigel know about my little hobby studying the Siren Lorelei. We’ve found a lot to talk about.”

“I knew it was more than a little hobby,” she said, smiling at the older man. She turned to Nigel. “But where are you staying? Please, won’t you join me at my cottage? There’s a second bedroom and plenty of room.”

“I wouldn’t dream of imposing,” Nigel said. “I’ve taken a room at the Star Harbor Inn. I’ll be staying through the weekend.”

“Such a long time!”

“Yes. Bran and I finally got our schedules coordinated and we want to make the most of the good weather.”

“Just in time, too,” Bran said. “Boston College starts up again next week, and I have to be on campus by Monday.”

“I’m going to spend a few days at the Star Harbor Historical Society,” Nigel said. “And Bran has promised to do a full tour of the wreckage site, plus an additional excursion of the Lorelei’s path through Vineyard Sound from the Atlantic. I’m so eager to get started!”

“We’ll do the wreckage tour first. The weather should be fine until Friday.”

“Wonderful!” Nigel said, looking like he was in heaven.

“I’m so thrilled for you, Nigel.” She turned to Bran. “I’m sure you’ve realized that once my uncle gets fixated on something, he becomes rather obsessed.”

“Fortunately, it’s an obsession I share.”

She grinned. “Then it’s a match made in heaven.”

“I assure you that Mrs. Weld is only too happy for me to have found a partner in crime. She much prefers her book and bridge clubs to hearing me talk nonstop about the Lorelei.”

“Whereas I don’t mind a bit,” Nigel said.

When Cameron laughed, she noticed Julie out of the corner of her eye. “Oh, I’ve been terribly rude. Nigel, please let me introduce you to my friends. This is Julie Kensington, Star Harbor’s doctor.”

“A pleasure,” Nigel said, taking her hand and giving her an elegant little bow. “Are you, by chance, the doctor who found one of the keys from the Lorelei?”

“The same,” Julie said. “I found it behind my office. Since you’ll be in town for a few days, perhaps you’d like to stop by to see the spot. That is, if it would be of interest to you.”

“Oh, yes,” Nigel breathed, glancing at Branford. “Bran, what do you say?”

“It would be of significant interest,” Bran said. “Significant indeed.”

“Wonderful,” Julie said. “Just stop by my office on Front Street during business hours.”

Cameron beamed, and made a mental note to thank Julie later. “And Lexie, you remember.”

“The woman who found the first key. And who makes the fabulous French toast,” Nigel said, his eyes lighting up.

Lexie’s mouth twitched. “It’s well past breakfast time, but I’ll see what Buster and I can do for you. I can also show you where I found my key if you two would like to join me in the root cellar before dinner. I wish I’d thought of asking you when you were here last time,” she said, giving Julie a smile.

Nigel placed a hand over his heart and gave her his most sincere look—the look that had graced the pages of too many gossip magazines. “I shall worship you for all eternity.”

Lexie actually blushed. “You don’t have to go that far,” she said.

“The third key was found in the cellar of the Star Harbor Inn, right where you’re staying,” Cameron said. “I can ask Avery Newbridge to let you have a look so you can examine all three places for yourself.”

“That would be outstanding,” Nigel said. “Then we can integrate our findings into our essay.”

“You’re writing an essay?”

“Yes. Bran and I have decided to collaborate on our research. We’re going to join forces for study, scholarship …” Nigel trailed off, a gleam in his eye.

“And an underwater exploration!” Bran said. “I finally get my treasure hunt. Nigel and I are well matched, academically and financially. He’s the perfect teammate for this expedition, and we’d never have gotten together if it weren’t for your suggestion, Cameron.”

“I was glad to be of assistance, but everything stemmed from Julie, Lexie, and Avery, who found the keys to begin with.”

“Ladies, thank you for letting me keep them for so long,” Nigel said.

“My pleasure,” Julie said.

Lexie nodded. “Same here. Gentlemen, would you like to see the spot now?”

“Yes, please.”

“Come on. It’s this way.”

Nigel and Bran followed Lexie through the kitchen door. The root cellar was accessible only from the back alley, so Lexie would take them out the back entrance.

When they were alone, Cameron slowly eased back into the booth and took a sip of tea. Julie just looked at her and cocked her head.

“Are you doing all right, Cameron?”

Cameron nodded. “Yes. Yes, of course. Just tired, I guess.”

“You know I’m here for you, whatever you need.”

“I appreciate that, Julie. Truly.” These were her real friends, aside from Cici, of course. Not the people she mixed and mingled with at society affairs who cared more about what designer she was wearing than about the success or failure of her business, or what books she liked to read, or how happy she was. Her Star Harbor friends worked hard, they played hard, and they cared about her. And she cared about them, too.

Especially Val. He was working harder than she’d ever seen him, but she didn’t mind. She worked a lot too, and she admired his drive. Plus the fact that he encouraged others to achieve their full potential was more than attractive—his brothers were case in point.

He’d rearranged his life to spend as much time in Star Harbor as he could, and she could understand why. Star Harbor wasn’t just a place where he kept his boat. His family and friends were here. It was his home and always would be.

And like that old adage, her heart was starting to feel the same way.

A few short months ago, she’d told Julie she couldn’t imagine giving up her Boston brownstone, and that she was renting a place in Star Harbor for the short term. That had turned out to be Hermione’s cottage, but what if she were to find someplace more permanent? What if—

An idea began to solidify in her mind.

“Julie,” she said. “What would you say if I were going to buy a house?”

“A vacation house?” Julie teased. “Where? Bermuda?”

Cameron shook her head. “I was thinking someplace closer. Like right here in Star Harbor.”

Julie gave her a big smile. “That sounds like an awesome idea.”

Cameron grinned back and forked a large chunk of lemon cake. “Yes. It really does.”