The ringing phone pulled Paul out of a deep, satisfying sleep. For a second, he couldn’t figure out who was in bed with him, but then the memories of the night before came back to remind him that Hope had stayed with him. He moved carefully so he wouldn’t disturb her and reached for his phone on the bedside table to see that Lizzie was calling him awfully early.

“Hello,” he said, taking the phone with him as he left the room, closing the door behind him.

“Hey, Paul, it’s Lizzie. I hope I’m not waking you.”

“It’s okay. What’s up?”

“Jared and I are out at the old school, and I think it’ll be perfect for what we have in mind.”

Paul was so groggy that he had to think about what they had in mind. “You’re out there already?”

“Uh-huh. Jared and I got up early to come check it out.”

“She dragged me out of bed early,” Jared said into the phone. “I told her not to call you at this hour.”

Paul laughed even as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

“How can we get inside?” Lizzie asked. “And I want first dibs on buying it.”

“You’re serious,” Paul said. The sort of facility Lizzie envisioned on Gansett Island would be an answer to a prayer for him and Alex.

“I’m dead serious.”

“She’s dead serious,” Jared said.

“Hush,” Lizzie said to her husband. “I’m conducting business here.”

“I’ll make a few phone calls and see if I can get someone out there to let you inside. Can you wait for a bit?”

“Sure, we’ve got nothing planned for today.”

Jared’s groan in the background carried through the phone.

“Something tells me you don’t speak for your husband,” Paul said, amused by her doggedness.

“He can wait on the plans for later. It’ll keep.”

“No, it won’t!” Jared said.

“I’ll call you back,” Paul said, laughing at their banter. He ended that call and placed another to the police station. When the dispatcher answered, he asked for the officer in charge.

“Taylor,” a gruff voice replied.

“Hey, it’s Paul Martinez. They’ve got you working Sundays, huh?”

“I’ve got two guys out sick, so I’m holding the short straw. What’s up?”

“I have someone interested in buying the old school building and wondered if you have keys, since Town Hall is closed today.”

“Yep, I’ve got keys.”

“Any chance one of your guys could run them out there? Lizzie and Jared James are there now, and she’s eager to see the inside.”

“What’s she got in mind for the place?”

“An elderly-care facility, of all things.”

“Wow, that’s a cool idea.”