She had no way of knowing if the girl could keep a promise that carried such weight. If Talley went to the sheriff, her world would change. Jake’s and Ruth’s lives would change.

“Are you sure you can?” Edna asked.

“I’m sure,” Talley said. “I’ll do it for Ruth.”

And without another word, the two walked back to the cottage.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE IVY

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

IVY

Wednesday, January 26, 2022, 1:00 p.m.

Ivy and Dalton stopped for lunch at the small restaurant where the beach and bypass roads met. The sun was still high and warm enough to tempt them to take one of the outside picnic tables. The waitress brought them menus. Dalton already knew what he wanted to order, and Ivy, feeling overtaxed, told the young woman to make it two of the same.

Soon they had sodas and a basket of nacho chips. “Do you think Ruth understood the value of the hotel-registration book?” Dalton asked.

“She must have. It’s the only one she saved.”

“Did she ever talk to you about it?”

“No. Never.”

“But she didn’t hide it from you, either,” he said. “She left the registration book out for you to find.”

As they waited, her phone rang, and she glanced at the number. “New York area code. If it’s important, they’ll leave a message.”

“Another job offer?” he asked.

“Likely a Vincenzo’s vendor looking to get paid.”

The waitress returned with their sodas, napkins, and silverware.

“Maybe Ruth needed me to know a truth she could not articulate. Ruth was a woman of few words.” She sipped on her soda. “She was also never good with feelings. She let her actions do the talking.”

“Like Edna?”

She shook her head. “How do you feel about Edna? If what Talley said is true, Edna killed your grandfather.”

He traced his finger down the condensation on the glass. “I have no attachment to the man. And my father still doesn’t like to talk about him.”

Their burgers arrived, and she bit into hers. It was decent, good really, but she would have added more salt and pepper.

“You’d cook it differently,” he said.

“I would.”

“You can still take Matthew up on his offer.”

“Are you trying to talk me into a partnership with him?”

“No. Definitely not.” His chuckle was deep and throaty. Sexy. The air crackled. Both ate in companionable silence for several minutes.

“If what Talley said is true, it means you and I are related,” she said.

“Dad is not my biological father,” he said, as if he needed to make the point.

“But our families are linked.”

“You and Dani both share Ann,” he said.

That made them all second cousins, or a version of. Dalton by marriage, Dani by blood.

“Have you considered going into business with Dani?” he asked. “She’s a hell of a businesswoman.”