Page 5 of Birdie by the Bay (Wynn Harbor Inn #2)

“I hope you don’t mind hamburgers and hotdogs.” Aunt Birdie carried the plate of meat down the steps and flipped open the lid on her gas grill. “I can’t remember the last time I grilled outdoors.”

“This is a pretty fancy piece of grilling equipment.” Eryn let out a low whistle. “You have all the creature comforts of a cozy home.”

“The RV guy was a slick salesman. He must’ve seen me coming from a mile away. And, as luck would have it, the RV store sold everything I needed to set up camp.”

“I bet Pops Wynn was surprised when you showed up on his doorstep.”

“More like shocked. I didn’t warn him, figuring he would try to stop me before I got here,” Birdie said. “But I think he’s coming around.”

“Where is Pops?” Eryn asked.

“Saturday is casserole and cards night with Lottie,” Harlow said.

“You’re right. I forgot. They’ve been getting together for cards and dinner for as long as Lottie has lived here.”

“Who is this mystery woman?” Aunt Birdie joked. “Her name keeps popping up.”

“Lottie Fletcher. She takes care of Wynn Harbor Inn’s gardens and also works part-time at the Grand Hotel.” Eryn glanced over her shoulder and lowered her voice. “To be honest, I think she’s in love with David. I mean, I can’t be positive, but I’ve sensed a certain vibe between them.”

“Me too,” Harlow said.

“She moved here from across the pond…the UK,” Eryn said. “I’m not sure how she found out about Mackinac Island. One day she waltzed over here, somehow convinced your dad he needed help with the gardens and then kind of stuck around.”

Birdie grinned. “I can only imagine the look on my brother’s face when she showed up and refused to leave.”

“Believe me, he grumbled and griped about it, but not to her face. Over time, I guess she kind of grew on him.”

“I can’t wait to meet her, but first.” Birdie flipped the burgers. “We eat.”

Eryn, not one to arrive empty-handed, set the bowl of homemade macaroni salad she’d brought on the table. She placed Harlow’s tossed salad next to it before adding the condiments and packages of buns.

As soon as the burgers finished cooking, the trio feasted on the food, remarking about how wonderful the weather was…summer’s last hurrah before fall came knocking on their door.

“How long are you hanging around, Aunt Birdie?” Eryn plucked a pickle from her burger and popped it into her mouth.

“Until Harlow has flown the coop.”

“What if I don’t fly the coop?”

Eryn made a choking sound. “You’re moving back?”

Harlow hadn’t meant to say that, had not even seriously considered the idea. But from the moment her father wheeled her off the ferryboat and onto the dock, Mackinac Island began working its magic, wiggling its way back into her heart.

It was like no other place on earth. Not her swanky digs in Palm Beach. Not her glitzy Malibu mansion. Not her trendy apartment in New York. All paled compared to the charming island, steeped in history…a step back in time.

“Maybe not moving here permanently, but who knows? I might be open to buying a small place of my own somewhere around here to escape the rat race.”

“As I said before, I’ve never been one to mince words.” Birdie hesitated, and Harlow could tell from the look on her face she was getting ready to speak her mind. She wasn’t wrong.

“You blamed your father for your mother’s death. Have you had a change of heart?”

“I have. I don’t believe he set the fire that killed Mom, but someone did.”

Birdie cleared her throat. “And what do you intend to do about it?”

“About what?”

“Proving your father’s innocence. Proving to those who peer down their nose, having appointed themselves both judge and jury, who continue to insist David killed Ginger, that they’re wrong.”

“He’s been carrying the stigma for years,” Eryn said. “It’s aged him in so many ways.”

“What can I do?” Harlow asked.

“I offered to hire a private investigator to look into it,” Birdie said. “David flat out refused.”

“Why? Why wouldn’t he want to clear his name?” Harlow asked.

“Frankly, I have no idea. You would think he would be champing at the bit to get to the bottom of what happened.”

“I agree. Unless…”

“Unless what?” Eryn prompted.

“He’s hiding something.” Harlow blew air through thinned lips. “If it was me, I would’ve spent every last dime I had trying to find out how the fire started. Something isn’t adding up.”

“Perhaps if you offer to fund the investigation, he would be more receptive,” her aunt said.

“I will.” Harlow made a mental note to mention it to her father. Timing was key. David needed to be in the right mood to broach the subject.

The conversation shifted to talking about Harlow’s movie deal. She outlined the timeframe of when she was scheduled to show up on the set. “Robert will be on hand to make sure things go smoothly. Robert and a small army of staff, including Jillian.”

“What about your entourage?” Birdie asked. “You mentioned your bodyguard, Vic, who was also a close friend, the one you sent a message to. Have you heard from him yet?”

“Nope. Not a peep. I was also close to my publicist Janice. I haven’t heard from her either.” Harlow picked at what was left of her burger, suddenly losing her appetite at the thought the people she had considered friends had abandoned her.

“Why don’t you pick up the phone and call Janice?” Eryn asked.

“Now?”

“Sure.” Birdie drummed her fingers on the table. “Unless she’s on the other side of the world and it’s the middle of the night.”

“She’s in California. It’s Saturday, but Janice keeps her cell phone close by at all times, even on weekends.” Harlow toyed with her salad.

Birdie made a clicking sound with her teeth.

“What?”

“Call her.”

“Now?”

“There’s no time like the present.”

“Fine.” Harlow set her fork aside and reluctantly removed her cell phone from her pocket. She scrolled through the screen until finding Janice’s number. “She might not answer.”

“There’s only one way to find out.”

“You’re relentless,” Harlow teased.

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” her aunt quipped.

“Here goes nothing.” Harlow sucked in a breath and pressed the call button.

Janice must’ve been sitting on her phone. She picked up almost immediately. “Harlow. How are you?”

“Okay. I mean, I’m going to be all right.” Harlow told her she was in Michigan and working with a physical therapist.

“I’ve been worried about you.” The woman began rambling on about the accident, wondering how she was.

Finally, she took a breath and Harlow jumped in. “You could have called me.”

“Unfortunately, calling you wasn’t an option.”

Harlow began to feel lightheaded at what her publicist said next.