Death at Warblers' End: A Loon Lodge Cozy Mystery by Bellamy Beck

Author:Bellamy Beck [Beck, Bellamy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9798989494705
Published: 2023-11-16T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 15

I’d arranged to meet Sam at seven, but he acted cagey when I asked him about our dinner plans. I could tell he had something up his sleeve, so I took a cue from Maddie and changed into a sundress and simple cardigan.

Before I left the cabin, I sent a quick text message to Childress, telling her that we remembered seeing Tawny’s cell phone at dinner. I also texted the Fly Girls a summary of what Evie and I had learned from Plummet. With everyone on the same page, I climbed into the Birdmobile and started toward the campground, anxious to see what Sam had in store for us.

He was waiting for me outside the RV, looking relaxed and casual in a plain white t-shirt, jeans, and a pair of worn Birkenstocks. I suddenly felt overdressed in my sundress. I didn’t want him to think I was trying too hard.

Then I saw what he’d done with the RV. Twinkling fairy lights draped the awning, and a flock of candles flickered on the cloth-covered picnic table. He had even arranged tiki torches in a circle around the outdoor seating space. In the center of the circle, a two-person camping couch, complete with cushions and fuzzy blankets, created a perfect spot to snuggle up and enjoy the night sky. To top it all off, flames crackled in the fire pit.

“This is incredible!” I exclaimed as my eyes took it all in. “You didn’t have to do all of this.”

Sam’s face glowed. “I’m just happy you like it,” he said, glancing over his handiwork. “I wanted our evening to be memorable.”

He poured me a glass of wine and led me to the comfiest seat on the couch before disappearing into the RV. A few minutes later, he emerged with a tray of homemade sushi rolls. He’d obviously spent a lot of time and effort preparing the meal.

Sam fidgeted with his chopsticks as I ripped through my first sushi roll.

“Is everything all right?” I asked.

He took a deep breath. “To be honest, I can’t stop thinking about our conversation at the Hop House last night. You said you’re probably going back to Rochester at some point. Before you decide for sure, I want to try to convince you to stay.”

I didn’t know how to react. Sam and Beechtree were growing on me, but I still didn’t see myself staying beyond the summer. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings, so I didn’t say anything. I just inched closer and reached out my hand, intertwining my fingers with his.

We sat quietly for a few minutes, staring into the fire.

“Okay, this is going to sound cheesy, but humor me,” I said, remembering an exercise I’d learned in couples therapy with Kevin. “Let’s close our eyes and picture where we see ourselves in five years. Then, if we feel comfortable, we can share what we saw with each other.”

Sam had a skeptical look on his face, but he agreed to give it a shot. We each took a deep breath and closed our eyes.

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