The Seven Rings by Nora Roberts

Author:Nora Roberts
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group

* * *

While Cleo crammed as much summer as possible into the end of smoldering August, Sonya pushed more work into her days to give herself blocks of time for her search. If nothing else came of it, she felt she honored her inheritance, the manor, her father’s family history.

She carved out time to create a design for the Gold Room. Or what would be, when she claimed it, the family and friends gallery.

Twice she drove to Portland—and indulged herself by taking photos of the Ryder billboards with her design. With Burt Springer, she toured the Ryder building, donned a hard hat to walk through portions still under construction.

It took a week, and Sonya assumed some family wrangling, before Carrie of Bayside Lotions and Potions agreed to a revamped website, brochures, and new business cards.

Sonya considered it a victory for herself, and for young Hogan.

At the end of a workday, Cleo came to the library.

“Son, it’s date night.”

“I know. I’m just finishing up.”

Turning, Cleo studied the mood board for the newest client.

“It’s really pretty. I like the way you’re playing up the natural magic, organic ingredients, family enterprise.”

“Carrie’s on board, but not a hundred percent.”

“She will be by the time you’re finished.”

“That’s the goal. And … Done till Monday.”

She shut down so they walked through the hallway together, cat and dog in tow.

“Dinner at the Lobster Cage, a little local music at the village joint after.”

Cleo paused at her room. “The high life in Poole’s Bay. Ballroom work Saturday, and a Sunday sail.”

“My kind of weekend.”

Sonya continued to her room to find Molly had chosen a blue dress and added a short white jacket, as the nights already tended cooler.

“I like it. It’s been a busy couple of weeks.” She cast her gaze up, thought: And quiet, too. “It’ll be nice to have an evening out.”

She walked to the balcony doors first, threw them open. Looking out at the sea, she considered she’d been here now for six months, double the three-month trial she’d given herself when she’d driven to the manor for the first time.

Over six months since she’d taken that chance—on board, she thought, but not a hundred percent.

Until she’d seen the manor. Met Trey. And ended up losing her heart to both.

“You used to rearrange the bottles on the dresser, Molly. It unnerved me.” She breathed in the sea air. “I want you to pick your favorite. Pick the one you like best, and it’s yours. I want you to take it, have it. Sort of a belated half-year anniversary gift.”

Guns N’ Roses played “Sweet Child o’ Mine.”

“We’re all in this together, Clover. And we’re going to win this together.”

She went in to shower, then spent time trying to duplicate the casual waves the stylist had given her at her last appointment.

Decided, close enough.

When she came out, the blue bottle with its little butterfly cap was missing. Six months before, she thought again as she dressed, that would have unnerved her.

Now it warmed her inside and out.

She took one more look at the sea, then shut the doors before she walked down to Cleo’s room.

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