Undercurrent by Tricia Rayburn

Author:Tricia Rayburn
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
ISBN: eBook ISBN: 9781606842034
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Published: 2011-06-27T16:00:00+00:00

Cather Country, a cozy book nook located off Lawlor Trail, opened in May 1990 to rave reviews. Owner and Winter Harbor newcomer Charlotte Bleu offered customers new, used, and rare works in a warm, inviting setting. The store, which quickly became a regular must-stop shop for residents and vacationers alike, burned down in November 1993. The fire’s cause was never determined, and Cather Country was never rebuilt.

My eyes lingered on the second-to-last sentence. Something else happened in November 1993.

I was born.

“Hey, stranger.” I slammed the book shut. “Caleb. Hi.”

He came over from the DVD section. As he neared I prepared for a barrage of questions about the breakup, but he simply smiled and kissed my cheek.

“Simon didn’t tell me you were going to be here this weekend.”

That obviously wasn’t the only thing Simon hadn’t told him. Caleb’s greeting would’ve been much different had he known his brother and I were no longer together.

“It was an impromptu trip,” I said. “Paige wanted to see Betty, and I tagged along.” “Nice.” He nodded to my lap. “Couldn’t you write your own Winter Harbor book by now?” “Not one that anybody would want to read,” I joked.

He looked down, his smile faltering.

“What about you?” I asked. “Why the library on a sunny fall day?”

“Movie night with the guys. The DVD collection’s surprisingly good here.”

I nodded, unsure what to say next. I knew Caleb and I would always be connected because of his connection to Justine, but because things with Simon were different, talking to Caleb felt different, too.

“How long are you around?” he asked after a long pause. “Want to grab breakfast tomorrow?”

“I think we’re leaving pretty early. But next time?”

“Absolutely.” He checked his watch. “I hate to chat and run, but I was supposed to be at the marina ten minutes ago. Now that the harbor’s totally thawed, customers are anxious to get their boats back in the water.”

“Of course.” As I stood to give him a hug good-bye, I registered what he’d just said. Seeing my body freeze and face flush, he stepped toward me.

“You didn’t hear?” he asked quietly.

I tried to shake my head, but it wouldn’t move.

“We had a crazy heat wave last weekend. It melted the last of the ice.”

“Have you—” I whispered. “Have they—”

“No one’s seen anything. Because there’s nothing to see.”

“Right.” I managed to nod. “I know.”

“Vanessa, you know how Zara felt about me. If she’d somehow survived… don’t you think I’d be the first one she’d try to find?”

My eyes watered—partially because he was right, but also because he sounded so calm, so quietly confident, that he reminded me of Simon.

He held out his arms, and I stepped into them. We hugged for several seconds before I pulled back. As he walked away, he shot me a quick smile and called over his shoulder.

“That brother of mine better be taking good care of you!”

Which probably would’ve made me break down completely if my cell phone hadn’t buzzed right then. My fingers, slick with perspiration, slid across the phone twice before getting a good enough grip to pull it from my jeans pocket.

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