Shadows of the Past by Debra Webb

Author:Debra Webb [Webb, Debra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781488099403
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2004-06-23T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIVE

THE RAIN had started.

Livvy poured herself a brandy and moved to the parlor’s front window. When a storm blew in off the sea, it was a sight to behold.

The kind of storm coming in on the tail of a hurricane wasn’t so romantic, but this kind, the plain old storm that built up as a result of the changing season or maybe simply as heaven’s way of showing off, tugged at Livvy’s senses. She felt oddly alive as the thunder rolled and the flash of light in the distance followed at its own leisurely pace. The surface of the water grew restless, reacting to the brewing natural phenomenon.

Though she was completely alone in the inn on this jagged thrust of earth where the land met the sea, she didn’t feel lonely just now. The atmosphere felt charged with energy. The house stood tall and strong against the wind. Livvy felt protected within these massive walls.

“Now there’s an ironic thought,” she mused out loud.

Two days ago she’d been certain she would never feel safe here again. Maybe the old inn was trying to comfort her. After all, she’d spent her life savings to restore it. And now she had nowhere else to go.

If whoever killed Beverly intended Livvy harm, what could she do? Run? Leave behind all she’d invested in the inn? She’d had to walk away from one life, she wasn’t doing that again. Fear was not going to send her running…not ever again. Not ever again. She had to be strong…couldn’t let the terror get a grip on her.

An ache sliced through her. There was no way she could leave this inn. She was a part of it now. She felt as if she’d always been here.

No matter what the chief or anyone else thought, Livvy had recently concluded that fate had brought her here to rescue this grand old place. To rescue this place as her doctor, that detective and two loyal friends had rescued her three years ago.

She downed her brandy and poured another, wincing at the liquor’s burn, then surveyed the room, proud of how well it had turned out. All summer long her guests had been awed by the renovations she had done. Of course, she couldn’t take credit for the more intricate work, that had been Christopher’s doing. Cleaning and painting had been the extent of her contributions. But she wasn’t ashamed of her part. Those things had been every bit as necessary.

She thought of Ralph’s reaction to this morning’s vandalism, and her chest squeezed painfully. It was difficult not to understand how he must feel. Part of her wanted to be angry that his comment had sounded so disloyal, but the other, more rational side recognized that he was only human. Who wouldn’t think just exactly what he had?

She’d considered the same herself. Maybe reopening the inn had been a mistake.

But it was done. There was no undoing it. Closing up now wouldn’t bring Beverly back.

The brandy went down a little more smoothly this time.

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