Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

Later that night, Chloe parked outside her home. The headlights of her truck swept over the familiar outline of the other cottages on Anchor Lane. Oscar was already nodding off in the back seat, still wearing his costume from the school’s dress rehearsal. She smiled to herself as she remembered how excited he’d been. How much he’d enjoyed being one of Santa’s elves.

Even though the opening night of the school play was a couple of months away, no one was leaving anything to chance. With everyone getting ready for a busy part of the year, making sure the costumes and props were ready was one last thing the teachers and parent helpers would have to think about.

“Hey, buddy,” Chloe whispered as she gently unbuckled his seatbelt. “We’re home.”

Oscar rubbed his eyes sleepily. “Did you like our Christmas play?”

“I loved it,” she said, lifting him out of the truck. “You were the best elf I’ve ever seen.”

He grinned drowsily. “Liam said he’d come to the real show.”

“I’m sure he wouldn’t miss it.” With Oscar’s arms draped around her shoulders and his head nestled against her neck, Chloe carried him inside.

The warmth of his small body brought back a flood of memories from the day she’d brought him home from the hospital. She remembered the overwhelming joy she and Paul had felt as they’d carefully strapped their newborn into the infant car seat. Their hearts had been brimming with love and dreams for the future.

Standing in their little house back then, they’d imagined countless moments like this, filled with laughter and the simple happiness of being a family. Though things hadn’t turned out how they’d planned, she felt a deep sense of gratitude for the way her son continued to light up her life.

Dropping her keys on the hall table, she rubbed Oscar’s back. “Would you like some of your favorite spaghetti for dinner?”

Oscar lifted his head slightly, his eyes still heavy with sleep. “Yes, please,” he murmured.

Oscar wiggled out of her arms and sat at the kitchen table. In a few quick motions, Chloe warmed up the spaghetti she’d made earlier. The aroma of garlic, oregano, and basil filled the kitchen. Moments later, Oscar was happily twirling noodles around his fork, a contented smile spreading across his face.

Chloe added some spaghetti and tomato sauce to her plate and joined Oscar at the table. “You and your friends did such a great job at the rehearsal. How are you feeling about the big performance?”

Oscar swung his feet under the chair. “I’m okay. Mrs. Thompson said to have fun, even if we get tingly tummies,” he admitted. “Will lots of people come?”

Chloe nodded. “I spoke to Mrs. Terry from the general store the other day. She said it’s one of the most popular events Sapphire Bay has each Christmas.”

He grinned. “Will Liam like the singing part?”

“I’m sure he will. Everyone likes Christmas carols.”

Oscar ate the last mouthful of spaghetti. “Do you think Daddy would like the play?”

Chloe felt a slight catch in her chest, but kept her smile gentle. Oscar was barely four years old when she’d left Paul. Even though their marriage had ended, he’d always be Oscar’s dad. So she’d made a photo album of family pictures. At least that way Oscar had some kind of connection to his dad.

Chloe wiped some tomato sauce off Oscar’s chin. “I think your dad would be very proud of you.”

Satisfied, Oscar’s mouth opened with an enormous yawn. “I’m sleepy.”

“Sounds like someone’s ready for bed,” she said, standing up. “Let’s get you tucked in.”

As they headed into his bedroom, Oscar reached for her hand. “Mom, can we read a Christmas story tonight?”

“Of course we can. Which one would you like?”

“What about ‘The Night Before Christmas’?”

Chloe smiled. That was one of Oscar’s favorites. “I thought you might say that. Let’s brush your teeth and get your pajamas on first.”

After he’d brushed his teeth, Oscar changed into his cozy pajamas covered in reindeer prints. Chloe pulled back the covers and he climbed into bed, snuggling his stuffed dinosaur close.

She settled beside him and opened his well-worn book. As she read, Oscar’s eyes grew heavier with each page. By the time she finished, he was fighting to keep them open.

“Mom?” he murmured sleepily.

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“I like being here for Christmas.”

Her heart warmed. “Me too, Oscar. Me too.”

He yawned again. “Do you think it’ll snow tomorrow?”

“It might,” she said softly. “We’ll have to wait and see.”

“Can we make a snowman if it does?”

“Absolutely, but only if a certain little elf gets a good night’s sleep.”

He giggled softly. “Okay. Night-night, Mom. Love you.”

“Love you too,” she whispered, kissing his forehead. “Sweet dreams.”

After tucking Oscar into bed, she went back to the kitchen. The house was quiet except for the soft hum of the heater. She made herself a cup of chamomile tea and settled onto the couch, pulling Liam’s manuscript onto her lap.

She wasn’t joking when she’d told Liam she was enjoying his book. Seeing the places the people he’d interviewed had talked about, brought the area to life.

She could imagine the families of the steamboat staff enjoying the cottages on Anchor Lane during their summer vacations, the excitement when the mail made its way to town, and the desperation when a fire had ripped through the main street of Sapphire Bay.

She flipped the manuscript open to the chapter about Eleanor Whittaker. There was something about the mysterious artist that intrigued her—the way she’d captured Sapphire Bay in her murals, the unanswered questions about her sudden disappearance.

Without overthinking it, Chloe picked up her phone and called Liam. He answered after the second ring.

“Hey,” he said, his voice warm. “How did Oscar’s rehearsal go?”

“It was great. Everyone was so excited. We didn’t have too many costume malfunctions, so I was less busy than I thought I’d be,” she said, curling her legs beneath her on the couch. “How was your day?”

“It was more productive than some I’ve had. I finished your first set of edits and organized the next few chapters for you. I don’t know how I missed some of the errors, but I’m glad you found them.”

Chloe smiled. “They’re easier to see when I didn’t write the text.”

“I guess that’s true. Percy, the Chairperson of the Heritage Protection Society came into the center today. He found a copy of an assignment a high school student wrote about Eleanor Whittaker. They’d added it to their library in the 1960s.”

“That’s fantastic.” Chloe looked at the photo of Eleanor that Liam had clipped to his manuscript. She couldn’t have been more than twenty-five years old. She was standing outside in the sunshine, her blonde hair cascading in soft waves just below her shoulders. Her eyes were bright and contemplative and seemed to meet Chloe’s, bridging the gap of a century. “Do you know if she has any relatives still living in Sapphire Bay? I’d love to know what happened to her.”

“I’ve been trying to find that out,” Liam said. “So far, I haven’t found any records of living relatives, but there are still have a few people I want to talk to.”

“I was thinking,” Chloe said thoughtfully, “maybe we could look into it together. Percy might have overlooked something in the heritage protection society’s library.”

“That’s a great idea,” he said. “Doing research is always more fun with a partner.”

She smiled. “Maybe we’ll solve the mystery of what happened to her.”

“Or at least uncover something interesting,” he replied. “When are you and Oscar free?”

“How about this Saturday?” she suggested. “The library opens at ten o’clock. Oscar and I could meet you there.”

“Sounds perfect,” Liam said. “I’ll bring some of the café’s Halloween muffins. After we’ve finished, we could have a snack beside the lake. How did your call with the lawyer go?”

Chloe sighed. “It was okay, I guess. She advised me to keep communication with Paul limited and to document everything.”

“That makes sense,” he said gently. “How are you feeling about it all?”

“Honestly, a bit anxious,” she admitted. “I don’t want anything to disrupt the life Oscar and I have built here.”

Liam nodded. “If there’s anything I can do, even if it’s just to listen, I’m here.”

“Thanks. It helps just talking about it.” Chloe took a sip of her tea, letting the warmth soothe her. “So, tell me more about your theories on Eleanor.”

“Well, I have a hunch that her disappearance might be connected to someone influential. There were rumors about a secret romance with the president of the Great Northern Railway.”

Chloe’s eyes widened. “That must have kept the gossip mill going for years.”

“That’s what I thought, too,” he said. “If it is true, I’m hoping someone wrote something about it.”

“All the more reason to visit the Heritage Protection Society’s library,” Chloe said eagerly. “Maybe we’ll find some love letters or a newspaper article about them.”

“Now you’re thinking like a true historian,” Liam teased.

They chatted for a while longer, tossing around ideas and theories. Chloe felt lighter, the worries about Paul momentarily pushed aside by the excitement of a good mystery and the comfort of Liam’s company.

“Well, I should probably get some sleep,” she finally said, noticing the time. “We’ve got a big day at the café tomorrow. Don’t forget about coming to dinner tomorrow night.”

“I won’t. Is there anything you’d like me to bring?”

“Just yourself and Trixie. Oscar wants to show her the picture he drew of her at school.”

“I’m looking forward to seeing it, too. Goodnight, Chloe.”

“Goodnight.” With a contented sigh, she ended the call. As she pulled Liam’s manuscript closer, she settled into the sofa, eager to re-read the chapter about Eleanor. Hopefully, over the next few weeks, they’d discover what had happened to the talented artist in the small Montana town.

The next day, Liam leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms overhead until he felt a satisfying pull in his shoulders. He’d just finished revising another chapter of his book. If he didn’t take Trixie for a walk now, they wouldn’t have time before they met Chloe and Oscar for dinner.

Thinking about them made him smile. Over the past few weeks, they’d grown closer, sharing meals, laughter, and stories. Having Chloe edit his manuscript had been amazing; she offered fresh insights and wasn’t afraid to suggest ideas to make the book better.

Just as he was about to shut his laptop, his phone rang. He picked it up to see his agent Mark’s name flashing on the screen.

“Hey, Mark! It’s been a while since we talked,” Liam said, tucking the phone between his ear and shoulder as he organized his scattered papers.

“How’s life in Sapphire Bay?” Mark’s enthusiastic voice boomed through the speaker.

Liam smiled. He’d known Mark for five years, and no matter how his agent was feeling, his extroverted personality always made Liam feel better. “It’s great. Staying here to finish my book is the best thing I could have done.”

“Glad to hear it,” Mark replied. “I’ve been reading the chapters you sent over, and they’re fantastic.”

Liam breathed a sigh of relief. He’d emailed Mark the first few chapters of his book yesterday. Regardless of how good he thought it was, Mark needed to be fully committed to it as well.

“Listen, I won’t take up too much of your time,” Mark continued, a note of excitement creeping into his voice. “I have an opportunity that could be a real game-changer for you.”

“Oh? What’s up?”

“You remember Jaxon Miller over at Wanderlust Publishing?”

Liam frowned. They were one of the publishing houses he’d contacted when he wanted to write a travel book. “I haven’t met Jaxon, but I talked to one of their acquisition editors.”

“Jaxon’s the editorial director. We had lunch last week, and he mentioned they’re launching a new global travel series called ‘Journeys Through Asia.’ They’re looking for talented writers to be the faces of this project, and your name came up.”

Liam sat up straighter. “Seriously? That’s huge.”

“It is,” Mark agreed. “This could be the beginning of your dream job—traveling to different countries, discovering diverse cultures, and sharing those experiences with the world.”

Liam knew that opportunities like this didn’t come along very often. “That’s... incredible,” he said, trying to process the news. “How does he know I’d be a good fit for their company?”

“I gave Jaxon some of the newspaper articles you sent me and a chapter of the book you’re currently writing. He was impressed.”

Liam’s mind raced with possibilities. “What’s involved in the contract?”

“It’s a comprehensive deal,” Mark explained. “They want you to travel to various countries across Asia, immerse yourself in the local culture, history, and hidden gems—then write about your experiences. It’s a blend of travel journalism and personal narrative.”

“It sounds like a dream come true,” Liam admitted, his heart pounding with excitement.

“I thought you’d say that. Plus, it’s a lucrative deal—they’re offering a generous advance, full travel accommodations, and creative freedom over your work.”

Liam looked down at Trixie as he thought about everything the job would mean. Without a doubt, this could be the big break he was looking for. “How soon would they need the manuscript?”

“They’re aiming to roll out the first batch of books by the end of next year,” Mark said. “They’ve already signed another writer, so they’d like to finalize things quickly. But they’re willing to work with your schedule, especially since you’re finishing up your current project.”

Liam nodded. “Can you send me the details? I’d like to look over the contract before making any decisions.”

“Absolutely,” Mark agreed. “But between you and me, I think this is the perfect fit for you. Opportunities like this don’t come around often.”

“Thanks for thinking of me, Mark. I really appreciate it.”

“Just promise me you’ll give it serious consideration,” Mark told him. “I’ll email you the proposal this afternoon. Let’s touch base next week.”

“Sounds good. Talk soon.” Liam ended the call and set down his phone. The contract sounded like everything he’d ever wanted—a chance to travel the world, write about his experiences, and reach a global audience.

But as his excitement settled, he thought about Chloe and Oscar. He glanced at the small bookshelf in the corner of his room, filled with books and magazines Chloe had lent him. Above his desk was a drawing Oscar had given him of his favorite dinosaur.

If he left Sapphire Bay, he didn’t know what would happen to their growing relationship. Chloe wanted stability and consistency. It was the kind of life you couldn’t have when you were traveling around the world. And with Oscar in school, the chance of her wanting to take him to remote areas of Asia wasn’t high.

He scratched under Trixie’s chin. For the first time in years, he felt like he belonged somewhere. The people in town knew him by name, greeted him warmly, and included him in their lives. He wasn’t just passing through; he’d become part of the community. Could he leave all this behind?

His phone buzzed again, this time with a text message. He picked it up and sighed. It was a message from Chloe.

Hi, Liam! Just a reminder—dinner at six tonight. Oscar can’t wait to show you the gingerbread house we made.

Liam smiled, his heart tugging in two directions.

I’ll be there, he texted back.

He had a big decision to make. The dream job he’d always wanted was within reach, but so was the life he was building in Sapphire Bay.

Taking a deep breath, he picked up Trixie’s leash. “Come on, girl. Let’s go for that walk.”

As they stepped outside, he knew it wouldn’t be easy deciding what he’d do. Because whatever choice he made would shape his future in ways he couldn’t imagine.