Chapter 2

"I gotta run. Brett's asked for an emergency family business meeting."

"I hope everything is okay," Ronni said. "How is he feeling?"

Weeks earlier, Brett had collapsed and been rushed to a Toronto hospital where doctors uncovered concerning heart issues. Thankfully, his condition was now under control.

Despite his insistence he was fine, Morgan had to admit there were times she thought he was taking on too much and stressing himself out. Elizabeth, their grandmother, had voiced similar concerns.

She texted back she was on her way and abruptly stood. "He keeps insisting that he's feeling fine, but maybe he isn't."

Ronni followed Morgan to the door. "Please keep me posted."

"I will." Morgan, preoccupied at the thought something might be seriously wrong, forgot to grab Chester's portrait.

"Don't forget this." Ronnie snatched it off the desk and handed it to her.

"Thanks." She and the pup climbed into her SUV for the short drive to Easton Estate. She parked next to Brett's vehicle and climbed out. Thinking her pup was right behind her, she turned to find him nowhere in sight.

Leaning back in, Morgan discovered her pup had scrambled into the backseat and sat staring at his portrait, his head cocked to the side as he studied himself.

"Pretty cool, huh? C'mon." Morgan coaxed him out. "I can't wait to show it to Grandmother and Brett."

Chester bolted from the back and ran right toward the kitchen's rear entrance.

Morgan followed him inside where she was greeted by the tantalizing aroma of cinnamon mingled with maple syrup. "Something smells super yummy."

"I'm trying a new banana nut muffin recipe." Mrs. Arnsby, the estate's head cook, stood at the counter with a shaker of cinnamon in hand. "It's a healthier version."

She glanced over her shoulder and lowered her voice. "Your grandmother is tired of eating healthy foods, so I've been tinkering with different recipes, trying to find things to entice her tastebuds."

"It's enticing me." Morgan eagerly eyed the ingredients spread out on the counter. "What's in them?"

"Canadian maple syrup, raw sugar, coconut oil and, of course, bananas." The oven timer chimed. Mrs. Arnsby grabbed an oven mitt, reached inside, and removed a piping hot tin filled with golden brown muffins.

"They look delish." Morgan patted her stomach. "I'll have to wait to sample one. Brett called an emergency meeting."

"I'll pack up a couple for you and Quinn." The cook dropped the mitt on the counter. "What do you have tucked under your arm?"

Morgan turned the portrait so she could see.

Mrs. Arnsby burst out laughing. "What in the crazy dog's name is this?"

"It's a gift from Greg Baker, a thank you for his new carriage house apartment." Morgan tapped the top of the frame. "Isn't it adorable?"

"Let me guess. Quinn painted it."

"Yep. She took a bunch of glamor shots of Chester a few weeks ago. Now I know why."

The cook scratched Chester's chin. "You silly dog."

"He seems quite taken with himself." Morgan explained how she'd caught him staring at it. "I'm going to hang it on the wall near the fireplace."

"Woof." Chester gave it his bark of approval. He promptly hopped onto his favorite chair, the one giving him an unobstructed view of the entire kitchen.

"Is it okay if Chester hangs out here?"

"Of course." The cook grabbed his favorite bag of treats and fed him one. "I'll make sure he stays out of trouble."

"Thank you." Morgan circled around the bar area. She exited the kitchen and took the shortcut through the hall to the main floor office.

The door was ajar and she could hear the echo of faint voices. She gave it a light rap and stuck her head around the corner.

Brett and Elizabeth stood near the window overlooking the rear gardens.

Her grandmother caught Morgan's eye and motioned her inside. "There you are."

"I hope I didn't keep you. I left as soon as I got Brett's text."

Elizabeth crossed the room and gave her granddaughter a light kiss on the cheek. "Not at all. Thank you for dropping everything and coming by."

"You're welcome."

"What's this?" Her grandmother motioned to the painting.

"Chester." Morgan turned it around, receiving a similar reaction to Mrs. Arnsby's.

"He's a cheeky little fellow," her grandmother joked.

"I believe Quinn captured the essence of his personality."

"One hundred percent," Brett chuckled. "Although, I must confess, I saw it when it was still a work in progress."

Morgan arched a brow. "Quinn gave you a sneak peek?"

"She did. In fact, we postponed an outing last night so she could put the finishing touches on it."

"I'm sorry if it ruined your date night." Recently, as in just the past few weeks, Brett and Quinn had started dating.

From the get-go, Quinn had insisted it was a casual relationship, claiming she was still concerned about mixing besties and brothers, despite Morgan insisting she had no issue with her best friend dating her half-brother.

Brett had also met with Morgan to have a private discussion about the budding romance. Once again, she insisted she was perfectly fine with the two dating.

Which was true ninety-nine-point-nine percent of the time. To be completely honest, she occasionally had a twinge of apprehension that perhaps somewhere down the road, it might become an issue.

If the couple broke up, had an argument, were involved in a situation that would somehow force Morgan to choose. She loved Quinn. Their friendship had endured for many years…too many to count. During her marriage to Jason. When he'd abandoned her. After her mother's death.

Quinn was the one who had convinced Morgan to come to Easton Island for the reading of her mother's will. If not for her, she never would have stepped foot on the island.

For this reason alone, she owed her friend a debt of gratitude. She'd even moved to Easton Island with her. Morgan secretly believed Quinn had relocated on a trial basis. Maybe even planning to stay only long enough for her friend to settle in before heading back home to Fort Myers, Florida to be near her parents.

But Easton Island had cast its spell on both of them. Elizabeth offered her a job, re-opening Easton Harbor Art Gallery.

Quinn had been one of her staunchest supporters, sticking by Morgan's side, helping her sort through the secrets of her mother's past including finding a family she knew nothing about.

Her grandmother, Elizabeth, after being reunited with her estranged granddaughter, had found a renewed sense of purpose. In fact, Quinn and Elizabeth now worked side by side at the art gallery, turning the shuttered business into a thriving and popular store in downtown Easton Harbor.

To sum it up, Quinn was almost as much a part of the Easton family as Morgan was. Perhaps it was only natural Brett and Quinn were drawn to one another.

"You didn't ruin our date," Brett said. "We had an enjoyable meal on board Captain Davey's ferryboat after it docked for the night."

Elizabeth made a choking sound. "You took Quinn to the ferryboat for a meal? Since when does Captain Davey serve food on board the ferry?"

"He doesn't." Brett grinned at his grandmother's horrified expression. "I ordered takeout from Harbor Dockside."

Elizabeth shuddered, a pained look on her face. "I thought I taught you better than that."

"It was Quinn's idea. She wanted to finish the painting," Brett explained. "I figured dinner on the water, anywhere on the water, would be romantic. Besides, you must admit it was unique."

"I probably would've enjoyed it myself," Morgan said.

"You young people." Elizabeth waved dismissively. "I will never understand. As long as it was Quinn's idea, I suppose it's acceptable."

"It was more than acceptable." Brett clasped his hands. "I'll try to make this quick. I spoke with David Wynn, the owner of Wynn Harbor Inn, over on Mackinac Island."

Morgan perked up. "Is he ready to move forward?"

"He is. Wynn has been lining up a few potential investors."

"So he's no longer interested in partnering with Easton Holdings." Morgan's heart plummeted. She'd spent several days researching the history of the tragic fire and subsequent issues Mr. Wynn was dealing with.

It was a sad situation. The fire. His wife's death. His daughter, the famous Harlow Wynn, leaving not long after, with rumors of her blaming her father for her mother's death.

The potential partnership intrigued Morgan. The man had suffered unimaginable loss. Yet he was willing to pick up the pieces and try again, with or without the support of his daughter, an only child.

"Easton Holdings made it to the top of the list. He wants to meet in person and go over the details," Brett said. "As I mentioned before, this is an incredible opportunity for our company to get their foot in the door on Mackinac Island."

Brett rattled off the benefits of partnering with Wynn. The Mackinac Island market was nearly impossible to break into. Mainly because most of the island was a state park. In addition, many of the properties were generationally owned, meaning the businesses and family estates were passed down from generation to generation.

"The inn has oodles of potential," Morgan agreed. "We could be instrumental in helping restore it to its former glory, making it even better than before."

While Brett and Morgan discussed the venture, Elizabeth stood silently listening, a stoic, unreadable look on her face.

Brett paused. "I recognize the look on your face. You're not on board with moving forward, Grandmother."

"No, Brett. I am not. I hate to throw a wet towel on this endeavor, but I do not believe partnering with David Wynn is in Easton Holdings Company's best interest."