The Spyglass Portal: A Lighthouse Novel by Stacey Coverstone Read Free Book Online

children. She released the breath she held and lowered the instrument. In the hours that had passed, she’d nearly convinced herself the little girl had been a figment of her overworked imagination, so she carefully placed the telescope in the wooden case and closed the lid.
    “Where would be the best place to keep this?”
    Now that it had resurfaced from its hiding place after God knew how many years, it deserved to be admired and used again. And enjoying it anytime she wanted was going to be Samantha’s reward for having discovered it. She descended the stairs that led to the bedroom and set the box on the dresser and checked her watch. It was time to go.
     
    * * * *
     
    The first person she saw when she stepped into The Catch was Jason Murphy. “What a surprise,” she said, greeting him. “You’re one of only two people I know in Pavee Cove and here you are at the same restaurant tonight. What a coincidence.”
    “Hello, Miss Landers.”
    “You can call me Sam if you’d like. There’s no need to be so formal. I’m guessing we’re around the same age.”
    A lopsided, child-like grin filled his face. “Okay,” he blushed.
    “Are you here alone?” She gazed around to see if Aidan had beaten her there.
    “No. My mom is in the ladies’ room. She’ll be out in a minute.”
    “Good. I’d like to meet her and thank her personally for the groceries you brought over today.”
    “Okay.” Jason chewed his lower lip and stared at his shoes. “It’s lobster night tonight,” he said. “Mom loves lobster.”
    “So do I. You can’t grow up in Maine and not like lobster,” she chuckled.
    The hostess interrupted their banter. “Table for one ma’am?” she asked Samantha.
    She noticed the young woman’s nametag read Marianne. “There will be two of us.”
    “Would you like to sit outside on the deck?”
    “Yes. That would be great.”
    The hostess checked her roster and told Sam it would be a couple of minutes.
    “No problem.” Samantha checked her watch. It was five minutes till six. Her heart started beating faster with anticipation at seeing Aidan again.
    A tap on the shoulder interrupted her daydream. Expecting it to be her date, she plastered on a big smile and pivoted to face a lady with eyes the color of a foggy morning. Her hair, which was the same shade, hung in a long braid down her back. “You must be Samantha,” she said. “I’m Claire Murphy. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
    “Hello. Nice to meet you, too.” They shook hands. “Thank you for sending your son over today with the groceries. That was very thoughtful of you.”
    “You’re quite welcome. It was just a few things to get you started. I do that for all the newcomers in the cove. I’m sure Jay told you we own the market in town.”
    “He did. I’ll stop by one day soon and check out your store.”
    “Murphy. Party of two,” Marianne announced, even though there were only the three of them waiting for tables.
    “Right here,” Jason said, tugging on Claire’s arm. “Let’s go, Mom. She called our name.”
    Claire chuckled. “All right, Jason.” She whispered behind her hand to Sam, “He just loves lobster, and tonight is lobster night. See you again soon.”
    As Sam watched them follow the hostess to their table, she realized Jason wasn’t limping anymore. Maybe he’d had a cramp in his leg today.
    When Marianne returned, she asked Sam if she’d like to sit down or wait for her dining companion in the lobby. Samantha looked at her watch again—it was almost five after six—and glanced around. Hoping nothing had happened to Aidan, but suspecting he was just running late, she said she’d wait at the table.
    She was seated at a table for two on the deck under a big umbrella next to a wooden railing one story above the water. The water splashing onto the shore below was a soothing balm for her soul. Although she’d been raised in Maine, she hadn’t spent much time on the beach or near water as a child.