Page 14 of Keeping Secrets

The cioppino was phenomenal, a rich tomato soup studded with mussels, shrimp, crab legs, and squid. Aside from a few compliments to Chloe on her cooking, they were all quiet as they focused on cracking crab legs and prying mussels from their shells. It was a warm, homey, deeply nourishing meal.

"So," Chloe prompted, "who’s coming to tomorrow’s property renovation?"

"Is it here?" Keely asked.

"Yeah, it’s just up the hill. We had a massive donation recently from this guy who was born here in Pelican Point, and so we were able to purchase a big old house that was supposed to be demolished. Willa‘s husband Mac drew up plans to convert it into three separate units, so three families who had to move away to find a place with affordable rent will be able to move back."

"That’s amazing."

"Chloe’s the one who landed the donor," Nick said. He looked at his girlfriend with an expression of pure adoration the intensity of which startled Keely. She had never seen her brother in love before, and it was a side of him that she wasn’t used to.

She was thrilled for them all the same.

"I don’t deserve all the credit," Chloe said modestly.

"You charmed him and his wife, ordered them In’n’Out, and made all of the displays that finalized their decision."

"He’s from here." Chloe smiled as she looked down at her soup and freed a piece of crab meat from its shell. "He would have helped regardless."

"I’m not so sure about that."

"What exactly are you doing tomorrow?" Keely asked.

Chloe grinned. "Demolition day. Someone thinks that I’m too far along to wield a sledgehammer, but it’s still fun to watch. I’m in charge of refreshments."

"I can bring something to share," Keely offered.

"That would be great!" Chloe turned to Travis. "You’re coming, right?"

"Of course." Travis didn’t look up from his soup.

Keely frowned at him, wondering for the umpteenth time what had happened to the teasing, charming boy that she had known since childhood. Was it her? Was he only this awkward when she was around? Has she done something to offend him?

She made a mental note to ask her brother about it when they were alone.

Once they had washed the dishes and enjoyed the peppermint fudge with warm mugs of decaf coffee, it was time to walk home.

"I’ll walk with you," Nick offered.

"You don’t need to," Keely replied. "It’s just a couple blocks."

Her brother frowned. "It’s dark outside."

She rolled her eyes. "It's Pelican Point. Nothing ever happens in Pelican Point."

Chloe gave her a strangely grim smile. "You would be surprised."

Keely frowned at her and tilted her head to one side.

"I can walk you home," Travis said with audible reluctance. "I’m going that way anyway."

"Fine," she agreed. It would only take a few minutes, and then she would be rid of him.

She hugged Nick and Chloe goodbye, then pulled on her jacket and walked out into the chill winter breeze.

It was warmer here than in the mountain town she had grown up in, but the wind that whipped in off the ocean still had a bite to it. She shivered as she stepped down off the front porch. There was a click as the door closed behind them, sealing all of the warmth and light of Chloe’s place inside.

Travis gave her an inscrutable look. "Do you want to wear my hat?"

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