Page 10 of A Brambleberry Summer

He still had misgivings but Rosa had been welcoming enough. She was certainly kind to Logan, if still distant toward Wyatt.

He followed her into the foyer, with its sweeping staircase and elegant chandelier, to find a woman walking down with a young girl’s hand clutched tightly in hers.

She had brown hair pulled back into a tight ponytail and quite striking blue eyes with shadows under them.

“Jen, here are the new tenants I was telling you about,” Rosa said in her melodious, accented voice. “This is Wyatt Townsend and his son, Logan. Wyatt is a police officer in Cannon Beach and Logan is seven years old, starting second grade when the summer is over.”

“Hello.”

She was soft-spoken and didn’t meet his gaze directly.

Just what he needed. Another woman here who had secrets.

“Pleasure to meet you.” He purposely kept his voice calm, neutral, as he did when he walked into a situation where a witness or a suspect might be prone to bolt.

He didn’t miss the way Rosa placed her body slightly in front of her friend’s, as if to protect her. He had a feeling Jen didn’t miss it, either.

From him? Did Rosa really think he posed a threat to either of them?

The little girl seemed to have none of her mother’s skittishness. She stepped forward with a big smile. “Hi. My name is Addie and I’m six years old.”

“Hi, Addie.” Wyatt was happy to see she seemed well-adjusted and friendly. Whatever was going on with her mother hadn’t impacted her yet.

“Hi,” she said to Logan, who hadn’t said anything yet. “My name is Addie.”

“I know. I heard you before.”

“What’s your name?”

“Logan. I’m seven.” His son spoke with a tinge of superiority over his advanced age that made Wyatt hide a smile.

He caught Rosa’s gaze and didn’t miss her surprised look. What? Did she think he never smiled?

Addie pointed behind them. “Is that your dog?”

Wyatt turned to find Hank plopped in the doorway as if he owned the place.

“Yep,” Logan answered. “His name is Hank.”

“Will he bite?”

“Only if you bite him first,” Logan said, which made Addie giggle.

“I’m not going to bite a dog! That would be gross.”

“You can pet him, if you want.”

She plopped onto the ground and Hank, predictably, rolled over to have his belly scratched. The dog was shameless for affection.

“I don’t have a dog, I have a cat. Her name is Lucy. She’s old,” Addie explained. “Sometimes I pretend that Fi is my dog.”

“Who is Fi?” Logan looked confused.

“Fiona,” Rosa explained. “My dog, remember? Sometimes we call her Fi. And you can pretend all you want, darling.”

“I will,” the girl said cheerfully.

“How are you enjoying Cannon Beach so far?” Wyatt asked Jen Ryan.

---