Page 53 of Second Chance at Sunshine Inn

A bubble of laughter escaped from her. “No, no, we’re business partners. For now, anyway.”

“Oh.” The man’s forehead rumpled. “I’ve been trying to connect with him for a while now.”

Curiosity gnawed at her. “I can take a message and have him call you.”

“Fantastic.” The man’s face relaxed sightly. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a card. “I’m staying over at the Rosewood Inn. It’s really important that I speak to him.” He handed her the card, and she read the name “Declan Hewitt, Financial Advisor.”

“I’ll make sure he gets this as soon as he gets back.”

“I appreciate it.” He started down the stairs, then stopped and turned back around. “By the way, what’s your name?”

“Everleigh.”

“Nice to meet you, Everleigh,” he said before climbing into a dark-colored sedan and driving toward the main road.

She leaned against the railing and studied the card. Why would a financial advisor want to find Cade? And what was so urgent?

“Strange,” she whispered as she closed the door behind her. Back in the kitchen, she finished mopping and then moved to wipingthe baseboards. She’d reached the end of the hallway when the inn’s phone began to ring.

She jogged to the office to answer. “Thank you for calling the Sunshine Inn. How can I help you?”

“Alana?” a woman asked.

“Oh no.” Her hands began to tremble, and she dropped onto a chair. “This is Everleigh.”

“Everleigh! You must be all grown-up now. I don’t think I’ve seen you since you were a child,” the woman said. “Oh, and I’ve forgotten my manners. This is Loretta Walker. Maybe you remember my husband and me?”

“Hi, Mrs. Walker.” She tried to sound as if she recalled her, but Everleigh couldn’t place the name.

“Is Alana there?”

Everleigh closed her eyes and pressed her hand against her forehead. “I’m sorry to tell you this, Mrs. Walker, but she passed away this summer.” She pulled in a gulp of air, preparing herself for the woman’s response.

Mrs. Walker gasped. “What? No! What happened?”

Tears pressed against Everleigh’s eyes. “She had cancer.”

“Oh, honey. I’m so sorry to hear that. What kind?”

Everleigh stared up at the ceiling as her tears threatened to pour from her eyes. Didn’t Mrs. Walker know how difficult this was for her?

“Liver, but it spread to her lungs.”Please don’t ask for more details. Please let it go!

Mrs. Walker clucked her tongue. “Oh no. That had to be so painful. Poor thing.”

Everleigh gnawed her lower lip and slammed her eyes shut.

“Did you take care of her?”

“Um...” Everleigh swallowed as her tears began to fall. She grabbed a tissue from the box on the desk and dabbed at her eyes. “No, ma’am.” Her voice sounded small.

“I’m surprised to hear that. You were so close, and I believe she mentioned you were a nurse.”

Everleigh took a deep breath, trying in vain to collect herself, but the tears continued to pour down her hot cheeks.

“Alana talked about you all the time,” Mrs. Walker continued. “You were the daughter she never had. She adored you.”

Everleigh opened her mouth, ready to change the subject. Then she sat up straight, wiped her face, and cleared her throat. “So, Mrs. Walker, how can I help you?”

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