Page 48 of Not Another Beach Read
He closed the trunk and turned to face me, his expression resolute. "I'm positive. Ben can take my spot. It's just a friendly competition, and Holly needs us here."
It had been three days since my conversation with my father, and Holly's mood had darkened considerably. She was going through the motions—still working at Jenna's bakery, still taking care of Eden—but the light had gone out of her eyes. Last night, I'd heard her crying softly in her room.
"I appreciate it," I said, wrapping my arms around him. "I think we need a family day."
Drew kissed the top of my head. "Exactly. I was thinking we could take Paige's boat out. Maybe that would cheer her up."
"That's perfect. She loves being on the water."
We had borrowed Paige's pontoon boat a few times since Holly arrived, and those days had been some of her happiest. Something about the open water seemed to calm her, make her more willing to talk.
"I'll pack a picnic," I said, already mentally inventorying the refrigerator. "We can stop at that little cove she likes."
Drew nodded, checking his watch. "She should be up soon. I'll go tell her the plan."
Inside, I assembled sandwiches, fruit, and slightly lopsided cookies Holly had brought home from Jenna's bakery, packing everything carefully into our cooler. I was just adding bottles of water when my phone rang. It was Grace.
"Morning, sunshine," I answered, tucking the phone between my ear and shoulder as I continued packing.
"Hey, you," Grace's smoky voice replied. "I was just checking in. How's Holly doing with the news about her mom?"
"As well as can be expected," I sighed. "She's withdrawing a bit. Drew canceled his golf tournament so we can take her out on Paige's boat today."
"That's a good plan. Water heals."
I smiled at the echo of my own thoughts. "That's what we're hoping."
"Listen," Grace said, her tone shifting slightly, "I know this is a difficult time, but I wanted to see if you've given any more thought to what we talked about at Cat's."
My hand stilled on the cooler lid. Of course. The intervention about my side business following cheating husbands.
"Grace, I?—"
"Just hear me out," she interrupted. "I understand why you do it. Better than most, maybe. But is it worth risking what you have with Drew? With Holly?"
I closed my eyes, remembering the man who had recognized me at the beach. How easily that could have gone sideways, especially with Holly there.
"I'm being more careful," I said finally. "And I've cut back."
"Cutting back isn't the same as stopping,” Grace pointed out gently. "I worry about you, Elyse. We all do. And now you have Holly to consider."
The mention of Holly landed exactly as Grace had intended. She knew exactly which buttons to push.
"I know," I admitted. "I'm working on it. Really."
"That's all I ask," Grace said, her voice softening. "Now go enjoy your boat day. Give Holly a hug from me."
After hanging up, I stood motionless in the kitchen, Grace's words echoing in my mind. She was right, of course. My amateur detective work had always carried risks, but those risks felt different now that Holly was in the picture. If something happened to me, it wouldn't just affect Drew anymore.
"Earth to Elyse," Drew's voice broke into my thoughts. He was standing in the doorway, Holly beside him. She was dressed in her bathing suit with a t-shirt over it, one of my golf hats pulled down over her pink locks.
"Sorry, just finishing up the packing," I said, forcing a smile. "Are we ready to go?"
Holly nodded, some of her usual animation returning at the prospect of a day on the water. "Uncle Drew said we might see dolphins today."
"If we're lucky," Drew agreed. "And we usually are."
Twenty minutes later, we were at Paige's dock, loading our supplies onto her pontoon boat. Drew handled the lines while I helped Holly arrange our towels and bags.
