Page 109 of Positively, Penelope

“Hold up the keiligs.” She nodded, searching his face and hoping, deeply hoping, the mischievous glint in his eyes proved of mythical proportions.

She stared down at the keiligs as she exited the shop. Sea monsters were not real. She shoved the stones into her purse. And even if they were, they didn’t like to be seen, so they lived far out in the ocean. Except for the one she saw as a child. It hadn’t been far out in the ocean.

She squeezed her eyes closed for a moment and drew in a deep breath.

Stop it, Penelope.Fisherman Santa was only teasing you.She looked down at the keiligs protruding from her bag. But being safe instead of sorry was an excellent rule for life. Especially near the ocean.

The small tract of land connecting the mainland to the island created a bridge of sand and rock more than half a mile long, according to the information on the map. Waves washed up on either side dozens of feet away, but gave a strange sort of walking-on-water feeling. She released the tension from Fisherman Santa’s foreboding words and drew in a deep breath of the cool, salt-sea air.

She would be just fine.

More than fine. She was meeting Matthias.

And she did love surprises.

***

Matt met Grandfather and they called the police to obtain some guidance on what to do. Stolen keys for a family-owned theater? Sharing information obtained from family emails with another company? All small charges and, at the moment, not helpful in solving the real problem.

Grandfather encouraged Gwynn to take the rest of the day off.

“Someone needs to tell Penelope,” Grandfather said, sinking into his desk chair. “Is she working with the rehearsals today?”

“No, she took the day off because we had plans this afternoon.”

Grandfather’s brows rose. “Plans?”

“A date, Grandfather.” Matt released a sigh. “Penelope and I were going on a date after my meeting.”

A smile replaced his grandfather’s frown. “I had high hopes the two of you would realize what a good match you are.” He clapped his hands together and rocked back in his chair. “She’s good for you, Matt. She’s been good for all of us, but especially for you.”

“I know. It just took me a while to see it.”

“Well, now that you know, don’t let her go. Whatever the cost, my boy.” He nodded, folding his arms across his chest. “She’s brought you to life again and lavishes Iris with love. Ah, she reminds me of your grandmother.”

“Aye.” His smile softened at the sweet resemblance. “Me too.”

“Would Penelope know anything about where Alec might be, you think?”

Matt looked down at his phone. “I sent a text half an hour ago just to check in with her but haven’t gotten a response.”

“I just don’t understand any of this.” Grandfather rubbed a hand over his closely trimmed beard. “Why would Alec do this?”

“I don’t know for certain.” Matt paced the length of the room, his jaw sore from the tension in it. “His business wasn’t going as well as he’d hoped, and he’s talked about moving to England for a fresh start.”

“He hasn’t liked being in the theater for years.”

“Not since...” Matt breathed out a long breath. “Mum and Granny.”

Grandfather looked up. “He could have asked for help and I would have given it to him. He didn’t need to do this.”

“Perhaps he didn’t think he could. Not with finances being what they’ve been.” Matt shook his head. “But that’s no excuse, Grandfather. None. Not for this behavior—hurting the people closest to him?”

“No, and there are consequences for it.” He leaned back in the chair. “But I want to understand. I want to help him.”

“I want to hit him,” Matt growled, and he folded his arms across his chest. “He deliberately tried to destroy the theater. For the money, perhaps? He’d get enough from the sale of the theater to start over somewhere else. No matter how many broken people he left in his wake.”

“He’s not been the same since your mother died. More erratic. Less involved in family affairs.” Grandfather looked up, the lines on his face deepening around his eyes. “Money is one reason. Running away may be another.”

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