Page 79 of The Romance Game

“But why and with whom?” Ryan asks.

“More importantly, why were they hidden there?” I ask, pointing to the hole in the wall.

Ryan

CHAPTER 16

After Harley and I find the postcards, we tell everyone to clear their schedules. Royal and Isla are busy with the resort so they ask if we can have the meeting there. CJ is already in the grand lobby as if he’s been long awaiting this day.

Lally and Magnus appear next with several dogs in tow. One of them is having separation anxiety, so we move the meeting outside on the grand lawn overlooking the grounds.

Royal and Isla rush around because their staff is still in training and running an operation this big is a major undertaking. Makes me wonder how we’ll do at the Sip & Scoop.

“Be there in a minute,” Isla says, dashing by.

Royal paces while on the phone, wearing a scowl. What else is new? Then, without breaking character, as Isla scuttles past, he sweeps her into his arms, kisses her, and then spins away as if this is all very normal.

Give me a ball to throw or run one down a field and I’m on it. The pace of this place is something else entirely. An inkling of doubt about whether I’m cut out to manage an ice cream shop when I have no experience creeps in.

Harley sits beside me on the big, cushy chairs outside overlooking the water. The resort is built up to protect the propertyfrom big swells and storms. That didn’t stop Hurricane Howie, but from the center of the grounds with the Galleon building, all the other structures and areas terrace downward. From here, we have the high ground and can see everything from the mini golf course to the pool, and onward to the beach.

I imagine Chip in his office, surveying his accomplishments. But then I have a curious thought. “I can’t imagine my grandfather running this place by himself and raising us boys.”

“Maybe that’s why he sent us on so many adventures.” Royal pockets his phone.

“He also had help. It was a team effort,” Magnus adds.

Isla runs across the lawn, waving at us. “Wait for me!”

Once more, Royal lassoes her in his arms and they spin before pausing for a kiss.

“What a whirlwind,” she says, breathless.

“The two of you don’t stop,” Lally adds.

CJ claps his hands together, calling order. “So, what did you discover?”

Harley holds up the coffee can. “This.”

“I’ve had enough coffee for one day, but thanks,” Isla says.

Harley and I exchange a knowing look. “It’s not what you think.”

CJ opens the can, removes the stack of postcards, and flips carefully through them. “Aunt Lorena wasn’t lost after all.”

I shake my head. “No, but we think she may have run off with a guy named Johnny. She signs each cardLove, Lorena and Johnny.”

“You think she skipped out on Glandman?” Isla wrinkles her nose.

CJ reads each card and then passes them around.

“Wait. This one says Johnny learned to ride a bike today. Would she brag that her secret lover only just learned to ride a bicycle as an adult man?” Lally asks. “No offense if some of you don’t know how.”

We all mutter that we know howto ride bikes.

“In this one, she talks about him preferring sailing over baseball,” Isla says.

“We waited to read all of them until now, but something doesn’t add up,” I say.

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