The Lakeside Inn by Leeanna Morgan (ebooks children's books free .txt) 📗

many times they called her. She would still do exactly what she wanted to do. “I like the lights you and Barbara wrapped around the veranda. They’re romantic.”

The large, white bulbs were strung beneath the timber frame, casting soft light across the deck.

“I thought it would brighten up this area for our guests. Barbara painted the outdoor chairs and table, and we’ll move a few of Grandma’s roses into pots and display them here. I just hope Katie comes home. Otherwise, everything we’re doing is a waste a time.”

Penny thought of the light, bright spaces they’d created. Most of it was done by moving furniture around, taking down old and dated curtains, or painting a couple of walls. “Someone will appreciate what we’ve done. I just hope it’s our Bed and Breakfast guests.”

The screen door opened and Barbara appeared carrying three mugs on a tray. “Hot chocolate, anyone?”

Diana uncurled her legs and pulled a chair closer to where they were sitting. “That sounds perfect. You sit here while I get everyone a slice of cake.”

After their sister had left, Barbara carefully lowered the tray to a table. “Diana still looks stressed,” she whispered. “Did she tell you about Katie?”

“She did. I hope Katie changes her mind.”

“So do I. If she doesn’t, Mom said you, Diana, and Charlie can stay with them.”

“What about you?”

“I’ll go back to San Diego.”

Penny’s heart sank.

“I feel the same way. Hopefully, it won’t come to that. Did you get the garages ready for painting?”

“We did. Everyone’s looking forward to seeing what the murals will look like.”

“I bet they are. It isn’t often that you’re able to add your own personal touches to a housing development.” Barbara handed Penny a mug. “Mom said she popped down to see you. She was impressed with how Wyatt included everyone.”

“She’s always impressed by Wyatt, especially when he gave each of the volunteers a bag of candy from Sweet Treats.”

Barbara grinned.

“No! I’m not asking him to go out with me. It will spoil our friendship.”

“Or push things in the right direction.”

Diana opened the screen door. “I’ve got the cake and Charlie.”

At the sound of his name, Charlie’s ears twitched.

“No cake for you,” Barbara said to Charlie. “You’ll get a tummy ache.”

As if knowing he wouldn’t get what he wanted, Charlie flopped on the floor.

Leaning down, Penny rubbed his soft ears. “I can’t believe it took Grandma’s death to bring us back to Sapphire Bay at the same time.” She lifted her gaze to her sisters. “I’ve missed you guys. It didn’t matter which city I was in, something didn’t feel right.”

Barbara gave Penny a hug. “Me, too. Living here is different, but I’m enjoying being away from the smog and noise of city life.”

“I’m enjoying being away from my ex-husband,” Diana said softly.

Barbara lifted her mug of hot chocolate in a mock salute. “I’ll drink to that. I always thought you were too good for him.”

Suddenly, Charlie leapt to his feet and ran down the veranda steps.

Penny quickly followed. “Charlie! Come back.” She ran around the corner of the house and almost collided with Wyatt.

Charlie was on his hind legs, leaning against their neighbor and getting lots of love and attention.

Wyatt’s grin was almost as wide as Charlie’s. “I think I know what your missing piece of furniture looks like.”

Penny was so surprised to see Wyatt that she had to refocus her brain to piece together what he’d said. “The furniture that goes with the key?”

With a gentle command, Wyatt untangled himself from Charlie’s exuberant welcome. “It’s in the photo.”

“Which photo?”

“The one I’m using from the library.” He pulled out his cell phone. “I took a photo of it to make it easier to enlarge. Here, look at this. It’s in the dresser behind your great-grandmother,” Wyatt handed her the phone.

She zoomed in on the dresser, slowly moving down the image so she could check each drawer. They all had locks but, so far, they were all empty. By the time she reached the bottom drawer, she thought Wyatt must have been imagining a key.

“I don’t see…” Hidden in the shadow of Margaret’s skirt was a blurry object.

Wyatt peered over her shoulder. “It’s not very clear but, if you fully enlarge the image, you can just make out the shape of the key.”

No matter how hard she tried, it was just a blurry shadow. “Come to the back veranda. I might be able to see the key in a better light.”

When Barbara saw Wyatt, she grinned. “We were just talking about you.”

“You were?”

A blush streaked across Penny’s face. If Barbara mentioned anything about dating, her sister wouldn’t be getting a birthday present from her.

The look Barbara sent her was pure mischief. “Penny was telling us what she did today. It sounds as though the art project is well underway.”

“We’ve finished the first part,” Wyatt told her. “The tricky bit will be keeping everyone motivated until the end. Hi, Diana.”

“Hi.”

Holding Wyatt’s cell phone in front of her, Penny stood under one of the lights. As soon as she saw the top of the heart-shaped key, her mouth dropped open. “You’re right.”

“What are you doing?” Barbara asked.

With a trembling hand, Penny showed her sister the key. “That’s the piece of furniture we’ve been looking for.”

Diana leapt out of her chair and hurried across to them. “Let me see.”

Penny handed Diana the phone.

Barbara bit her bottom lip. “You can’t see the entire dresser.”

“But there’s enough to give us a good start.” Diana lifted her gaze to Penny. “I haven’t seen anything like this in the house.”

Neither had Penny. “We could look in the attic again. I’ve cleared out most of the things we want and pulled everything else into the center of the room.”

Wyatt searched each of their faces. He wasn’t the only one who was excited. “It looks as though we’re heading into the attic.”

With Penny leading the way, they hurried upstairs. Maybe, if they were lucky, the answer to their mystery might have been in front of them all along.

Wyatt