The Inn at Holiday Bay: Clue in the Clam, Kathi Daley [early reader chapter books TXT] 📗

theater group was still asking questions of the crowd and going over the clues. It looked like everyone was having a wonderful time.

“It sure has been a long week.” I laid my head on Colt’s shoulder.

“The longest. I’m glad it’s over.”

“Are you hungry?”

“Not really. What I really need is a few minutes of peace and quiet. I think I’ll go for a walk.”

“Do you want company, or would you prefer to go alone? Either is okay with me,” I assured him.

“I’d enjoy the company if you feel like you can get away.”

“I think Georgia has everything under control.”

Colt took my hand in his, and we headed down the beach. We walked in silence for a while, but eventually, he spoke. “I had a nice long conversation with my mother today.”

“Oh? How is she doing? How are the kids?”

“Everyone is fine. I’ve been working on a plan to have the kids with me for three weeks next month, and it looks like it’s going to work out. I put in for some time off, and it’s been approved. I thought I might take them somewhere for part of the time. Maybe camping. Or Disney World.”

“I’m sure they’d enjoy either. I’m glad it worked out for them to come for a visit.”

He squeezed my hand. “I’m hoping that you can spend some time with us. I want the three of you to get to know each other better.”

“I’d like that. Once you have dates, we can work something out.” I knew that Colt had considered having the kids come to live with him once they reached their teens, and while we had most definitely never talked about marriage, I knew that he wanted us all to be a family. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that, but I was sure I wanted to get to know two of the people who were among those most important in his life.

“My mom told me that the kids ask about you from time to time.”

I raised a brow. “They do? I only met them that one time.”

“I guess you made quite an impression. Especially with my niece. My mom is great with them, but I think she misses having a mother.”

I think I may have flinched at that point.

“Not that I’m asking you to fill in as her mother,” Colt quickly added. “I just think it would be nice for the two of you to have a friendship.”

“I’d like that,” I said, all the while wondering if I was ready for whatever might be on the horizon with Colt and his niece and nephew. I knew I loved Colt. We never really spoke of love or forever after, but I knew I’d always want him in my life. I also knew that he most likely would become a package deal at some point. Mostly, I’d chosen not to think too far into the future, but the kids were getting older, and if they did come to live with their uncle when they got to a certain age, I supposed that could happen in the not-so-distant future.

I thought about Noah and Christy and how their lack of clear communication may have killed their relationship. I didn’t want that for Colt and me, so I supposed, in fairness to both of us, I really should figure out where I stood on moving from couple status to family status.

“I suppose we should get back,” I said after we’d walked about as far as you could walk on this small island. “Are you planning to come back to the cottage with me tonight?”

“I’d like that. If it works for you, of course. I’m sure you must be exhausted after spending the whole day preparing for the event.”

“I am tired, but I’d like you to come back to the cottage. I’m pretty sure Georgia plans to go home with Tanner, so we’ll have the place to ourselves.”

Colt stopped walking. He turned my body so that we were facing each other. He slowly lowered his head and kissed me so softly on the lips I could barely feel it. I reached my arms around his neck, pulled him close, and kissed him harder. At that moment, as the moon rose from the east and the sound of laughter could be heard in the distance, I knew in my heart that however a future with Colt might look, it was a future I very much wanted to be part of.

Up Next from Kathi Daley

https://amzn.to/3uflsDL

Continue the adventures of Sydney Whitmore, a forensic psychologist, in a brand new series set on a small island off the coast of California.

After a tragic event Syd decides to head home to Shipwreck Island and the resort owned and operated by her family. As Syd struggles to deal with her loss she also desires a way to help so she renews her relationship with Ezra Reinhold, a reclusive billionaire who enjoys poking around in cold cases and has the means to hire the best people to find the answers no one else has been able to, and she strikes up a working relationship with the island sheriff, Sam Stone.

In book 1 in the series, a group of ten high school students go camping but only eight return. The statements those who've made their way back have told to Sheriff Sam Stone are so different as to be completely useless. Syd has experience getting the truth out of people, as well as helping those who've forgotten to remember, so she agrees to help Sam weed though the data provided to find the truth which both are certain exists beneath the lies.

Meanwhile, Sydney strikes up a friendship with the daughter of a childhood friend who has been the victim of an assault that has left him clinging to life in the hospital; Syd's middle sister